[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkMW1ZOdMdc]The Artisan’s Asylum is a non-profit community craft studio located on Joy Street, near Union Square. The can-do gang there offers classes and the tools to practice a wide variety of crafts with resources for metalworking, welding, wood, electronics, sewing and bicycle repair.
Every week their hosting Free Craft Fridays where members of the community can stop by to use their equipment and space for free! Registration is encouraged but not required. Become a member of the Asylum and you can have access to their space and equipment during all their open hours. Starting this month they’re expanding their weekday evening hours. Members can use the space 6 pm to 11 pm weekdays and from 11 am to 7 pm on weekends.
March Classes at the Artisan’s Asylum:
Metalworking for Women: This class is intended to be an introduction to sculptural metalworking techniques for women, featuring MIG welders, spot welders, and cold forming. Students will learn how to express themselves artistically through steel. Sundays.
Sculptural Metalworking: This is a gender-neutral version of Metalworking for Women, our original sculptural class offering. The class covers the same equipment and topics. Sundays.
Introduction to TIG Welding – Tuesdays and Introduction to TIG Welding Thursdays: Learn how to TIG weld (a precise form of metal welding used primarily for welding tubing together) ‘like a ballerina’ from Skunk.
Precision Metal Machining: If you’ve been operating in a world of hand tools and drill presses to work with metal, step up your game and join the big boys on the mills and lathes! This class covers manual machining techniques on large, industrial metalworking equipment. Thursdays.
Introduction to Computer-Aided Manufacturing: Learn some fundamental principles behind computer-aided manufacturing while learning how to design and make parts for the 4′x8′ computer-controlled router installed at Artisan’s Asylum! Sundays.
3D Printing Using the Makerbot: Learn how to design (in Google SketchUp) and manufacture basic 3D plastic parts using the Makerbot, a hobbyist 3D printer. Wednesdays.
Introduction to Woodworking: Building the Asylum: In exchange for teaching you basic woodworking and framing techniques, we ask students to help build Asylum infrastructure like worktables, cabinets and the like. Tuesdays.
Introduction to Woodworking, Small Projects: This class will focus on fine woodworking techniques like joining and finishing (as opposed to framing ala Building the Asylum), where students complete small projects with plans provided by the instructor from scratch. Thursdays.
Introduction to Electronics: Come get your feet wet in the field of electronics! We’ll introduce you to simple circuits and theory so that, by the end of the class, you’ll be able to start pursuing your own projects without a crippling fear of the unknowable world of electrical black magic. Sundays.
Programming the Arduino: Learn how to program the Arduino microcontroller, an easy-to-learn hobby board that allows for simple command of lights, motors and other outputs, while taking a huge variety of sensor inputs. These boards are useful for just about every robotics, electronics, or mechatronics project you can imagine. Saturdays.
Introduction to Sewing: Learn all about your sewing machine and how to use it in this short class that will leave you with a pillow of your own design! Mondays.
Sewing II: Sewing from a Pattern: Take your sewing to the next level by learning how to pick out a pattern, measure yourself, cut the pattern to fit your measurements, and create a piece of custom clothing that’s perfectly tailored to your size! Monday.
Make Your Own Tandem Bicycle: Learn how to make your own tow tandem bicycle in preparation for the warm months to come! Tow tandems are break-apart, easily-stowed versions of the classic tandem bicycle. Students must bring a ‘donor’ bike frame to be chopped up and used to make the final product. Sundays.
Events in March:
A Taste of Ireland, March 14th: A classy exploration of the food and drink of Ireland in preparation for St. Patrick’s day! Come partake of several Irish whiskies and paired food offerings, while learning about the history of the whisky industry in Ireland.
From Adrianne Schaefer, Union Square Farmers Market Manager
