Artisan’s Asylum
Artisan’s is a 40,000sf. member-powered studio and fabrication facility in Somerville dedicated to advancing hands-on arts and sciences.
Open to the public 12:00PM to 10:00PM MON-THU and 10:00AM to 6:00PM FRI-SAT
Tours run at 2:00 and 8:00PM MON-THU, 3:00PM FRI and 2:00 and 4:00PM SAT, SUN
April 2020
Learn Online: Introduction to Stop Motion Animation (Ages 7 – 12)
Kids will learn how to create their own stop motion animated films using their smartphone or tablet device. During the online sessions, we will review many different styles of stop motion animation and the techniques designers use in creating their film. Students will learn how to design their characters, use household objects for set design, and use storyboards to map out their narrative.
Find out more »Learn Online: Introduction to PCB Design in Autodesk Eagle
This class goes over the basics of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design from basic concept to functional design that could be ordered and made into a functional PCB. The class is split into 3 sections; you can decide to take all three or take just the section you want to learn more about.
Find out more »May 2020
Introduction to TIG Welding
Class fee: $345 / Materials fee: $20. This class is designed to introduce students to the process of TIG welding, a precise type of welding most often used in the manufacture of spaceframe structures like bike frames and roll cages. Students will learn how to weld primarily 4130 chromoly steel tubing, as well as different types of materials, shapes, and joints, and will learn how to use a range of supporting equipment (drill press, hole saws, grinders, etc.) and processes that come with welding.
Find out more »Art and Interactive Electronics
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee $30. Electronics are everywhere, and now, they are becoming part of our art. This four hour course
will introduce you to the Adafruit Circuit Playground, a wearable and relatively easy to program microcontroller/development board, that is based on the extremely popular Arduino platform, used throughout the world in many educational settings.
Designing with Canva
Are you a small business owner trying to navigate your way in the digital marketing space? Are you a designer or artist looking to brush up on your graphic design skills? Then this Designing With Canva For Business Workshop is for you! Save yourself the stress and financial burden of having to hire graphic designers to design all of your marketing materials.
Find out more »Figure Drawing Monthly Pass – May 2020
Figure Drawing is an open studio class where people of all artistic levels are invited to explore the human form through drawing and painting. Figure drawing is a great opportunity to keep your artistic skills sharp whether you are a seasoned artist or a beginner: learn the basics of drawing from the nude form! Students are free to draw however they like. The model will strike and hold various poses for varied lengths of time: you will have the opportunity to work on quick sketching skills as well as longer studies.
Find out more »Leatherworking 101: Make a Belt
Over the course of 2.5 hours, this class aims to teach students the basics of leatherworking. This class will walk students through creating a basic belt design, choosing the proper materials (types of leather, leather weights, pre-finished vs. raw leather, thread type, etc.), selecting the proper tools and using them correctly, finishing techniques, and more.
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Tool Review & Testing: Jewelry Studio
Tool Review & Testing is designed for those with some level of jewelry experience, whether you're a hobbyist or a seasoned metalsmith. This session does not teach fabrication skills such as soldering, polishing, etc. Those who are new to jewelry-making or metalsmithing must take Jewelry 101 first. You will not be able to pass the Tool Test without having prior metalsmithing experience prior to this Tool Review session.
Find out more »Hands On Basic Electronics
Class fee: $225 / Materials fee: $30. Have you been interested in learning to work with electronics, but haven’t known where to start? This class is for you! It will be a hands-on, practical, crash course that will provide you with the skills to do simple electronic projects. You will walk away knowing the basics of circuit theory, how to prototype circuits on a breadboard, how to troubleshoot them, and how to solder them together.
Find out more »Metalworking 102 – Cut, Grind, and Punch!
Metalworking 102 provides training on the safety and operation of the larger, more useful, and more difficult to operate equipment in the metal shop. We’ll cover the safe and effective use of a number of tools in the shop, including the vertical bandsaw, belt grinder, uni-Hydro Iron Worker and others.
Find out more »Introduction to Screen Printing: Weekend Workshop
Screen printing is a great way to put your designs on t-shirts, tote bags, cards, posters, and more. But it can be a tricky skill to pick up on your own! Join us for a weekend class, and we'll take the mystery out of the process. Using the photo emulsion process and your design, we'll prepare screens and print on a variety of surfaces.
Find out more »Basic MIG Welding
Class fee: $120 / Materials fee: $30. MIG Welding (Metal Inert Gas Welding) is a simple, versatile arc welding process that is generally considered to be the easiest to learn of the arc welding processes. Our Basic MIG Welding class is designed for the very beginner or for the intermediate welder that needs a refresher.
Find out more »Build A Cherry Side Table Part 1
Class fee: $400 / Materials fee: $200. This hands-on class will introduce you to fine woodworking furniture. We will start from one rough lumber Cherry board to create a Shaker style Cherry Side Table. The techniques and skills learned in this class will allow the student to approach any project size. In this class we will use virtually all the tools in the woodshop from Chisel to Tablesaw, Router, Band saw, Joiner, Planer and Miter saw.
Find out more »CNC Plasma Cutter Table – Drawing, Operation, Parts!
The most Metal of all the metalworking classes. This class will provide students with the skills needed to operate our CNC plasma cutter - the custom 4'x8' bed, 85-amp Torchmate 2. This killer tool has the capacity to cut 5/8" thick sheet steel at 60% duty cycle, and the capability of cutting through up to 1-1/4" steel with an edge start, as well as doing detail cutting in sheet metal. This tool takes your drawing files and turns them into computer-cut metal, at cut speeds upwards of 220 inches per minute.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weeknights)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »Rock the Serger – Make A Zippered Pouch
Class fee: $50 / Materials fee: $5. Interested in taking your sewing skills to the next level? A serger is a machine that trims the fabric, creates a seam, and overcasts the edge, all in one step. When used in tandem with a traditional sewing machine, the serger can increase sewing speed while simultaneously adding a professional touch to the project.
Find out more »Learn Lightroom Classic CC
We use Adobe Lightroom CC in our photo studio to capture photos and to organize, post-process, and export the results. Learn how to move from start to finish in Lightroom CC. We’ll start with the basics of importing & exporting, before diving into advanced post-processing such as color correction, noise reduction, curves adjustments. You’ll learn how to correct mistakes in exposure, crop your images, prepare files for web use, fix blemishes, and more. We’ll cover batch editing, so you’ll save time and achieve a consistent result with many images at a time. Finally, we’ll explore any advanced effects you might be interested in, such as adding vignetting or creating duotones.
Find out more »Tool Training: Rough to Smooth – Using the Miter Saw, Bandsaw, Jointer, Planer and Sanders
Class fee: $145 / Materials fee: $15. After selecting and purchasing lumber, the next step in any woodworking project is to flatten and straighten the stock. Not that long ago, this work was laboriously done by hand. Fortunately, there are four machines available today that are specifically designed to take rough sawn lumber and process it into boards that are straight, flat, and true!
Find out more »Make a Ukulele!
Develop your basic woodworking skills by building a ukulele from a simple wood kit. Sand, glue, assemble, and personalize your one-of-a-kind instrument and learn a few basic chords along the way.
Find out more »Tool Training: Industrial Sewing Machines
Sew a custom shop apron in heavy canvas or leather. Learn to sew on the heavy-duty sewing machines. Adapt the pattern to your height and weight, then cut and sew in one evening. No sewing experience necessary.
Find out more »Tool Training: Metal Lathe
In this class, you will learn how to precisely perform basic machining operations using the lathe. You will learn about tool selection, speeds and feeds, and how to use the DRO (Digital Read Out) to make precisely dimensioned parts. You will practice setting up the machine, use the 3-jaw chuck to securely hold work, change tools, and perform facing and turning cuts on aluminum stock.
Find out more »Jewelry 201: Setting Faceted Gemstones
Class Fee: $225 / Materials Fee: $30. Build upon your Jewelry 101 skills and learn the art of setting faceted gemstones! In two evening sessions, we will cover how to set faceted gemstones in small bezels, also known as tube-setting, as well as setting faceted gemstones in prongs (classic 4-prong heads).
Find out more »Build a Cherry Side Table PART 2
This is Part 2 of a two-part series. This hands-on class will introduce you to fine woodworking furniture. We will start from one rough lumber Cherry board to create a Shaker style Cherry Side Table with a drawer. The techniques and skills learned in this class will allow the student to approach any project size. With this class we will use virtually all the tools in the woodshop from Chisel to Tablesaw, Router, Band saw, Joiner, Planer and Miter saw. Demonstration on hand planing / sharpening if times allows.
Find out more »Tool Training: Bridgeport Mill
In this class you will learn how to use the Bridgeport mill to perform basic precision machining operations. You will learn about tool selection, selecting spindle speeds, and climb milling vs. conventional milling. You will practice setting up the machine, holding work in the vise, changing tools and performing basic cuts.
Find out more »Leatherworking 102: Make A Wallet
Class cost: $100 / Materials Fee: $35 Expand on basic skills learned in Leatherworking 101 and learn new skills such as hand stitching, creating pockets, and finishing natural leather with oil. Students will be able to choose from a small selection of designs to create a wallet from a pre-made template that they can modify. This class should run for about 3-4 hours depending on if students want to stay to finish their stitching.
Find out more »Intro to Mat Cutting
Class fee: $45 / Materials fee: $20. n this single-session class you will learn how to use a Logan mat cutter to make professional-looking mats for artwork and display. We will cut mats to size, layout the window, cut the beveled inner faces, assemble the mat onto the foam-core backing board and mount the artwork to give you a finished piece, ready to be put into a frame.
Find out more »Intro to Mat Cutting
Class fee: $45 / Materials fee: $20. n this single-session class you will learn how to use a Logan mat cutter to make professional-looking mats for artwork and display. We will cut mats to size, layout the window, cut the beveled inner faces, assemble the mat onto the foam-core backing board and mount the artwork to give you a finished piece, ready to be put into a frame.
Find out more »Tool Training: 3D Printers (Weekends)
This one session class will train students on how to use the Asylum’s multiple 3D printers safely and effectively, running through using the 3D model compiler (Simplify3D), printing parts, changing materials, properly removing parts from the beds, and properly disposing of all materials after the print: all the training you need to get going in one afternoon!
Find out more »June 2020
Guided Bike Tune-up
Tired of taking your bike to the shop for a tune-up? Learn to do this basic maintenance yourself and how to identify and fix small problems before they put your bike out of commission.
Find out more »