Anticlastic Forming

In this two day workshop you will learn the basics of anticlastic raising. This process allows you to create exceptionally strong, flexible, lightweight, and organic-looking forms. A flat sheet of metal is shaped by compressing its edges and stretching the center so that the surface develops two curves at right angles to each other. A saddle is a good example of an anticlastic form. We will focus on "open", or "monoshell" forms made from single pieces of thin sheet metal, working to create striking dimensional shapes. Each student will have the opportunity to make a finished piece of jewelry that includes this process.

Though open anticlastic forms date to the middle Bronze Age, it is only recently that they have been explored in detail. This new focus has yielded some of the most interesting forms in contemporary metalworking. You do not need a great deal of metalworking experience to take this class, but some facility with the hammer is helpful. This class is however a prerequisite to taking Introduction to Decked Forms and will greatly expand the range of forms available for you to incorporate into your designs. Some forging experience helpful.

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