I have been employed at Harper College for 20 years; first as a CE (continuing education) instructor, then studio tech and the last 10 years as a welding instructor. Back in March I received a letter indicating that under new educational requirements, I was not certified to teach welding. I did not have an associates in welding. The college suggested I get an AA before May 27 if I wanted to continue to teach.
I said how about I just retire one year early? I'm keeping my CE gig, Artistic Welding, keeping my badge and keys. I'm hustling to create CE classes to teach, because the certified welding instructor pay was chicken salad, and now I'm getting chicken shit. But I still have access to all the campus, so yay.
But time to think about the next thing. So, time to take my knowledge on the road? I know I can teach beginning anything, art and craft wise. I could teach out of the fire arts playbook. I've done it all: metal casting, ceramics, glass, mold making, wax working, how to build a furnace, how to build a lot of stuff.
One CE class is 3D modeling and mold making. Combining ancient and contemporary materials from 3D prints to plaster to create objects that go on to be ceramic or glass or metal.
I think I could take on the road as a mold making class using clay, plaster, wax, and silicon rubber. The Foru Sisters. A kiln would help, to take something home. I would demo with my one hit wonder, which I designed on a computer, 3D printed, made silicon rubber masters, cast plaster from those, slip cast clay into the plaster molds, and a voila. Or just a clay and plaster modl making class would also be fine.
