Many students may be busy handling school supplies this fall, but they can always take a break to exchange their mechanical pencils and three-ring binders for more creative endeavors in the Craft Center.
Located in the lower level of the EMU’s East Wing, the Craft Center offers year-round workshops for jewelry-making, metalsmithing, woodworking, ceramics, sculpture, fiber arts, photography, paper arts, painting, drawing and bicycle maintenance. The workshops are non-for-credit and are open to anyone.
Craft Center assistant coordinator Laura Gerards has been working at what she calls “the most fun place on campus” for 11 years. She has taught workshops in glasswork, jewelry making, metalsmithing and “sock monkeys,” where participants learn to construct stuffed monkeys from cream and brown socks with contrasting red heels.
“The Craft Center is a great place for students to meet people, relax and make something for their families,” she said.
Although the Craft Center’s current facilities have attracted many artists, Gerards said adding room for future and existing workshops would be beneficial.
“We are in need of more space,” Gerards said. “We are hoping to acquire the space of the Child Care Center in order to expand our woodshop and add a glass-blowing workshop.”
The Craft Center was founded in 1973 by Adell McMillan, former director of the EMU, who was inspired by craft workshops she had seen at other universities. McMillan hired sculptor Tom Urban as the first coordinator and late University jewelry professor Max Nixon to design the Craft Center’s space. The Craft Center existed solely as an open studio until 1974 when workshops began.
“Adell once told me she never imagined that the Craft Center would become this successful,” Craft Center coordinator Diane Hoffman said.
Today, it still functions as an open studio while offering nearly 50 different workshops each term. Prices range from $5 for one-day workshops to $66 for an oil painting workshop. Some materials are included; others must be purchased.
Prices are lower with a term pass, which allows an artist access to Craft Center tools and facilities during open hours. They can be purchased for $8 by University students and their spouses, for $15 by University staff and their spouses and $20 by all others.
Eugene resident Anne Eagle said she has enjoyed the Craft Center’s weaving and stained glass workshops and is looking forward to learning new weaving techniques in the fall.
“There’s a core group of us who keep coming back to the weaving workshop, and we learn something different every time,” she said.
Fall registration will continue until workshops are full. The Craft Center will also offer two sales this fall: a ceramic pot sale on Oct. 30 and an open house and art sale on Dec. 2.
Hoffman said the Craft Center is important because people are free to be crafty just for their enjoyment.
“The Craft Center is a service the University community wants,” Hoffman said. “There aren’t many places like this in Eugene where people can take craft classes without being art majors at the University.”