Greetings to all,

Just joined the ArtMetal community today. I am a metalsmith trained in the commercial jewelry field (meaning I received my unofficial "apprenticeship" from working in the wholesale/retail jewelry industry) with folks who had their own shop and were willing to show me what they knew. I spent 15 years in the profession and then switched to teaching. I teach jewelry and small sculpture at Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane, WA, and have done so for 23 years. While I teach full time, I have my own business as well doing the occasional job for people I know.

Last Wednesday I attended my first class in Art Metal Design at a local community college. I'm taking the class from someone whose work I already respect, someone I trust as a teacher, someone who cares deeply about art.