5171. Tin Can Collage Workshop

5171. Tin Can Collage Workshop

Workshop - Metals | This class has been canceled

251 N Spruce St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 United States

Glass Studio - 208

Beginner

4/20/2024 (one day)

12:00 PM-4:00 PM EDT on Sat

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$80.00

$72.00

Learn how to deconstruct tin cans, cut them up and nail the pieces to a board to create the image of your choice. Most people are able to complete an 8 inch by 10 inch collage during the four hour workshop. Topics covered include materials, tools, safety, deconstructing tin cans, tricks, and techniques for cutting up tin, layout, patterns, nailing the pieces down and what to do when you change your mind.

All tools and materials are provided although you are encouraged to bring a pair of work gloves and your favorite hammer. If you have tin cans that you want to use please bring them but know that Thomas will bring boxes of already flattened tin for your use. You may apply what he is teaching to aluminum cans as well. Thomas prefers tin because it is not as brittle and thin as aluminum but students have made beautiful collages in the class with aluminum cans.

The subject matter of your collage is up to you. Some people make more figurative pieces and some more abstract. If you bring a sketch or image to class don't cut it up. Feel free to show up to class and allow inspiration to hit you when you start to handle the tin. The main thing is to have fun!

No experience necessary.

Graham, Thomas

I have always liked tin. I have a memory from age five or so of trying to (unsuccessfully) wheedle my mother out of the typewriter ribbon tin which she kept her pins in. As an adult I found myself collecting old tobacco tins.

Hurricane Fran in 1994 came right through my neighborhood. Despite having two giant pine trees on my roof, the damage wasn't a big enough job for any roofers to take on. After I finished repairs I had a pig piece of galvanized metal that I started playing with. A friend told me of tinsmithing classes at the John C. Campbell Folk School where I hlearned some traditional tinsmithing techniques. Five years later I returned there and took Tin Can Art from the inimitable Bobby Hansson (who actually wrote the book "The Fine Art of the Tin Can").

Tin can collages are one of the topics in Bobby's book and ten years ago when I found out that Robert Villamagna was teaching a tin can collage class at Pocosin Arts, I jumped at the change. I have been making tin can collages ever since, several hundred at least. My work tends to either be figurative pieces of birds or abstract pieces inspired by the images and colors on the tin.

 I have been teaching tin can collage classes for the last five years. I regularly exhibit at the Fearrington Folk Art Show and the Saxapahaw Holiday Market and usually have some work at Firefly in Carrboro, NC and at the Randolph Arts Guild in Asheboro, NC. If my work brings a smile to your face I consider it a success.