60-262 Intermediate Studio: Metals
10 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Intermediate Metals is an intermediate studio course focused on contemporary steel fabrication techniques used in sculpture and installation-based practices. The course emphasizes hands-on learning through the development of practical skills and guided projects that introduce students to working with steel as a primary structural material. Students will learn a range of core metalworking processes, including MIG welding, metal cutting, grinding, drilling, bending, plate shearing, and plasma cutting. Instruction will cover both hot and cold fabrication methods, material preparation, joint design, structural thinking, and safe operation of equipment. Projects are designed to build technical proficiency while encouraging students to apply fabrication skills to spatial and formal problems. The course is structured around a series of guided assignments with defined prompts and technical requirements. These projects focus on building functional and sculptural forms using steel, with increasing attention to scale, stability, and construction logic. While projects are structured, students are encouraged to explore individual ideas within each prompt and may incorporate additional non-metal materials as appropriate. Class time includes demonstrations, supervised shop work, individual feedback, group critiques, and discussions of contemporary artists working with steel. By the end of the semester, students will have developed a strong foundational skill set in metal fabrication and the ability to confidently design and construct steel-based works for studio and exhibition contexts. A foundations sculpture course is recommended as preparation for this class.
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Fall 2026
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