TRYON – During April, renowned metalsmith and enamelist Ashley Gilreath will lead several workshops at Tryon Arts and Crafts School. 

Gilreath, who graduated from the Metal Design program at East Carolina University, has spent time as an Artist-In-Residence at several prominent arts and crafts schools. Her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Arts and Design, Fuller Craft Museum, and The Metals

Museum, and she has had work published by Lark Books and American Craft Magazine. She specializes in teaching workshops in metalsmithing and enameling at craft schools nationwide for different skill levels and age groups.

“I had been teaching at craft schools up and down the east coast, but I was searching for craft schools in this area,” she says. “I found the website for TACS, and after contacting the then-director, I’ve been a part of the programming ever since.”

The first workshop will be a 3-day intensive course, Introduction to Metalsmithing, that begins March 31 and runs through April 2, where attendees will start to learn the skills to create their own wearable and sculptural art. It will be followed up with a 2-day First Time Enameling workshop on April 15 and 16. Students of the workshop will learn to fuse vitreous glass with precious metals. Then she wraps up the month with a Bring Your Project workshop on April 29, where those who sign up can bring their projects for extra instruction. 

“Since metalsmithing is the foundation for all other doors in this field, we must start with the basics,” Gilreath shares about her upcoming classes. “For my metalsmithing and enameling workshops, I demonstrate various hand skills and specialized techniques and welcome all levels of experience.”

To sign up for one of the upcoming workshops at Tryon Arts and Crafts School, visit tryonartsandcrafts.org, and for more information on Ashley Gilreath’s art and jewelry, visit ashleygilreath.com.