Make and Take: Welded Metal Art

Ready to take the basics of oxy-acetylene welding and make something?

SHOP250: Make and Take: Oxygen Acetylene Welding (OAW) Metal Art! will start with a brief overview of the basics, then turn you loose to make something of your own. Make a sunburst, flower, abstract piece, or something completely unexpected. All materials will be supplied. If you have small ferrous metal pieces of your own you would like to consider, feel free to bring them along.

Oxy-acetylene torch welding is one of the oldest welding processes, widely used for welding thin metal sections and for heating and cutting tasks. It is a flexible and forgiving process, making it a great fit for amateur to expert welders, and easily adaptable to art fabrication and sculpture.

Class requirements: Closed shoes, long pants, and sleeves (no synthetic material) that you don't mind getting dirty. Dangling jewelry and long hair must be tied back.

Class prerequisite: None, but SHOP140 or basic familiarity of Oxygen Acetylene Welding is a good idea.

PPE available, if you have snug fitting leather work gloves you may want to bring them.

Spaces are limited, so sign up today and let the sparks fly!

• This course will begin by reviewing safety, and the tools and processes used in creating sculpture with Oxygen Acetylene Welding.
• We will then review the metals available to start a design.
• Next, we will light up our torches and start welding!
• As you work through your design and create your sculpture, I will provide feedback and tips.
• Finally, you will leave with your own piece of metal art!

Hello! I am Kathleen, but you can call me Kat. I am a multi-media artist working with welded metals adorned with found objects. I first picked up a welding torch in New Mexico the Fall of 2022 and was hooked. My favorite work is my Warrior Figures, inspired by the feminine warrior spirit of the land, wind, and fire. I also create sculptures ranging from sunbursts to snowflakes, crosses to trees, and abstract forms in between. I salvage metals of many types and past lives from boneyards, salvage lots, thrift stores and garages. Adornments are gathered from estate sales, friends’ jewelry boxes, second-life craft stores, and nature. I am so excited to be a part of the CCM community as a Metal Shop Captain and instructor.