School Field Trip and Workshops At SAW

*Now Scheduling for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024*

About

Salem Art Works offers one-day field trip experiences for high school students offered during May and October each year. Students participate in one or two workshops led by practicing artists. Workshops include instruction on safety procedures and fundamental skills for participants to create a work of art in each workshop. During the midday break, students visit the Cary Hill Sculpture Park and tour SAW’s facilities, exploring many contemporary works of art situated on SAW’s 120 acre campus. 

Details

Availability
High School field trips are offered during the first week of October and May every year.

Group Size
Minimum of 12 students (6 students per workshop), maximum of 30 students.

Workshops
Blacksmithing 101, Glass Blowing 101, Welding 101, Stone Carving 101, and Wood-Fired Ceramics Raku Firing 101. See full descriptions below.

Cost
Students pay a subsidized rate of $20 for a full or $10 half-day schedule, a minimum of 12 students with a $300 half-day and a $500 full-day base charge.

Schedule

Blacksmithing 101

Students will learn safety practices, proper working temperature, and hammer control. Tapering, twisting, and curling will be introduced. These techniques will be used to produce a hand-forged hook and/or heart.

Glass Blowing 101

This is an introduction to what glass is and how to work with solid forms and color. Paperweights and flower forms are great place to discover this fascinating material. Each student will make something to keep in this fun and informative class. After a brief safety talk and an introduction to the tools and equipment, each student will be able to work the Gaffers bench and experiment with the glass.

Welding 101

Students will be introduced to MIG welding and plasma cutting. In this workshop, students will observe and try different methods of welding. The instructor will provide a demonstration on safe and proper use of a variety of equipment, and then students will choose metal scrap material to create a sculpture of their own design. After the sculpture is fabricated, students have the option to paint it or leave it raw.

Stone Carving 101

Working with hand saws, files, and diamond sanding pads, students will carve a small piece of soapstone into a unique design. It will be based on a plasticine model that they create. Students will also get to try stone lettering techniques. The instructor will discuss geology and local slate and marble industries and their influence on the area.

Printmaking 101
There are three options for printmaking: Cyanotype Printing, Block Printing, or Silk Screen Printing. All disciplines require drying overnight and must be shipped or picked up.

Cyanotype— a type of photographic printing process. Potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate- two non-toxic iron salts that are photosensitive when combined- are used to treat a porous surface. Photo negatives and objects are used to cast shadows and expose an image on the treated surface.

Block Printing— originating in China over 4,000 years ago involves carving a linoleum block. The finished carving is rolled with ink and paper placed over to collect the image from the block over and over. It is in simplest terms, it is a hand-carved stamp.

Silk Screen Printing— a process using photo-sensitive emulsion to expose a digital design onto the screen. To print, the screen is placed on the desired surface, and ink deposits as it’s pulled across the surface. The instructor will provide a demonstration of the process, but students’ screens will be prepared prior to arrival to save time. This means teachers must provide SAW with students’ designs 2 weeks before the school’s Art 101 date. Designs must be single color and the bolder the better with designs (small details can be challenging at times), please email j.miner@salemartworks.org for more info.

Salem Art Works Guest Agreement

[Guests include all individuals utilizing and/or visiting SAW’s property and/or facilities]

The undersigned agrees to maintain a certain standard of professional conduct as set forth in this agreement at all times while on SAW premises:

Illegal Activities: All individuals on SAW’s premises shall refrain from engaging in any activities termed illegal by the United States of America, the State of New York, and/or the local community. Any individual who does engage in illegal activities shall immediately relinquish their right to use SAW’s property and facilities. By signing this agreement, the undersigned hereby agrees to hold SAW and its agents, servants, and employees harmless from any and all liability that may result from any acts deemed illegal. These include, but are not limited to: harassment, violence, possession of illegal drugs, use of illegal drugs, and/or underage drinking.

On Premises Liability: The undersigned hereby acknowledges and understands that certain areas of the premises involve natural hazards such as hills, ditches, creeks, stone walls, animal dwellings, as well as farm machinery, equipment, barns, stairwells, etc. The undersigned guest hereby acknowledges that each of the above referenced conditions as well as building dimensions, stairways, railings, etc may reasonably lead to damage or injury if they are overlooked in any respect. By signing this agreement, the guest acknowledges that he/she has inspected and accepts the conditions of the premises and hereby agrees to hold SAW and its agents, servants, and employees harmless and indemnified from any and all liability of any manner relating to personal injury or property damage during the time and duration of their use of the premises.

Work Exchange and Off-Premise Liability: SAW will not sponsor or pledge security for work exchange or off-premise work programs. The undersigned agrees to hold SAW, its agents, servants, and employees harmless and indemnified for any and all claims of property damage or personal injury resulting from off-premises work or work exchange programs involving the individual.

Use of Vehicles/Tractors/Equipment: If a guest chooses to operate a vehicle, tractor, or other piece of equipment, that individual shall first seek written permission from SAW. Guests who choose to operate vehicles, tractors, and equipment after receiving permission from SAW do so at their own risk. The undersigned expressly holds SAW, its agents, servants, and employees harmless for any and all manner of personal injury or property damage resulting from the individual use of said vehicle, tractor, or piece of equipment. By signing this agreement, each guest hereby acknowledges that they may voluntarily refrain from use of any such vehicles, tractors, or other equipment and/or request that a SAW agent, servant, or employee operate and/or drive all vehicles, tractors, and equipment on premises.

Recreational Activities/Food/Drink/Utilities: SAW and its agents, servants, and employees will provide ongoing activities on premises for the benefit of guests. As such, each individual signing this agreement acknowledges that activities, food, drink, and use of certain utilities (if overlooked) may involve certain risks of harm based either on manner of performance, the level of ingestion, and/or the use of utilities. The undersigned agrees to take certain precautions and use reasonable care at all times for the benefit of him or herself and those around him or her while on the premises. Each guest shall hold SAW, its agents, servants, and employees harmless and indemnified from any and all manner of property damage and personal injury resulting from the negligent or reckless use of the premises during such activities.

Documentation: SAW reserves the right to document its visitors through photographs, video, sound, or any other format. SAW has the right to use this documentary material as it sees fit, including in future advertisements and promotional material.

Acknowledgement: The undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees to follow and abide by the standards of conduct set forth for use of the SAW property. The undersigned has read and understood each term as set forth above and by signing below, the named individual fully comprehends and understands the above terms and acknowledges his or her ongoing duty to comply with the above terms as it relates to his or her use of the property. If at any time the named guest refuses to comply with the above terms, he or she shall notify SAW or one of its agents, servants, and employees, and the named individual shall voluntarily leave the premises without delay.

SAW Field Trips are supported by

New York State Council on the Arts
with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
and the New York State Legislature

The Charles R. Wood Foundation

The Leo Cox Beach Foundation

Sandy Hill Foundation