Intro to Jewelry: Symbology and Metalsmithing workshop with Brienna Hall & Hanna-Katarina Edwards

Dates: Feb 14, 21, 28. This workshop is for three consecutive Saturdays.
Times: Saturdays 11:30am-5:30pm with one hour lunch
Level: Beginner (no prior experience required)
Price: $445
Membership Price: $400 (Members use discount code MEMBERS10 at checkout to receive 10% off)
Materials fee: To be determined by the size of your design and the material you choose to work in. A $50 materials fee includes Brass (or) approximately $100 for Silver depending on the design and size of your project.
The materials fee is to be paid to the instructor on the first day of class. Cash is appreciated.   


Discover the power of symbols and transform them into wearable art in this immersive 15-hour jewelry workshop that spans over three consecutive Saturdays. From concept to completion, you’ll design and create your own piece of symbolic jewelry while learning the foundations of metalsmithing. Explore the rich language of symbology, experiment with creative design elements, and work hands-on with base metals—an accessible and expressive material for jewelry and object making.

Before the workshop begins, you’ll receive a guide to help you investigate ancient symbols and uncover imagery that resonates with your own creative voice. Drawing from an archive of archetypal symbology, we’ll research, discuss, and interpret symbols together. (Once enrolled, you’ll receive an email with resources and examples to spark inspiration.)

With your personal symbols and design sketches in hand, we’ll collaborate to refine your ideas and bring them to life—crafting a pendant, bracelet, pair of earrings, or ring that’s entirely your own.

This workshop welcomes both beginners and experienced jewelers eager to expand their creative language. Through hands-on instruction, you’ll gain essential metalworking skills including cutting, sawing, filing, soldering, and polishing. All tools and materials will be provided.


Workshop Overview
This workshop is designed for beginners with little to no experience in metalwork or jewelry-making, as well as intermediate practitioners interested in incorporating symbology into their creative practice. Students will gain hands-on experience with foundational metalsmithing techniques, including:
- Cutting
- Sawing
- Filing
- Soldering
- Polishing

Objectives
- Investigate and design with intention.
- Explore creative design elements.
- Learn traditional metalsmithing techniques.
- Create a unique piece of symbolic jewelry.

Extended Objectives
Exploring Symbology by investigating and reflecting on ancient and archetypal symbols to inspire your designs. We will reference resources such as the Archive for Research in Archetypal Symbolism (ARAS) to delve into the rich history and meaning of symbols.

Design Process
Before the workshop begins, participants will receive an email with resources and examples to help brainstorm symbols to incorporate into their jewelry. Arrive with design proposals in hand, and together we’ll refine your ideas during the workshop.

Create Your Own Piece
Using your chosen symbol, design and craft a pendant, bracelet, or pair of earrings. Individualized, hands-on guidance will be provided throughout the process to ensure a meaningful and well-crafted final piece.

Additional Benefits
Upon completion of this course, participants will qualify to enroll in intermediate or advanced-level metalsmithing courses at the art center, as well as gain access to open bench time in the studio.

To register, apply HERE.


About the Instructors:
Brienna Hall holds a bachelor’s degree in sculpture with a minor in fiber arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. Her artistic journey began as a photographer and milliner, where she honed her skills in crafting exquisite headwear and creating ornate, dreamlike imagery. This creative foundation eventually led her to establish Shrine Jewelry, a line that lovingly merges her love for adornment with the artistry of fine metalwork. Working from her studio in Mendocino, California, Brienna brings her unique vision to life, drawing inspiration from the rugged beauty of the Northern California coast and the mystic worlds around us. In addition to her work as a jewelry artist, Brienna continues to study photography and teaches workshops on the ancient technique of sand casting precious metals, sharing her expertise throughout Northern California. Starting in 2025, she is expanding these workshops to the Midwest and Italy.

Her philosophy as a jeweler is rooted in the belief that our bodies are sacred shrines deserving of adornment. Each piece of jewelry is crafted to honor this intimate space, blending organic shapes, repetitive patterns, and textile-inspired techniques with the process of metalsmithing. Through sand casting, fabrication, keum-boo and textile techniques Brienna creates one-of-a-kind works, each imbued with a sense of individuality and timelessness.


Hanna-Katarina Edwards:
Hanna-Katarina creates one of a kind jewelry, ritual adornments and performance pieces. She works in collaboration creating experimental videos, photography, creative direction and performance in order to tell stories through the body.

Hanna practices ancient and experimental metalsmithing techniques, in addition to working with a variety of materials, found objects and traditional craft processes. Hanna creates adornments for performance and ritual, recontextualized in the landscape of modern life. Her work draws on mythology, mysticism,dreamscapes, archetypal symbology, magic,memories,the subconscious and perspectives of reality. Honoring storytelling traditions of the past while writing a new narrative out of time. Adornments meant to act as deities for the body, enabling the wearer to invoke the sacred through their own embodiment.


About the Mendocino Art Center:
Nestled on the rugged Northern California coast, the Mendocino Art Center is a historic hub for artists and creatives of all disciplines. With professional studios and sweeping ocean views, it offers an unforgettable setting for focused creative work.