Artisan's Asylum Inc

We were waiting to finalize a few details on some of our woodworking and machining classes, but we now have our full June class list available for your perusal! Also check out our updated Tool Training & Testing page for the full list of short-form basic safety and operations classes for those who just want to get access to the equipment here at the Asylum. Don’t miss our new milling machine, lathe, and oxy-acetylene rig tool training classes!

Assorted

• NEW! Wire-Armature Puppets (for Art and Film), Wednesdays, June 6 to July 18 — In this new class, students will design, build, flesh out, sculpt, paint, clothe, and adorn their own aluminum-armature puppet using a combination of surprising and inexpensive materials. These puppets will be particularly designed for DIY stop motion animation. Taught by Alexandre Staples, graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston with a focus in Stop Motion Animation.
• Business Consulting for Artists & Makers: Office Hours, Thursdays 5-7pm — This is a FREE service offered to Artisan’s Asylum members. Dan Trajman holds open hours every Thursday afternoon for anyone who would like consultation on business-related concerns: register now to reserve a slot!

Bicycle Maintenance & Repair

• Basic Bicycle Maintenance, Mondays, June 4-25 — You may know how to ride your bicycle, but if you don’t know how to take care of it you’ll end up losing speed, causing damage, or stranded with a flat tire. Get your bike skills in shape before you hit the road again in the spring! Taught by Seven, Asylum member, longtime SCUL pilot, and trained bike mechanic.
• Tool Training: Intro to Bike Shop,* Wednesdays in May, Mondays in June, 6-7pm — This is a FREE introduction to SCUL’s bike shop, mandatory for any member hoping to use bike shop equipment. This short tour will introduce you to the ins and outs of “Fort Tyler”, which equipment is open for members’ use and which not, and basic standards of operation in the shop. Taught by Seven (see above).

Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing

• NEW! CNC Art to Part, Sunday, June 10 — In three hours, learn how to turn a 3D computer model into a network of interlocking flat shapes that can be cut out on an Asylum CNC router! Students will learn the use of 123Make, Inkscape, Draftsight, and CamBam. Taught by Judah Sher, Asylum member and industrial designer who’s been designing, building, and selling his own CNC router over the past two years.
• NEW! CNC Custom Shelving, Sunday, June 17 — Learn to design a bookshelf in the shape, size, and arrangement of your choosing using free software and the CNC router! In three hours, students will cover basic functions of Google Sketchup, 123D Make, Inkscape, Draftsight, and CamBam. Taught by Judah Sher (see above).
• Tool Training: CNC Router*, Sunday, May 20 & June 3 — This three-hour training runs you through the basic operations of the CNC wood-cutting router. Each student will take the machine through an entire workflow cycle, from starting up and homing the machine to part removal and clean-up, leaving with a small product they made themselves. No software experience of any kind needed. Taught by Judah Sher (see above).
• Tool Training: 3D Printer*, Saturdays, 4-6pm — This class fully trains and prepares students for using the uPrint SE Plus 3D printer independently, whenever they need projects made. Members who have taken this class receive a substantial discount on materials when using the printer to make 3D models. Taught by Gui Cavalcanti, roboticist and President of the Asylum.

Digital Media

• Ableton Live: Advanced* (Brought to you by CEMMI.) May 24 & 30 — A comprehensive course about music composition, track production, and designing performance rigs using Ableton Live 8. In the advanced class, students will be working with remixing, recording new content, using plugins/ Max4Live, and creating plans for individual electronic musicians to get the most out of Ableton Live as a production/ performance tool. Taught by Ben Cantil (Encanti), independent music producer, performer, sound designer, DJ, and VJ, in the A/V production Zebbler Encanti Experience, and in the band Shpongle Live.
• NEW! Music: Response (Intro to Mixing), (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Thursdays, June 7-28 — If you’ve ever wanted to dig deeper into the art of the DJ than just creating a playlist from your iTunes library, now’s your opportunity! Learn to use the open-source DJ software Mixxx to professionally mix music for a live crowd. Taught by Jeff Mission, active Boston DJ for over 15 years.
• NEW! Guerrilla Home Recording, (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Saturdays, June 9-30 — Learn to set up your own amateur-professional studio environment in your home or workspace! Jordan Hoffman, a professional sound engineer, will walk you through the process of designing, sourcing, ordering, and assembling your dream recording studio on a budget. Taught by Jordan Hoffman, professional live sound engineer and owner of his own profitable home recording studio.

Electronics

• NEW! Project: Blinky Pants (Brought to you by CEMMI.), Tuesdays, June 5-26 – For those of you into wearable electronics, an exciting new class! Learn how to incorporate light in the form of LEDs and EL wire into your costumes, clothing, and wearable art. Taught by Rachel Boyce, artist and costumer, and education coordinator of CEMMI.
• Making Things Move: Intro, Thursdays, June 7-21 — This 3-week survey course will cover the basic principles of traditional and novel actuators. Students will study the physics of how voltage, current, torque, velocity, and position are related with a variety of actuators, and learn which actuators work best for which types of tasks. Taught by Avinash Uttamchandani, electrical & computer engineer and instructor at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Glass: Lampworking

• Hot Glass: Curiosity, Sunday, June 17 — Experience the thrill of sticking a rod of glass into an open flame and working the molten glass. This one-day workshop will be a hands-on introduction to flameworking with glass. Students will be able bring home a bead, pendant, marble, or small sculpture, made that day! Taught by Joanne Soroka, professional lampworker, artist, jewelery-maker, and teacher.
• Hot Glass: Introduction, Saturday & Sunday, June 23 & 24 — This two-day workshop will allow you to unpack the skills introduced in the ‘curiosity’ class in greater depth. Spend one day becoming confident in the theory and techniques, and a whole day playing under supervision of the instructor. Some experience with a torch recommended. Taught by Joanne Soroka (see above).

Metalworking: Small Metals

• Metalcasting with Sand, Bone and Water,* Saturday and Sunday, May 19 & 20 — Learn to cast with molten metal without all the expensive equipment! In this workshop, you’ll learn to cast 3-dimensional metal pieces using simple and versatile molding methods and organic materials: water, delft clay, and cuttlebone. Students will gain experience carving, molding, casting, and soldering. Taught by Karen Christians (see above).

Metalworking

• NEW! Tool Training: Oxy-Acetylene Welding, Cutting, Brazing, & Heating, Thursday, May 31 — The oxy-acetylene (O/A) rig is arguably the most versatile, potentially dangerous, and misunderstood piece of equipment in any metal shop. This one-shot class will demonstrate welding, cutting, brazing, and heating, and teach you how to set up, operate, and shut down an oxy-acetylene rig without harming yourself, other Asylumers, or the equipment. Taught by Ethan Labowitz, professional metalworker and instructor and founder of the Boston Institute for Clean Energy Prototyping (BICEP), and Paul Carson, professional engineer, metalworking enthusiast, and bike builder.
• Intro to TIG Welding, Mondays, June 4-25, and Tuesdays, June 5-26 — Come learn how to weld with Skunk! TIG welding is a precise type of welding generally used to make space frames (like bicycle frames) and small pieces. Students learn operation of a TIG welder and a large range of supporting equipment for a variety of materials and joint types. Taught by Skunk, metal sculptor, graphic designer, bike builder, Grand Poobah of the nerd bicycle gang SCUL, and long-time Asylum TIG welding instructor and member.
• Metalworking Intensive, Wednesdays, June 6-27 — In this class, the instructors will guide students through professional-grade steel construction skills in the building of industrial steel stools, storage racks, and work tables for the shops of the Asylum. By the end of the session, students will have learned all the skills necessary to building load-bearing steel structures, including cutting, grinding, jigging, and MIG welding. Taught by Calvin Domenico and Edison Gieswein, long-time Asylum members and volunteers who’ve been manufacturing professionally and for pleasure for much of their careers.

• NEW! Manual Machining Weekend Workshop, Saturday & Sunday, June 2 & 3 – For all of you who have been eagerly waiting your turn to get trained on the manual mill and lathe, we have a new manual machining class! In this intensive weekend workshop, you will spend one day on the mill and one on the lathe, covering the basics of machining practices and operation. Students will leave the class qualified to do independent work on the Asylum precision machines. Taught by Gabe Greely, mechanical engineering graduate of Olin College who joins us after years training students on the Olin shop equipment.
• NEW! Advanced Fixturing & Machining, Sunday, June 17 – An opportunity to deepen your existing machining skills. This one-day workshop covers advanced fixturing and machining techniques for making more complex or multiple simultaneous parts on the mill and lathe. Taught by Gabe Greely (see above).

Woodworking

• Intro to Woodworking: Build a Box, Wednesdays, June 13 to July 18 – This class is an introduction to fine woodworking techniques, including reviewing types of wood and their appropriate uses, joinery techniques, finishing techniques, and learning the proper use of most of the tools in the woodshop. Taught by Carolyn Emberley, lifelong maker and artist, and longtime Asylum member, volunteer, and sewing and woodworking instructor.
• NEW! Woodworking Intensive: Cabinet Drawers & Doors, Mondays, June 11 to July 30 – In this class, students will get an intensive introduction to basic wood manufacturing while fabricating drawers and doors for the new Asylum kitchen cabinets. Taught by Peter Montague, master woodworker and graduate of the North Bennett St. School, and Asylum member, woodworking instructor, and woodshop manager.
• NEW! Basic Joinery 2: Handtools Revisited, Saturdays, June 9 to July 21 – The second in an in-depth series covering the ancient art of joinery, this class is an opportunity for those who’ve learned to sharpen and care for their own set of handtools to learn proper use of them while constructing a mallet and storage box for their handtools. Taught by Peter Montague (see above).

Screen Printing

• Single-Color Screen Printing: A One-Day Introduction, Saturday, June 9 — Ever wanted to make your own custom t-shirt, tote bag, sticker, poster, or greeting card? The Asylum finally has a space and classes for you! In this one day intensive introduction to screen printing, you’ll learn all the basics and by the end of the day create a screen using your artwork and print a one-color design on your choice of t-shirts or paper. Taught by Erik Heumiller, graphic designer, film editor, printer, and Asylum renter and volunteer.

Sewing & Fiber Arts

• Introduction to Sewing, Mondays, June 11-25 — Learn your way around a sewing machine while making a pair of comfortable drawstring pants. You can learn on our machines or bring your own! The class follows the process from pattern to cutting to pinning, sewing machine basics, to seams and buttons and hems. Taught by Carolyn Emberley, lifelong maker and artist, and longtime Asylum member, volunteer, and sewing and woodworking instructor.

For full information and links, check out the Current Class Offerings page.

Another month gone, but not so your chance to sign up for May classes at the Asylum. We have just a handful that haven’t sold out yet — if you’ve been waffling or waiting, now’s the time to choose one!

Starting Tomorrow

• Basic Bicycle Maintenance, 2 SEATS LEFT! Wednesdays, May 2-23 — You may know how to ride your bicycle, but if you don’t know how to take care of it you’ll end up losing speed, causing damage, or stranded with a flat tire. Get your bike skills in shape before you hit the road again in the spring!

• NEW! Ableton Live: Intro to Advanced (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Wednesdays, May 2-30 — A comprehensive course about music composition, track production, and designing performance rigs using Ableton Live 8. In the intro class, students will cover the ins and outs of Ableton and learn all of its core functionality, its common uses, and a couple of uncommon ones. In the advanced class, students will be working with remixing, recording new content, using plugins / Max4Live, and creating plans for individual electronic musicians to get the most out of Ableton Live as a production/performance tool.

Starting Next Week

• Introduction to Sewing, 2 SEATS LEFT! Mondays, May 7-21 — Learn your way around a sewing machine while making a pair of comfortable drawstring pants. You can learn on our machines or bring your own! The class follows the process from pattern to cutting to pinning, sewing machine basics, to seams and buttons and hems.

• NEW! Power Electronics (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Tuesdays, May 8-29 — Power Electronics will teach you how to, well, power things! Batteries are extremely handy ways to store energy, but don’t always come at the right voltages — it can be hard to find the 5 volt, 12 volt, or 17.34 volt battery that your project so desperately needs. This class will focus on how to take standard power sources (such as wall power or battery power) and convert them to a useful voltage for your projects!

• NEW! Metal Soldering for Jewelry & Sculpture, Wednesdays, May 9-30 (Afternoon and Evening sessions available) — Our first course on soldering for jewelry and small metal sculpture! Learn all the fundamentals to making clean, professional-quality seams in small metal fabrication. Students will learn several types of soldering for attachment of bezels for stones, modified and organic prongs settings, T joints, soldering tubing, sweat soldering, pinbacks, earring backs and bales.

• Introduction to Electronics, Thursday, May 10-31 — A beginner’s course in the theory and practice behind electronics assembly. This class will give you a working understanding of transistors by starting with core physical principles like voltage, current, and charge, and ending with building your own amplifiers and simple digital logic circuits.

Later This Month

• Metalcasting with Sand, Bone and Water, Saturday and Sunday, May 19 & 20 — Learn to cast with molten metal without all the expensive equipment! In this workshop, you’ll learn to cast 3-dimensional metal pieces using simple and versatile molding methods and organic materials: water, delft clay, and cuttlebone. Students will gain experience carving, molding, casting, and soldering.

With a little more than a week to go, there are still seats left in a lot of May classes – so take a look below and see if there’s something for you!

Screen Printing

• NEW! Single-Color Screen Printing: A One-Day Introduction, Saturday, May 12, and Saturday, May 26 — Ever wanted to make your own custom t-shirt, tote bag, sticker, poster, or greeting card? The Asylum finally has a space and classes for you! In this one day intensive introduction to screen printing, you’ll learn all the basics and by the end of the day create a screen using your artwork and print a one-color design on your choice of t-shirts or paper. Taught by Erik Heumiller, graphic designer, film editor, printer, and Asylum renter and volunteer.

Digital Media

• NEW! Ableton Live: Intro to Advanced (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Wednesdays, May 2-30 — A comprehensive course about music composition, track production, and designing performance rigs using Ableton Live 8. In the intro class, students will cover the ins and outs of Ableton and learn all of its core functionality, its common uses, and a couple of uncommon ones. In the advanced class, students will be working with remixing, recording new content, using plugins / Max4Live, and creating plans for individual electronic musicians to get the most out of Ableton Live as a production/performance tool. Taught by Jester, well-known Boston area administrator, manager, designer, producer and problem-solver, co-founder and leader of CEMMI, and Ben Cantil (Encanti), independent music producer, performer, sound designer, DJ, and VJ, dedicated to creating high-quality and uniquely customized electronic media experiences, foremost in the A/V production Zebbler Encanti Experience, and in the band Shpongle Live.

Electronics & Robotics

• Introduction to Electronics, Thursday, May 10-31 — A beginner’s course in the theory and practice behind electronics assembly. This class will give you a working understanding of transistors by starting with core physical principles like voltage, current, and charge, and ending with building your own amplifiers and simple digital logic circuits. Taught by Avinash Uttamchandani, electrical & computer engineer and instructor at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Science.
• NEW! Practical Electronics & Programming with Arduino, Sundays, May 13 – June 21 — A new, expanded introduction to the Arduino microcontroller. This class is an introduction to physical computing (using a computer system to sense, react to, and effect the physical world) with the Arduino. Students will learn the basic electronics and programming skills required to have an Arduino turn lights on and off, sense the world in a variety of ways, and move different kinds of motors automatically. Taught by Joe Schlesinger, electrical & computer engineer, MakeIt Labs maker space founder, and a new member of the Asylum.
• NEW! Power Electronics (Brought to you by CEMMI.) Tuesdays, May 8-29 — Power Electronics will teach you how to, well, power things! Batteries are extremely handy ways to store energy, but don’t always come at the right voltages — it can be hard to find the 5 volt, 12 volt, or 17.34 volt battery that your project so desperately needs. This class will focus on how to take standard power sources (such as wall power or battery power) and convert them to a useful voltage for your projects! Taught by Nathan Lachenmyer, quantum physicist, electrical engineering graduate student at MIT, installation and generative artist, blogger, and education coordinator of CEMMI.

Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing

• NEW! CNC Intensive: CAD, CAM, and Cutting, Thursdays, April 26 – May 31 — This exciting new class brings you all the way through the fabrication process for creating your own CNC-manufactured work using free and low-cost software tools. This class focuses on the practical steps involved in capturing a conceptual design in 2D digital format, creating instructions for cutting pieces using computer-controlled machinery, and operating the Blackfoot CNC router in the Artisan’s Asylum woodshop. Taught by Jeff Jackson, long-time Asylum member and volunteer, primary operator of our Blackfoot, electrical engineer and digital fabrication technology and desktop manufacturing enthusiast.
• Tool Training: CNC Router, Sundays, April 8, 15, & 22 — This three-hour training runs you through the basic operations of the CNC wood-cutting router. Each student will take the machine through an entire workflow cycle, from starting up and homing the machine to part removal and clean-up, leaving with a small product they made themselves. No software experience of any kind needed. Taught by Judah Sher, Asylum member and industrial designer who’s been designing, building, and selling his own CNC router over the past two years.
• Tool Training: 3D Printer — This class fully trains and prepares students for using the uPrint SE Plus 3D printer independently, whenever they need projects made. Members who have taken this class receive a substantial discount on materials when using the printer to make 3D models. Taught by Gui Cavalcanti, roboticist and President of the Asylum.

Metalworking

• NEW! Build Your Own Bike Frame, Saturdays, May 5-26 — Ever frustrated by riding a bike just not shaped well for you? Ever tempted to try and build your own frame, but not sure where to start? This is the class for you! Over four weeks, students will build a custom-fit bicycle frame from steel tubes, using Fillet brazed, lugged, or TIG welded construction. Taught by Paul Carson, Asylum member, engineer, and self-taught bicycle designer.
• Intro to TIG Welding, Mondays, May 7-28, and Tuesdays, May 8-29 — Come learn how to weld with Skunk! TIG welding is a precise type of welding generally used to make space frames (like bicycle frames) and small pieces. Students learn operation of a TIG welder and a large range of supporting equipment for a variety of materials and joint types. Taught by Skunk, metal sculptor, graphic designer, bike builder, Grand Poobah of the nerd bicycle gang SCUL, and long-time Asylum TIG welding instructor and member.

• NEW! Metal Texturing Workshop, Saturday & Sunday, April 28-29 — In this packed two-day workshop, explore creating diverse and interesting textures on metal using various mechanical and chemical processes. Working with brass, copper and silver, students will etch and emboss a myriad of textures, finishes, and patterns using a variety of professional and home-made tools and techniques. Taught by Karen Christians, Asylum member, professional jewelry-maker and artist, published author, and founder of Cleverwerx, e-commerce metalsmith and jewelry website, and Metalwerx, jewelry school in Waltham, MA.
• NEW! Metal Soldering for Jewelry & Sculpture, Wednesdays, May 9-30 (Afternoon and Evening sessions available) — Our first course on soldering for jewelry and small metal sculpture! Learn all the fundamentals to making clean, professional-quality seams in small metal fabrication. Students will learn several types of soldering for attachment of bezels for stones, modified and organic prongs settings, T joints, soldering tubing, sweat soldering, pinbacks, earring backs and bales. Taught by Karen Christians (see above).
• Metalcasting with Sand, Bone and Water, Saturday and Sunday, May 19 & 20 — Learn to cast with molten metal without all the expensive equipment! In this workshop, you’ll learn to cast 3-dimensional metal pieces using simple and versatile molding methods and organic materials: water, delft clay, and cuttlebone. Students will gain experience carving, molding, casting, and soldering. Taught by Karen Christians (see above).

Woodworking

• Intro to Woodworking: Build a Box, Wednesdays, May 9 – June 6 – This class is an introduction to fine woodworking techniques, including reviewing types of wood and their appropriate uses, joinery techniques, finishing techniques, and learning the proper use of most of the tools in the woodshop. Taught by Carolyn Emberley, lifelong maker and artist, and longtime Asylum member, volunteer, and sewing and woodworking instructor.
• Joinery 1: Hand Tools, Saturdays, May 5-26 — This is the first in a new series of classes designed to teach the art of joinery from beginning to end. This 4-week session in the maintenance and use of the student’s own block plane, chisels, and cabinet scraper will be a required prerequisite for all following classes in the series. Taught by Peter Montague, master woodworker and graduate of the North Bennett St. School, and Asylum member, woodworking instructor, and woodshop manager.

Sewing & Fiber Arts

• Introduction to Sewing, Mondays, May 7-21 — Learn your way around a sewing machine while making a pair of comfortable drawstring pants. You can learn on our machines or bring your own! The class follows the process from pattern to cutting to pinning, sewing machine basics, to seams and buttons and hems. Taught by Carolyn Emberley, lifelong maker and artist, and longtime Asylum member, volunteer, and sewing and woodworking instructor.
• NEW! Open Sewing Work Session, Sunday morning, April 22 — Bring your projects for a communal morning of stitching. An experienced sewer or two will be on hand to help you through roadblocks you’ve hit, pattern instructions you can’t figure out, troubleshooting your sewing machine, or just to ask questions you’ve been dying to know the answer to.

Bicycle Maintenance & Repair

• Basic Bicycle Maintenance, Wednesdays, May 2-23 — You may know how to ride your bicycle, but if you don’t know how to take care of it you’ll end up losing speed, causing damage, or stranded with a flat tire. Get your bike skills in shape before you hit the road again in the spring!