The Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio is part of the Student Workshops, an innovative, co-curricular program through the Hopkins Center for the Arts that has been in existence for close to 60 years. The program has a well-equipped studio in Jewelry & Metalsmithing and is open to all currently enrolled Dartmouth students and faculty. Absolutely no previous experience is necessary. The studio has a staff of both professional and specially trained student instructors to help the participants make their objects. Because the program is voluntary and un-graded, creativity is nurtured in a very pure way. While the studios primarily operate in an "open-studio" format, there are also short "workshop-style" classes designed to accommodate students' busy schedules and regular guest artist events. The Claflin Studio also serves as a support structure for the academic needs of the college as well, with students, faculty and whole classes using the facilities and the knowledge of the Student Workshop's staff for academic projects and research.

The Claflin Jewelry Studio is in the basement of the Hopkins Center, across from the Paddock Music Library.

For more information: 603-646-3226 or blitz: jewelry@dartmouth.edu

 

DARTMOUTH STUDENT ONLY MASTER CLASSES:

• Open only to Dartmouth students with a valid Dartmouth ID identifying them as such.
• Free, but pre-registration required. Blitz: jewelry@dartmouth.edu to sign up
• All Symposium master classes are in the Claflin Jewelry Studio located in the Hop Basement across from the Paddock Music Library.

Master class descriptions

 

 

For more information, contact the Claflin Jewelry Studio at 603-646-3226 or jewelry@dartmouth.edu

What I like most about the jewelry studio is the sense of satisfaction I get from making something purely creative and tangible. Dartmouth students use their left brains all the time. This definitely has helped me become more well rounded. —Paloma Ellis 11

When someone asks me what my job, as Director of the Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio is all about, it's hard to give a succinct answer. Each day we are open, the studio is filled with students exploring, being creative and hanging out with friends. The atmosphere is always festive. Students make presents for holidays, bling to get dressed up and rings they fall in love with. Yes almost every term, 2 3 wedding or engagement rings are made in the J-Shop.

On average about 25% of the Dartmouth student population passes through the three Student Workshops, Jewelry/Metals, Ceramics, and Wood, each academic year. In this digital age of ours and the virtualization of human experience, retaining a link to "handmade" has never been more important. I often think of the Jewelry Studio as a club, but it's a club where the only criteria of membership are that you are a currently enrolled Dartmouth student and that you walked through the door. Many students look back at their experiences in the J-Shop as a vital component of being at Dartmouth. Don't you miss out. This is your time!

—Jeff Georgantes, Director of the Donald Claflin Jewelry Studio

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JEFF GEORGANTES has a MFA in Jewelry/Metals from CSU, Fullerton and a BA in Art and a MA in Sculpture, both from CSU, Humboldt. He taught Art at College of the Redwoods, Eureka, CA for fifteen years and has taught numerous visiting artist workshops across the USA. He helped develop and coordinate the Jewelry/Metals program at the Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, CA from the early '90's until he started the Claflin Studio position in 2005. His work can be seen in Alan Revere's book, "The Art of Jewelry."

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The j-shop is amazing, everyone knows each other and is invested in the success of other people's projects. i love the support, it motivates me to make my piece as perfect as possible. —Sarah Peterson 10

It was through the Jewelry Studio that I was able to really find my place at Dartmouth and feel proud of myself. There is something incredibly beautiful about imagining something then realizing it in a physical form. Everything I have made in the studios serves as a memory and marker of my time at Dartmouth, and unlike the papers and exams I took during my years at Dartmouth, I will carry those markers with me forever. —Jennifer Lopez '08

Band Rings

When people come to the workshop for the very first time they often don't have any idea where to start. A common place to begin is with a band ring. With the band ring a person learns to cut, file and bend metal, solder, hammer, sand, polish and texture. These are all fundamental skills that one can build from into many different directions in jewelry making. The average band ring costs less than $5.00 and can be completed in about 1 1 hours.

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Earrings

Another place to start is with earrings. The studio has a large selection of beads, chain, wire and everything else that's necessary to make professional looking jewelry. We have a large selection of sample earrings to use as a starting off place for your designs. The samples can be interpreted in many different directions to give your jewelry a unique, personal touch.

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It took me a few years after making a ring during an orientation session to return to the jewelry studio, and I wish I'd done so earlier. Any project is possible in the shop - I'm constantly coming up with ideas for complicated pieces, but the staff always find ways to help me realize them, and then provide fantastic guidance and assistance at every step along the way. —Matthew Bell GR

Prior to being at Dartmouth, I had absolutely no experience with arts and crafts, let alone jewelry making. But after I finished polishing and engraving my first band ring, I felt like I had to come back and make it a regular thing. —Andy Mai '11

Click on an image for enlargement. Click right or left side of enlargement to navigate through the series.

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The jewelry studio was actually one of the biggest factors in my decision to come to Dartmouth and I never regretted it. Over four years as a student assistant, the studio became my second home, a place where I could forget the stresses of classes and college life and simply focus on doing something I enjoyed - all while being surrounded by people I cared about, and who cared about me. —Alix Toothman '08

Click on an image for enlargement. Click right or left side of enlargement to navigate through the series.

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The Jewelry Studio was definitely my second home at Dartmouth - friends, fun, and fire, what more do you need? My first project was a sword ring, and asking how to make it got me the same strange look that's on your face now! But we all figured it out, and I was hooked on the jewelry studio for good! — Brigette Jones '08

Jeff Georgantes:

603-646-3226

claflin.jewelry@dartmouth.edu

mailing address:
Claflin Jewelry Studio
HB 6186
Hopkins Center
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755

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Woodworking Workshop: Greg Elder, 603-646-2347
Ceramics Studio: Jenny Swanson, 802-649-2447

What I like most about the jewelry studio is the sense of satisfaction I get from making something purely creative and tangible. Dartmouth students use their left brains all the time.This definitely has helped me become more well rounded.

—Paloma Ellis 11

The jewelry studio has given me a new voice; I can create things that speak and literally touch people in ways I'd never imagined. The materials and process that are utilized in the jewelry studio are so versatile and extensive, nearly any idea can be actualized.

—Case Hathaway-Zepeda 09

Never have I felt so much like a hard-guy than when I was wielding a huge blow torch at the j-shop.

The j-shop is amazing, everyone knows each other and is invested in the success of other people's projects. i love the support, it motivates me to make my piece as perfect as possible.

I made a butter knife Fall term 2008 and now my father uses it all the time. The piece is so personal and one of a kind, simply priceless.

—Sarah Peterson 10

It was through the Jewelry Studio that I was able to really find my place at Dartmouth and feel proud of myself. There is something incredibly beautiful about imagining something then realizing it in a physical form. Everything I have made in the studios serves as a memory and marker of my time at Dartmouth, and unlike the papers and exams I took during my years at Dartmouth, I will carry those markers with me forever.

The jewelry studio was an incredibly influential space for me during my undergrad years. It was a home, a safe comfortable space and an educational environment.

I think any Dartmouth student can agree that with the D-plan and all the moving happening it is forever a struggle to settle. You are constantly moving, friends go away, classes change, your major changes, but the one constant in my life was the jewelry studio.

The Jewelry studio was for me more than a space to make jewelry, it was a crazy community I was glad to be a part of. I will forever remember my experiences in the jewelry studio and the people I met working in the studio.

—Jennifer Lopez 08

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The jewelry shop taught me skills and built confidences that would not have happened in any other element of my college experience. It enabled me to pursue my passion for art and engineering in a completely different way and have a lot of fun in the process.

My favorite piece that I designed and made in the jewelry shop is a silver snowflake ornament I made for my Dad. Every year at Christmas I get to see it and be brought back to the many incredible memories I have of working in the shop surrounded by great friends and endless creativity.

Dartmouth students escape the freezing cold in a variety of ways, my favorite way was to go create various pieces of enameled jewelry in the shop. The hot kiln, fantastic company and sense of surprise when a piece was done firing was the best way to escape from -20 degree wind chill!

—Meredith Lunn 06

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It took me a few years after making a ring during an orientation session to return to the jewelry studio, and I wish I'd done so earlier. Any project is possible in the shop - I'm constantly coming up with ideas for complicated pieces, but the staff always find ways to help me realize them, and then provide fantastic guidance and assistance at every step along the way.

Working in the studio has given me the opportunity to create unique gifts for people, and I've greatly enjoyed the experience of being able to make them by hand.

—Matthew Bell GR

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The jewelry studio has also offered me yet another group of friends that I otherwise would not have met otherwise. The studio gave me a creative outlet to express myself.

—Eddie Tabasky 09

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It has been the most enjoyable activity throughout my four years at Dartmouth - the chance to create, the comraderie, the atmosphere, the support - all are aspects that I treasure. I am certain that it has pushed me into creative realms that I would never have dared venture before as well as forged lifelong connections and aspirations.

—Sophie Hood 09

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The jewelry studio, throughout my Dartmouth career, has provided a valuable creative outlet for me. It's a great place to go and escape the stress of classes and life and just work hard on something that's not a test or paper.

—Kristen Diede 09

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The jewelry studio was actually one of the biggest factors in my decision to come to Dartmouth and I never regretted it. Over four years as a student assistant, the studio became my second home, a place where I could forget the stresses of classes and college life and simply focus on doing something I enjoyed - all while being surrounded by people I cared about, and who cared about me.

—Alix Toothman 08

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The Jewelry Studio has given me new skills and new friends in a field I never in the past thought of getting involved with. I have found an amazing and supportive community and a hobby that does wonders for dealing with the stress of Dartmouth life.

—Sam Snow 11

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Prior to being at Dartmouth, I had absolutely no experience with arts and crafts, let alone jewelry making. But after I finished polishing and engraving my first band ring, I felt like I had to come back and make it a regular thing.

—Andy Mai 11

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The Jewelry Studio was definitely my second home at Dartmouth - friends, fun, and fire, what more do you need? My first project was a sword ring, and asking how to make it got me the same strange look that's on your face now! But we all figured it out, and I was hooked on the jewelry studio for good!

—Brigette Jones 08