With experienced instructors, well-equipped studios, and wide-ranging programs, the University’s Craft Center offers one of the most extensive and accessible facilities of any university nationwide.
“It is an exceptional resource for a university to have,” said Jeff Weitzel, assistant coordinator of the Craft Center. “It’s becoming more and more unique. There have been numerous schools to create craft centers, but we still have one of the largest craft centers out there.”
Today, the Craft Center is large and filled with resources, but this was not always the case. The Craft Center, located on the first floor of the EMU, was initially developed in the early 1970s as a small workshop and tool library. Its growth has been a gradual process, the most recent addition being the glass blowing facility, which was installed approximately three years ago.
In addition to the glass blowing studio are studios for bicycle maintenance, ceramics, fiber arts, graphics, jewelry/metalsmithing, photography, and woodworking. Each of these studios is equipped with all of the necessary tools. The photography studio, for example, includes six darkrooms, enlargers for black and white negatives, a dry mount press, and a mat cutter. Any additional supplies desired by the artist, such as glass, clay, and safety materials, are available for purchase.
Each of these elaborate studios is host to numerous workshops of varying skill levels, times, and durations. The shortest workshop is a few hours on a given day, and the lengthiest lasts for eight weeks.
All that is necessary for the workshops is a studio pass and the required fee for the class. As student fees help support the craft center, students get the best deal on studio passes, costing $11 for students while the public pays $30.
“Because we do have the student fee funding things, it really keeps the prices low,” said Weitzel. “It’s always quite a bit cheaper than most other craft centers.”
Each workshop offered is for between six and 12 students. This allows more personal attention for each student as well as a more spacious work area.
“There is definitely a lot of personal attention, we want everybody to be able to do hands on all the time,” Weitzel said. “Like in ceramics, most of them have a limit of 11 in the class and that’s because we have 11 wheels. Even though we could cram more people in, we don’t allow more than that so each person can have their own vestibule.”
Another recognizable benefit of the workshops at the Craft Center is the instructors who teach them. All instructors are experienced and passionate about the subject they are teaching. They allot personal time with the students to help them with projects and the pursuit of their own personal ideas.
“Everybody who works at the craft center is very intelligent and knowledgeable, they can get a lot of help to people who come in,” said Weitzel. “People come in with all sorts of crazy ideas and there’s almost always someone there to guide them through the process, as well as having the tools and the resources to do that.”
Getting involved at the craft center is an easy process, requiring only a visit to the craft center itself. After purchasing a studio pass and signing up for a workshop, doors open up to numerous opportunities and resources.
In addition to the fall workshops, there will also be a couple of fundraisers coming to the craft center. The Lonely Pottery and Glass fundraiser will be on November 1, and the Winter Craft Fair and Open House will be on November 27. For more information about these events, workshops, and more visit the Craft Center’s Web site at http//craftcenter.oregon.edu.
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To introduce new people to the workshops offered at the craft center, several $10 workshops are being offered the first week of school. These workshops do not require a studio pass and will be short in duration.
Bike doctor: Learn to keep your bike in shape with instructor Emily Thibodeau. The three-hour class will cover lubrication, tire problems, brakes, gear service and trouble shooting. Students should bring their bikes with them Sept. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Digital camera use: Learn how to use your digital camera with Patrick Hunter. The workshop covers settings, camera features and more. Students should bring their cameras Sept. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Glass etching: Boring glassware can have personality in this quick introduction to sandblasted glass etching taught by Jeff Weitzel. This class will be Sept. 26 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Mugs and bowls: This introduction to ceramics will be taught by Terrence Heldreth. The fee includes clay and glazes and will be held twice, Sept. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. and again on Sept. 26 at the same time.
Paper making: Cards and notes can have flair with textured handmade paper. Taught by Denise Gosar, this class will be Sept. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sewing machine use: knowing how to fix rips and tears can save students money on clothing. Instructor Trina Duhaime will teach how to hem jeans and sew skirts with a sewing machine Sept. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tie dying: There’s nothing more Eugene than a tie dyed shirt. Diane Hoffman will teach several tying and dying techniques. Students should bring no more than three washed cotton items to dye. T-shirts are available for purchase at the Craft Center. This workshop will be Sept. 27 from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
Register for classes in the Craft Center or online at http://craftcenter.uoregon.edu/index.php.