Open Works
Open Works Weekly 6/11/2021
After more than a year of limitations, we just want to offer you MORE!!!
With our July 1 pricing and membership structure re-launch right around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to tell you what’s at the heart of these changes. We all had to really figure out what we’re made of this year. Turns out, what we’re made of is all of you. When the pandemic forced us to limit access, keeping both members and staff apart, it became more clear than ever that without all of you, this place is just a building full of cool stuff.
Starting July 1st:
All access Pro-membership for $80/mo.
Day passes will be just $20.
Resident membership with micro-studio rental now $175/mo., and no longer requires any other monthly membership.
More detailed information can be found here.
We’re flattered that internationally acclaimed artist, poet, and Open Works member Stephanie Garon looks to us for learning opportunities when it comes to welding! Stephanie’s sculpture and large scale installations, like her recent exhibit “Breaking Ground,” often explore humanity’s fragile relationship with nature through the juxtaposition of natural and industrial materials. If you’re bummed that you missed “Breaking Ground” at Honfleur Gallery in DC this Summer, you can still look forward to the upcoming chapbook of poetry from this former Yellow Arrow Publishing’s Writers-in-Residence, to be published by Akinoga Press this Fall.
If you want to learn how to create with metal like Stephanie, the first step is here.
Welding photo by Jill Fannon.
Yes, you are reading that right. We have some IN PERSON WORKSHOPS coming up next week. Don’t worry, if you’re not ready for that much live interaction, the next two have an online option too!
On June 20, Father’s Day, we have two workshops coming to you from the father/daughter lineup of Kuo Pao Lian and his daughter Iva Mei!
Join Instructor Kuo Pao Lian and Open Works to explore the joys and techniques of creating vessels with concrete using cups, bowls and other DIY molds. Participants work towards completing at least one finished concrete vessel. Bring your own materials or purchase from our online store (also available day of).
Sunday, June 20, 2-4pm on Open Works’ Deck, Ages 15+, $20 per person or adult/child pair.
Kuo Pao’s daughter will be teaching a workshop on paper folding an origami fidget at the same time!
Adults and children are welcome to join Open Works and youth maker Iva Mei Lian for an in-person, outdoor workshop on the deck to create a beautiful origami fidget using paper and glue. Explore how different folds and connection points create a fun and functional toy.
Sunday, June 20, 2-3pm on Open Works’ Deck, Ages 6+, $10 per person or adult/child pair.
The final few spots for upcoming safety certification skill show classes for CNC 2 and Metal 1 are filling up fast!! If you haven’t done the online training, now’s your chance to squeeze it in before membership re-launch. No need to rush though, safety certification is offered regularly.
School’s out for summer, almost. Last day of school for BCPS is June 15th. Congratulations to the Class of 2021 as well as all of Baltimore’s students, teachers, staff, families, and everyone else who had a hand in making it through a really tough year.
We’ve been so grateful for the opportunity to participate with Makers Unite making desks. We’re nearly at our goal of having 1000 desks made at Open Works and distributed to students all over Baltimore. Not only did that give us the chance to work with BCPS and some amazing students, but the scope of the project also pushed us to learn, improve, and ultimately made us better, smarter makers. Thanks to all the donors and volunteers who supported this project. We couldn’t have done it without you. Most of all, thanks to all the students, our partners in learning, who had no choice but to pioneer new ways to be students.
Want to know how we managed to make so many? Check out this time lapse video of one of our CNC routers cutting up a sheet of plywood into desks. Want to learn how to do it?
This is Joe Magar (shown above both masked and unmasked for reference), our marketing intern for the summer. Before returning to graduate school at University of Baltimore, in their Integrated Design program, Joe spent the better part of the last two decades as a professional musician. That explains why he looks a little old for an intern! You can see him here playing bass in one of his last filmed chamber music appearances before the pandemic shut everything down. One of the things he’ll be working on this summer is finding more ways for us to highlight all of the great work that goes on here at Open Works, so if you’ve got something cool cooking, let him know!!! His email is joe@openworksbmore.com.
Reminder: Open Works will be closed on Sunday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. For anyone wanting to learn more about Juneteenth, this NY Times article is a good place to start.
Link Soup
+Gwynda The Good Wheel Is Finally Home.
+Call for artists for planned COVID memorial at Lake Roland. Baltimore area artists encouraged to apply.
+Baltimore Health Department Vaccine Dashboard
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