Metal Arts Academy, Auburn

MAA was born out of a desire to train and educate in the art of fine jewelry fabrication, design and the metal arts. Our goal is to provide students with the skills needed to begin a career as a bench jeweler while bringing forth the creative ideas needed to start a jewelry business in design and manufacturing. In addition to our jewelry program which includes fabrication, design, stone setting, wax carving, casting, carving, chasing and piercing, we also offer classes in the metal arts including coppersmithing, sculpting, raising, chasing and repoussé. At MAA, we take pride in the knowledge that our instructors bring to each student. Attention to detail and the finished product is as important to each piece as the design and the materials. Students learn the basics of jewelry making through repetition which facilitates perfecting skills and strengthening technique. The jewelry curriculum includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. As we are still developing our extended program, in the future we will offer jewelry rendering, jewelry appraising, tool making, and blacksmithing. We are proud to offer students the opportunity to learn a skilled trade in the time honored craft of handmade jewelry. We are eager to teach the next generation of craftsmen and women who honor their field with skill and knowledge. Instructors: Coppersmithing-Keith Gelber Keith is trained in Waldorf education for both elementary grades and high school as well as trained in the practical art of therapeutic education from the UK. Keith is a self-taught coppersmith and blacksmith specializing in 1500 BC blacksmithing. Keith has taught blacksmithing in Japan and across the United States. Keith works with students around the country teaching woodworking and Waldorf crafts and he teaches young adults with autism transferable skills through crafts. His love of learning shows in his many skills which he shares with his students. He is also a self-taught beekeeper, the first and currently the only Demeter certified Biodynamic beekeeper in the US. Jewelry Fabrication-Michael R. Kosinski Michael began at the age of 16 at the Institute of Jewelry Training. Eager to continue to develop his skills, he apprenticed with VanCraeynest, Inc. in San Francisco for 6 years. It was here where he learned the fine art of jewelry making based on old world techniques such as forging, toolmaking, carving and chasing. As an apprentice he was given the gift of time and repetition in learning new skills. This is the basis of his early career and it shows throughout his work. Michael went out on his own in 1999 and formed Michael R. Kosinski, Fine Jewelry Design / Manufacture. Several years ago he began sharing his knowledge with students and discovered a passion for teaching. Michael is the co-founder of Metal Arts Academy.