Jewelry

Pratt Institute is uniquely positioned as the only school in New York City to offer a comprehensive concentration in jewelry and metalsmithing, leading to a bachelor's of fine arts degree. The undergraduate Jewelry curriculum in Pratt's Department of Fine Arts embraces all aspects of design, creativity, fabrication, and social responsibility in jewelry and metalsmithing. Its highly qualified and award-winning professors bring a diversity of knowledge and experience to students.  The cross-disciplinary approach to learning fully prepares students for higher education, industry positions, and entrepreneurial pursuits.

FACILITIES

The main jewelry studio has 18 jewelers' benches each equipped with a flex-shaft and lamp. There are 6 dedicated acetylene torch annealing/soldering stations and two oxy/acetylene mini-torch stations. A large oxy/acetylene torch system for melting metals for casting and pouring ingots is also present. A newly installed ventilation system keeps fumes away from the work area.  The studio is equipped with: two rolling mills, a corrugation mill, bending break, guillotine shear, polishing machines, rotary and vibratory tumblers, pickle pots, ultrasonics, etching tank, drill press, belt sanders, grinder, sand blaster, and anodizer.

Casting

The studio is outfitted for mold/model making, investing, and casting for both the centrifugal and vacuum processes. Related equipment includes: vulcanizers, wax injectors, vacuum tables, electro-melt, large burnout kiln, and centrifugal and vacuum casters.

Forming

Over 50 hammers and more than 100 forming stakes as well as anvils, dapping and chasing tools, pitch bowls and hydraulic press.

Enameling

The enameling room is equipped with three properly ventilated kilns of various sizes allowing students to enamel on forms as large as 15" in all dimensions.  The entire range of enamel colors are available for students to sample as they learn the technique.

Senior Studio

Senior jewelry majors are assigned a jeweler's bench with flex-shaft and lamp as well as storage space in the communal senior jewelry studio. The senior studio is equipped with acetylene torches as well an oxy/acetylene mini-torch in dedicated soldering areas, drill press, vises, split lap, polishing machine, band saw, and rotary tumbler. The senior studio adjoins the main studio where seniors have access to the full scope of tools, equipment, and machinery the studio provides.

Specialized classes include History of Jewelry, Stone Setting, Wax Working and Casting, Raising and Forging, Chasing and Repoussé, Color on Metal, Design and Rendering, and CAD.  Seminars provide students with the opportunity to explore design theory, current trends in jewelry, and industry developments through readings, discussion, and field trips.

Pratt Institute's location in New York City allows students to visit major museums, stores, and galleries to view historic, designer, and studio jewelry collections and provides access to top jewelry industry suppliers located in and around the famous diamond district

 

Visiting Artists & Critics

Glenda Arentzen
Patti Bliecher
Klaus Bürgel
Stuart Cathey
Simon Cottrel
Jennifer David
Christina Dias
Elizabeth Garvin
Jen Goodkind
Adam Grinovich
Gail Hufjay
John Iverson
Susan Kempin
Miriam Korolkovas
Charon Kransen
Marjorie Kuhn
Christine MacKeller
Ursula Neumnan
Evert Nijland
Tatiana Pages
Sam Shaw
Terhi Tolvanen
Kiwon Wang
Natasha Wozniak
Sayumi Yokouchi
Valentin Yotkov

For more information, contact Jewelry Coordinator Patricia Madeja, pmadeja@pratt.edu

To contact the Pratt Jewelry Club, prattjewelryclub@gmail.com