State University of New York at New Paltz

 The program is directed by Professor Myra Mimlitsch-Gray, includes Associate Professor Lynn Batchelder and Visiting Assistant Professor Amelia Toelke as prominent faculty, and Jamie Bennett as Professor Emeritus. The rigorous curriculum provides opportunities to explore the technical, aesthetic, and conceptual aspects of contemporary jewelry and metalsmithing in a state-of-the-art facility with faculty that are actively engaged artists who exhibit and lecture internationally. The New Paltz Graduate Metal program has earned the distinction of being ranked #1 Metal MFA program at a public university by U.S. News and World Report. New Paltz Metal alumni contribute to the richness of this field as active participants, building a critical and productive community while they expand the field through their energetic, creative professional work.


History of the school:
In 1966 German silversmith Kurt Matzdorf founded the Gold and Silversmithing program at SUNY-New Paltz. Known today as Metal, the program has been led by prominent artists such as Robert Ebendorf, Jamie Bennett, Fred Woell and Myra Mimlitsch-Gray. The program is located within the State University of New York-New Paltz, a highly selective public college with about 8000 students. The campus is located 75 miles north of New York City in the picturesque Catskill Mountain region with easy access to the metropolitan area, cultural and recreational amenities and prominent art jewelry and design galleries.


Facilities:
Designed to give students a broad range of technical opportunities, the 10,000 square foot metal studio is fully equipped to accommodate most hands-on metalsmithing and jewelry-making practices - from fine work in precious metals to large scale, formed and welded constructions.
The main studio consists of a large classroom and open workspace, which includes forming and smithing tools, and general machinery such as band saws, drill presses, shears, rolling mills, grinders, sanders, a metal lathe and mill. Adjoining the main space are task rooms, each designed for specific processes such as annealing, mold making, casting, electroforming, anodizing, etching, patination, laser cutting, welding, and blacksmithing. The facility includes a computer lab running current design software for both 2d and 3d outputs.
Separate BFA and MFA studios include individual spaces for all majors. These semi-private spaces are equipped with soldering stations (oxygen/propane, acetylene, and compressed air), fume exhaust hoods, sinks, workbenches, kilns, and storage space.
A central ventilation system creates safe air quality throughout the entire metal studio.
Department wide resources include the Makerbot Innovation Center and Digital Fabrication Lab, which houses CAD-CAM equipment including 3d printers, scanners, laser cutters, and a large format CNC router.