Summer Workshops Current — Haystack Mountain School of Crafts

Craft-Centered CNC Tool Design

Craft-Centered CNC Tool Design

Digital fabrication offers new opportunities for craft, but contemporary digital fabrication technologies reinforce industrial manufacturing conventions. Jennifer Jacob’s research lab seeks to support skilled craftspeople by reimagining digital fabrication machines as extensions of traditional craft tools with a focus on the domain of ceramics. Jacobs’s and Ilan Moyers’s work focuses on developing new clay 3D printing mechanisms that preserve the look and feel of manual pottery tools and new interfaces that allow potters to integrate automated fabrication with manual control. This work situates technologies in craft communities to co-design products and workflows that reflect a craft-centric vision of digital fabrication. During their residency, Jacobs and Moyer will share the work they create on campus, and at times during the two-week session, invite workshop participants to engage with these digital fabrication tools.

Jennifer Jacobs (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara and the Director of Expressive Computation. She is developing new clay 3D printing mechanisms that preserve the look and feel of manual pottery tools.

Ilan Moyer (he/him) is a PhD student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He builds digital fabrication tools for craftspeople.

Session 4Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Fab Lab Residents, Jennifer Jacobs + Ilan Moyer

S4 Fab Lab Resident 2

Halvah jelly-o halvah muffin chocolate bar powder. Toffee donut sweet roll brownie wafer jelly beans. Gingerbread danish ice cream jujubes pastry. Chocolate candy soufflé gummies sweet roll. Chocolate bear claw jelly-o candy canes apple pie sesame snaps. Oat cake marzipan sweet roll cake danish cheesecake marshmallow. Marzipan lollipop toffee marshmallow brownie bear claw. Cotton candy croissant jelly-o fruitcake cotton candy jelly tart. Macaroon cotton candy wafer jelly beans powder soufflé. Topping toffee toffee brownie donut brownie lollipop.

Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024

Everything Everywhere All at Once: A Plethora of Techniques

Everything Everywhere All at Once: A Plethora of Techniques

This ceramics workshop invites participants to explore and deepen their unique artistic voices, focusing on personal themes and expressive clarity. Through the collaborative teaching of two accomplished ceramic sculptors, participants will engage in a diverse array of techniques, from intricate carving to large-scale building. The workshop will cover innovative approaches to glazing and non-glazing, clay modifications, press-molding, and post-firing methods, as well as the integration of mixed media elements—creating a comprehensive environment for skill development and creative experimentation. This workshop is not intended for beginners. Basic skills in ceramics are required—mainly hand-building.

Richard Notkin’s teapots, ceramic sculptures, and tile murals are stages for social/political commentary. He was featured in the premier Craft in America episode on PBS and elected a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2008.

Trey Hill (he/him) is a professor at the University of Montana where he teaches ceramics and sculpture.

Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Ceramics, Richard Notkin + Trey Hill

Lantern Procession + Parade

Lantern Procession + Parade

Processions and parades are ancient collective performance practices that build community, metabolize big feelings, and mark time! In this workshop, we will collaboratively build an illuminated procession inspired by the temporal nature of our summer community. We will work with basket reed, wire, paper, fabric, and responsibly foraged materials to craft lanterns and wearables. Play with movement and narrative ideas will animate our processional performance. The session will include facilitated community-building activities, tips for hosting art builds, and opportunities for co-facilitation. All levels welcome.

Valeska Populoh (she/her) is an artist, performer, educator, and cultural organizer. She works mostly in Baltimore, MD and the Chesapeake Bay bioregion, unceded land of the Piscataway Conoy and other Chesapeake First Families.

2025, Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Fiber, Valeska Populoh

Revelations in Form: Utilizing Tones + Values

Revelations in Form: Utilizing Tones + Values

Designing within the parameters of monochromatic color schemes offers us the chance to work with unblemished purity, an ability to highlight an object’s sense of neutrality, and to focus more on shape and form without the visual distractions often created by patterns on the surface of things. This workshop will allow participants an opportunity to focus on making unconventional and conventional shapes, their surface contours, silhouettes, and postures, and emphasize the 3D footprint an object holds in a space. A minimum of two years of glassblowing experience is required.

Robert Lewis (he/him) is an American/Canadian artist, educator, maker, and craftsman who originally hails from the great state of Maine.

Dave Walters (he/him), having taught, traveled, and exhibited globally, spent more than thirty years working with Lino Tagliepietra and assisting top glass artists. His art practice merges intricately blown glass forms with detailed enamel work to use fairy tales as a lens for contemporary social and political commentary.

Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Glass, Robert Lewis + Dave Walters

The Bedazzled Form

The Bedazzled Form

Form, color, and movement unite in this fabrication and stone setting intensive workshop. Participants will learn the fundamentals of hollow form fabrication and stone setting techniques to produce one-of-a-kind jewelry and small sculptures. The workshop will be structured around a series of demonstrations to learn hollow forming using the hydraulic die press, rectilinear forming, and fabrication methods. From there, a variety of traditional and alternative settings will be used to embellish your forms. Chain, brooch mechanisms, and other kinetic parts will be demonstrated to add movement and function to your pieces. Participants will design and fabricate their own unique, bedazzled objects. Whether you have years of experience or have never touched a rivet hammer, this workshop will enhance the practice of both beginners and seasoned makers. All levels welcome.

Adam Atkinson (they/them) is a metalsmith, curator, and educator.

Everett Hoffman (they/them) is an object maker and light enthusiast.

Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Metals, Adam Atkinson + Everett Hoffman

Serious Play: Exploring Mechanical Movements through Wooden Toys

Serious Play: Exploring Mechanical Movements through Wooden Toys

Using push-and-pull toys as a prompt, participants will begin to explore simple, handmade, wood mechanisms such as hinges, levers, cams, and cranks. Small and playful, these objects will allow us to explore how moving parts come with their own set of opportunities and challenges. All levels welcome.

Katie Hudnall (she/her) is a woodworker, artist, and educator in Madison, WI, where she runs the Woodworking program at UW–Madison.

Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Wood, Katie Hudnall

S5 Visiting Artist

Halvah jelly-o halvah muffin chocolate bar powder. Toffee donut sweet roll brownie wafer jelly beans. Gingerbread danish ice cream jujubes pastry. Chocolate candy soufflé gummies sweet roll. Chocolate bear claw jelly-o candy canes apple pie sesame snaps. Oat cake marzipan sweet roll cake danish cheesecake marshmallow. Marzipan lollipop toffee marshmallow brownie bear claw. Cotton candy croissant jelly-o fruitcake cotton candy jelly tart. Macaroon cotton candy wafer jelly beans powder soufflé. Topping toffee toffee brownie donut brownie lollipop.

Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024

Instructive Assembly

Instructive Assembly

Throughout the residency, Jiyoo Jye and Nathan Melenbrink will focus on design research, exploring a modular assembly system enhanced with embedded electronics to create an intuitive construction experience. The system integrates color-coded LEDs that light up sequentially, guiding users through the next assembly steps. By embedding instructive visual cues directly into each module, the assembly process becomes more accessible, reducing reliance on traditional, text-heavy instructions. Through this work, they aim to streamline the learning curve and enable efficient, user-friendly assembly across various applications.

Jiyoo Jye (she/her) is on a quest for creative inquiry, the role of the arts, and doing crafts.

Nathan Melenbrink (he/him) is a designer, researcher, and educator specializing in digital fabrication, construction automation, and sustainable design.

Session 5Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024Fab Lab Residents, Jiyoo Jye + Nathan Melenbrink

S5 Fab Lab Resident 2

Halvah jelly-o halvah muffin chocolate bar powder. Toffee donut sweet roll brownie wafer jelly beans. Gingerbread danish ice cream jujubes pastry. Chocolate candy soufflé gummies sweet roll. Chocolate bear claw jelly-o candy canes apple pie sesame snaps. Oat cake marzipan sweet roll cake danish cheesecake marshmallow. Marzipan lollipop toffee marshmallow brownie bear claw. Cotton candy croissant jelly-o fruitcake cotton candy jelly tart. Macaroon cotton candy wafer jelly beans powder soufflé. Topping toffee toffee brownie donut brownie lollipop.

Molly FlaniganNovember 21, 2024

Storybook Surfaces

Storybook Surfaces

Make functional pots on and off the wheel using red earthenware, applying slip to create canvases for illustrative surface designs. Sgraffito and underglaze techniques to achieve pen and watercolor-like effects will be demonstrated. Through interactive drawing exercises, participants will learn to develop narratives and characters, plan designs, and respond to form, finding joy in the process. Pieces will be low-fired with satin, gloss, and translucent glazes. An approachable way to explore surface design, even for those who feel they can’t draw. All levels welcome.

Celia Feldberg (she/her) makes illustrated pottery, teaches, and maintains an active involvement at craft schools. She lives in Philadelphia where she is a long-term resident at The Clay Studio.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Ceramics, Celia Feldberg

Drafting Weave Creation

Drafting Weave Creation

This workshop will focus on experimental weave creation and manipulation through paper drafting and on-loom sampling. Various traditional weave patterns will be discussed and broken down into their basic components to enable participants to create their own variations. Participants will explore techniques for modifying existing drafts, create their own weaves from scratch, and use sample warps to realize their weave creations and experiment on-loom. This workshop is intended for individuals who are new to drafting and have at least a basic understanding and experience with weaving and loom setup.

Alyson Ainsworth (she/her) is a New York City-based artist and designer who specializes in developing complex weave structures with nontraditional materials.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Fiber, Alyson Ainsworth

Experimentation in the Hotshop: Can an Apple Explode Glass?

Experimentation in the Hotshop: Can an Apple Explode Glass?

In this workshop, we will explore hot glass in a playful and experimental manner, approaching it in ways that go beyond conventional glassmaking techniques. Instead of learning established techniques, we will explore this amorphous material on its own terms, through a mixture of play and reflective decision-making. By the end of the session, our understanding of the material and its limitations will have been changed forever. All levels welcome.

Maria Bang Espersen´s (she/her) approach to glass is experimental and she invents her own techniques rather than following traditions.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Glass, Maria Bang Espersen

Cut, Paste, Print: A Collage to Screenprint Workshop

You have taken a screenprinting workshop (or a few) and have the skills you need to create your own, unique prints. Or, maybe you are a beginner wanting to add a new medium to your artistic skillset. This workshop will take you through creating a one-of-a-kind collage and then producing it as a screenprint. Participants will learn collage techniques and the screenprinting process from concept and ideation to final production of prints. All levels welcome.

Carlos Hernandez’s (he/him) work has been showcased through a variety of gallery shows, the music industry, restaurant design, and corporate work.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Graphics, Carlos Hernandez

The Art of Metal Utensils: Function Meets Sculpture

The Art of Metal Utensils: Function Meets Sculpture

This workshop combines jewelry-making precision with larger-scale metalworking to craft unique utensils in brass, copper, and steel.Participants will explore design and creation through cold connections, surface finishing, and integrating materials like wood or bone. Guided demonstrations and hands-on experimentation will inspire the transformation of raw materials into functional or sculptural pieces, blending practicality with artistry. All levels welcome.

Erica Moody (she/her) is a metal craftsman with three decades of experience creating finely crafted utensils, tools, and architectural work. Her work blends artistry with function, earning recognition in exhibitions and collaborations worldwide.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Metals, Erica Moody

Sculptural Mirror Frames

Sculptural Mirror Frames

In this workshop, we will spend time exploring the elements of design to create a sculptural mirror frame of your own design. Participants will learn how to make patterns for various elements of your frames, how to safely use stationary power tools to mill rough lumber, and produce the stock for building your frame. Participants will learn the process of bricklay lamination, as well as various shaping techniques such as using rasps and files, abrasive tools, and routers. All levels welcome.

Lacey Carnahan (she/her) lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. She works out of her home shop with her partner and her sweet pup.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Wood, Lacey Carnahan

Writing the Blue Note

Writing the Blue Note

In jazz and the blues, "the blue note"—a series of no-note notes or the variations of a note—strikes an emotional chord never replicated in predictive measure. Poet Yusef Komunyakaa refers to the poet's work as working towards a blue note, as well: ". . . we’re not forcing [a poem] into a preconceived mold. We are willing to be surprised and consequently, that mold is elastic." In this workshop, we will seek out and celebrate the blue note in various poems (both in free verse and form), and write/revise our work to more surprising, elastic, even reckless places. The workshop is generative, but you are encouraged to bring unfinished drafts, lines, or ideas, as well. All levels welcome.

Ciona Rouse (she/her) is a poet, curator, teaching artist, and bookstore owner in Nashville, TN.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Writing, Ciona Rouse

Lightbound Vessels: Adapting Laser Welding to a New Material Future

Lightbound Vessels: Adapting Laser Welding to a New Material Future

Jake Horsey’s residency will focus on and model how further developing the tools and techniques used for exploring what is possible with petroleum-free polymers is key to accelerating their adoption. Laser welding of plastic films is already a well established method of fabrication for fluidic devices, often gated by high cost and expert knowledge. Low cost, low energy, desktop CO2 lasers present a unique opportunity for material researchers and product developers to build functional, high fidelity prototypes with a piece of equipment that is often already sitting in the lab or studio.

Jake Horsey (he/him) is a product engineer and fabricator based in Sargentville, ME.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Fab Lab Resident, Jake Horsey

Faster, Cheaper, Stronger: Crafting Composites with 3D Printing

Faster, Cheaper, Stronger: Crafting Composites with 3D Printing

3D printing combined with traditional crafting techniques can change how we create. This hybrid approach lowers the bar for entry and increases the ability to craft more intricate forms. By integrating bio-based and recycled materials into the workflow, Che-Wei Wang will be building structures that can be more sustainable, efficient, and environmentally friendly. The printed forms are intended to serve as scaffolds, molds, or be embedded as structural components. This fast approach to making allows a maker to explore a wide range of material combinations towards new crafting techniques. Throughout his residency, Wang will develop printed forms and experiment with various materials to explore possible uses and outcomes, and will share these experiments with session participants.

Che-Wei Wang [pron. sey-wey] (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, architect, and engineer who creates innovative works that merge advanced fabrication technologies with inventive design.

Session 6Molly FlaniganNovember 19, 2024Fab Lab Resident, Che-Wei Wang