Classes, Demos and Workshops

Since its founding, The Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild (WBG) has offered educational classes. Jewelry classes are held in our Tinker Room in our Woodstock Village facility on Tinker Street. From time to time, special workshops, lectures and seminars are presented. Classes will be listed here as they are scheduled; for information on planned offerings, contact Carla T. Smith Executive Director, carlasmith[at]hvc.rr.com or call, [845] 679-2079.

Current Classes Offered: Summer Camp | Steel Pan Workshop | Jewelry | Ceramics | Chorus

Jewelry Classes

Robin the Hammer, AKA The Goldsmith To the Gods, first started to create his historically inspired metal art and jewelry in 1967, at Goddard College. He also studied privately with Henri Klein and at Abbey School of Jewelry and Art Metal Design. In the late 70s he was bench master at the prominent fashion jewelry company Silver Image. Having built up a private clientele in the arts and show business, by 1987 The Hammer was rockstar Billy Idol's personal goldsmith. Over the next decade this relationship produced a true panoply fit for a mediaeval lord, parts of which were featured in five hit videos seen on television in 120 countries, and on stages worldwide.

Now based in Byrdcliffe, Woodstock, Robin the Hammer combines a deep knowledge of ancient and mediaeval history with a modern artistic sensibility, to create unique jewels, sculpture and objets d'art. For more info: Five Points Band

Jewelry Classes with Robin Ludwig

I run the course as an open studio, with advanced, intermediate and beginning students in the same class. I am able to advise the skilled workers, help the intermediates and teach the beginners without any conflict. Of course, the more advanced students often help the less. The class starts with basic fabrication and finishing, but we also do stone setting and wax carving, we cover chasing and repoussee, and many other techniques as they come up. We discuss basic casting and enameling techniques, and the history of other metalworking disciplines. Students are expected to attend as regularly as possible, and inform the instructor if they are going to be absent. Most of our beginning students find that they have made several very pleasing items by the time they have finished the first course, such as rings, pendants or earrings, and usually return for more. Some of our advanced students have been with us for eight years!

Summer 2009

Summer Session: Wednesdays: June 24 - July 29, 2009 (6 weeks)

5:30 - 8:30 pm

$150 for members, $187.50 for non-members

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