Iron Heroes | Casting your Iron Mask | March 5 - April 16

Iron Heroes | Casting your Iron Mask | March 5 - April 16

In this 8-session class we will create oil-clay masks based on the heroic qualities we find inside ourselves. We will pack our oil-clay masks in a sand/resin mixture, and travel to FireFest - in Star, North Carolina - to cast our pieces in iron.

This is a hands-on learning journey that takes us through clay sculpting methods; foundry processes for bonded-sand molds; safety and management of a 3,000º blast furnace; and using art to heal ourselves, as well as those around us.

  • The journey begins in Liberty Arts Studios, 918 Pearl Street, where we will sculpt the faces of our inner heroes

  • We then move to our beautiful foundry in Durham Central Park, where we create sand molds of those faces

  • Finally we travel to Star N.C. for the annual FireFest festival; suit-up in leathers; and cast our pieces in molten iron

  • Our final class we return to the studio, trim excess metal from our heroes, and reflect on our journey

Note: Students need to supply their own leather boots for the pour. This class includes all other safety equipment; materials, instruction and supervision in the use of tools; and transportation to and from Liberty Arts for the FireFest festival.

Linocut Valentines! Love it or... not. | February 8th, 2020 | 12-4pm

Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is coming. We got you.

Carve and print your own valentines, or gal-entines or pal-entines or hate-entines if that’s more your thing, in this short but sweet half-day linocut workshop. You will learn basic techniques for design, transfer, cutting, and hand printing (although in the interest of time we will be using a press for this project-phew!) while creating a set of unique cards to give to your favorite Valentine’s Day lovers or Valentine’s Day haters. And if it makes a difference, there will definitely be chocolate involved. Bring a date, bring a friend! This is a beginning level workshop. Printmaking experience is welcome but totally unnecessary!

MORE DETAILS | SIGN UP

Liberty Arts Annual Holiday Sale Party | December 6, 2019 | 6-9pm

Come to our Studio at 918 Pearl Street in Durham to find the holiday gift that means more on so many levels. Quality handcrafted items are always appreciated and supporting your local artists supports your community!

Liberty Arts Artists are busy creating those pieces for you now. We're also bringing in some of our favorite local artists to add to the joy of the season. You'll find first-class handmade items in metal, glass, wood, clay and paper - some in unique combinations.

Great holiday music will get you into the spirit. Food and drinks will be available for festive merriment.

Here are the artists you will be able to choose from:

Scratch Blocks @ DAC | November 15, 2019 | 5-7pm

Come see the opening of the new show Materials/Process, with Jackie MacLeod, one of our alumni, and three other local artists.

On the way to the opening be sure to stop and find out more about Liberty Arts and our upcoming Iron Pour. If you're feeling especially creative and haven't already done a scratch block, you’ll be able to sign up on the spot to do one there.

Steve Little will be demonstrating the whole process with all the materials and tools needed. Otherwise, you can sign up for the upcoming workshops on the following day, November 16th, the day of the Pour.

Where: Durham Arts Council, 120 Morris St, Durham NC 27701

When: 5-7pm, November 15, 2019.


Fallapalooza | September 21, 2019 | 6-10pm

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The upcoming Autumnal Equinox has inspired us to open our doors and create the 1st Annual Liberty Arts Fallapalooza. Get ready to celebrate the change of seasons in a completely unique and creative way!

On September 21st from 6 to 10pm our studio at 918 Pearl St will be the place to come for beer and cider from our first class local breweries, food prepared for the season and, of course, s’mores made by you over Liberty Arts’ own fire pits. 

Need some entertainment? Watch your date dancing to fabulous music by local classic rock band W.O. and our good friend Alec Ferrell with his mad DJ skills. 

Feeling creative? Design and create your own Autumnal Tiara at our Tiara Table. 

Seriously, where else are you going to find this kind of fun?!?

Tickets are on sale now for $25.

Please note that this event is restricted to those 21 years of age and older.

BOOK HERE!

Stay tuned as we will be posting updates about our menu, the choice of local breweries and more about the evening’s music.

Dance to W.O. at Fallapalooza!!

Evie G Watts - You put yourself in too small a box, my love | Sept 13 - Oct 13 2019

A new chapter begins…


After a few years of studio administration and management in two different organizations, I’m getting back into the studio myself to make stuff.


Feeling a bit rusty (ha!), and ready to create things other than schedules, emails, lists and conversations. This show will be the outcome of my summer-long foray back into the fold of metal, clay and wood.


I bring what I’ve learned. I offer you a respite from your computer screen, your everyday surroundings. My hope is that you come away with a new way to look at old things.

The opening promises to be a party - Dex and Half Tones have promised to come and play for us. They are a fabulous local jazz band who has entertained us all a few times now and it's always a pleasure to hear them jam. There will also be food and drinks and lots of people to meet and reconnect with. Come and have some fun!

The show will run through October 13th.