Jun 3, 2011 3 min read

The spring, summer and fall schedules at Touchstone Center for Crafts in the Laurel Highlands have been finalized, the nonprofit recently annoucned.

This year’s diverse schedule at Touchstone covers several artistic disciplines, including art of craft workshops, instructor and artist demonstrations, events, exhibits, artist auctions and much more.

?Touchstone’s schedule includes classes and workshops in painting, blacksmithing, stained glass, metalsmithing, ceramics, jewelry-making, mixed-media, photography, senior life-enhancement programs, teen-specific workshops, children’s workshops, exhibits by famous artists and community events.

“We are really excited about this season,” said Frank Golba, Touchstone’s board president. “We really want to invite aspiring and accomplished artists to come to Touchstone to work on their skills and creativity. We searched all over the mid-Atlantic region — and locally — to find the best instructors. We are offering a curriculum that spans many disciplines and appeals to all skill levels and promotes the education of fine craftsmanship.”

Touchstone is fortunate to have a wide-range of instructors that have national and local notoriety, such as metals and jewelry artist John Cogswell; Master Blacksmith Fred Crist, Pittsburgh Glass artist Mike Mangiafico and ceramics artists Jerry Wagner from Uniontown and Joe Sendek from Slippery Rock. This year’s schedule includes exhibits by artists such as Sister Edith Nemeth, Richard Carl, Brian Kakas and many more.

Touchstone is glad to have art educator Bridget Mayak return as the children’s workshop instructor. The Children’s workshop runs each week and is five days long. Student artists get to participate in activities from many of the different disciplines offered at Touchstone such as painting, sculpture, ceramics, mixed-media and enameling. Students are also taken to watch demonstrations at the Hart Moore Blacksmith Studio-one of the largest blacksmithing forges in the country.

Touchstone offers promotional programs, scholarships and discounts throughout the season. New this year is the “A is for Art” discount, offered to elementary school students. For each good mark on a student’s report card, he or she is eligible for $10 off a week-long Children’s Art workshop up to $50 off per workshop.

This season kicked off with the third annual Jim Campbell Hammer- In April 29 and classes will run through the fall. The season will close with its annual fundraising event in October. Workshops include week-long and weekend classes and overnight students may lodge on Touchstone’s 150-acre campus in cabins or at Kinard Hall and Campbell Hall dormitories.

For information about any of the workshops or events, goo online to www.touchstonecrafts.org or check out Touchstone on Facebook.

To learn more and to obtain a 2011 season class catalog, visit www.touchstonecrafts.org or call 724-329-1370.