Ball State's metals area offers you the opportunity to explore processes, designs, and aesthetics in stunning, intimate detail. From ring or box design to larger conceptual work, metals design has exceptional opportunities for creative expression. The metals area at Ball State combines your personal and professional goals with strong technical, design, and communication skills. A metals + jewelry practice trains you in using the hand—and the computer—to produce meticulously crafted, wearable, decorative, and sculptural objects using a range of traditional and contemporary materials and processes.
Our programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Learn more.
If you prefer a traditional crafts emphasis, you’ll concentrate on the basics of jewelry, hollowware, and box making while also learning various production and marketing methods. Much of your work will be in copper, silver, or gold, and may include gemstones and enameling techniques. You will also have access to laser cutters and electroforming. You have the option to concentrate more heavily on the sculptural aspects of metals design. Students interested in a fine art application of these skills make one-of-a-kind statements, often choosing to create small sculpture as the final product of their artistic inquiry.
In the metals program, students work with a range of materials using cold-connection techniques such as rivets and jump-rings to advanced soldering, fusing, enameling, and even 3D computer printing.
Metals students are encouraged to explore the boundaries between decorative and sculptural objects, finding unique expressive forms.
Metals students enjoy combining precision, process, and concept.
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