Tennessee Tech School of Art, Craft & Design student Angela Van Wiltenburg presents her senior thesis exhibition Metastasis, inspired by her mother’s journey with cancer and the ways disease alters the physical body and one’s sense of self. The exhibition will be in the Hilltop Gallery at Tennessee Tech University’s Appalachian Center for Craft, May 2–10 with a closing reception open to the public May 9 from 1-4pm.
Contact the School of Art, Craft & Design for more information: 931-372-3738.
Join the Appalachian Center for Craft at our champlevé enameling weekend workshop from May 22-24. Learn the essential skills of saw-and-solder champlevé enameling, including piercing, filing, soldering, and both sifting and wet-packing enamel. Students will focus on working with opaque colors to create multiple samples and a finished enameled piece. While some metalsmithing experience is helpful, prior knowledge of the subject is not required. Participants with some prior metalsmithing experience may deepen their understanding, while beginners will gain a solid foundation. This workshop introduces key techniques while encouraging creativity and experimentation.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
Tennessee Tech School of Art, Craft & Design student Jesse Thompson invites you to experience his newest creation at his senior thesis exhibition – Halcyon: A Cosmic Coming of Age Tale. This immersive art installation takes you on a journey through time, inspired by the 1970s retrofuturism resurgence and campy 70s/80s sci-fi flicks. Exhibition in the Lakeview Gallery of the Appalachian Center for Craft, April 22-29, 2026.
Contact the School of Art, Craft & Design for more information: 931-372-3738.
Join the Appalachian Center for Craft at our cyanotypes weekend workshop May 22-24. Discover the magic of cyanotype printing, an early photographic process that uses sunlight or UV exposure to create photograms on paper and fabric. Students will learn to select and arrange objects or transparencies as negatives, prepare their materials, set up a workspace, and expose and develop prints. The class covers composition, technique, and options for both digital and manual methods. Participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to continue creating cyanotypes at home, producing unique, high-contrast prints with an emphasis on personal creativity and experimentation in image-making.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
“Barney (The Beagle)” a coloured pencil piece by astrophysics and applied mathematics student Carla René has been chosen as the cover for the issue 9 edition of The Iris Review. That publication date is May 3rd.
Her self-portrait, “Carla René-#WomanInSTEM” has also been accepted for publication.
Carla is a member of Art ‘Round Tennessee and this past August was honoured by the Coloured Pencil Society of America with her coveted Signature Status, allowing her to display CPSA after her name. She paints in hyperrealism (what the camera sees), hyperrealism (more than the camera sees), and her own watercolour effect she invented.
Check out her other work at GlitterCat Studios.
Join the Appalachian Center for Craft for a screenprinted transfers for clay workshop May 22-24. In this weekend workshop, students will explore screenprinting with photo-emulsion to create transfers for wet clay before bisque firing. Participants will design patterns, images, or motifs, print them onto newsprint with Amaco Ceramic Printing Ink, and transfer them onto tiles or slabs. The class will include demonstrations on making templates for specific forms and vessels, as well as time to experiment with decoration slip and practice the transfer process. Students will leave with extra newsprint sheets and the skills to continue creating clay transfers on their own.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
Join the Appalachian Center for Craft for a china painting workshop on May 16. In this daylong workshop, students will experience the centuries-old art of china painting. Also known as enameling, this technique involves applying ceramic pigment to an already fired surface. Participants will be provided ready-made ceramic objects to decorate in class and may pick them up the following week. The workshop covers brush techniques and guidance on creating detailed designs, making it perfect for both beginners and those looking to refine their decorative painting skills
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
Join the Appalachian Center for Craft for a weekend workshop May 22-24 on integral bolster knives. Learn to forge a one-piece integral bolster knife from a single piece of round stock. Students will practice forging the blade, tang, and bolster, including techniques for setting shoulders and shaping the handle. The class also covers embellishment methods for the bolster area and finishing skills. By the end of the weekend, students will have a finished knife, plus knowledge of fundamental forging and knife-making techniques. This intensive workshop balances hands-on practice with demonstrations, giving participants a strong foundation for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing knives.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
The Appalachian Center for Craft will host a daylong workshop on Saturday, May 16, where attendees can learn the fundamentals of wire wrapping while creating both a bracelet and a V-collar necklace.
Students will explore shaping, sizing, twisting, and finishing techniques using a variety of wire gauges and textures. The class emphasizes hands-on practice, teaching how to combine pieces into cohesive designs and experiment with scale, style, and detail. No prior experience is required, making this an approachable introduction to jewelry-making. Participants will leave with a finished bracelet and collar, new skills in wire manipulation, and the confidence to continue designing personalized pieces independently.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! More info here!
Looking for a custom frame perfectly sized for family photos, keepsakes, diplomas, or original artwork? The Appalachian Center for Craft will host a daylong “Frames in a Day” workshop on Saturday, May 16. In this workshop, participants will design and build small solid-wood frames, carving and decorating them before finishing with paint. Students will learn to use a variety of woodworking tools—including the jointer, planer, bandsaw, drill press, jigsaw, router, gouges, and sanders—to bring their ideas to life. Each participant will leave with a unique, hand-crafted frame and new skills in woodworking.
Tennessee Tech students and employees AND surrounding county residents can use code ACC26 for 25% off workshop tuition! Click here or pick up a workshop brochure to learn more about our summer workshop offerings!