Meet the Metal Arts Academy Team
MAA was born out of a desire to train and educate in the art of fine jewelry fabrication, design and the metal arts. Our goal is to provide students with the skills and guidance needed to venture into the world of metal sculpture, to begin a career as a bench jeweler or to just enjoy continuous learning and working with their hands, all while bringing forth their creative ideas. At MAA, we take pride in the knowledge that our instructors bring to each student. Attention to detail and the finished product is as important to each piece as the design and the materials. Students learn the basics of jewelry making through repetition which facilitates perfecting skills and strengthening technique. Our jewelry program includes fabrication, design, stone setting, wax carving, casting, carving, chasing and piercing. The jewelry curriculum includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. The metal arts curriculum includes chasing and repousse, sculpting, raising, anticlastic, pewtersmithing and coppersmithing. We are proud to offer students the opportunity to learn a skilled trade in the time honored craft of handmade jewelry and the metal arts. We are eager to teach the next generation of craftsmen and women who honor their field with knowledge, skill and passion. Reaching to the past and teaching for the future.
Michael R. Kosinski
Michael began at the age of 16 at the Institute of Jewelry Training. Eager to continue to develop his skills, he apprenticed with Van Craeynest, Inc. in San Francisco for 6 years during the 1980's. It was here where he learned the fine art of jewelry making based on old world techniques such as forging, toolmaking, carving and chasing. As an apprentice he was given the gift of time and repetition in learning new skills. This is the basis of his early career and it shows throughout his work. After many years of working at the bench in two jewelry stores, Michael went out on his own in 1999 and formed Michael R. Kosinski, Fine Jewelry Design / Manufacture where he has created custom pieces for clients ever since. Several years ago he began sharing his knowledge with students and discovered a passion for teaching the trade he has worked in and has had such passion for for over 40 years.
Instragram: mrkosinski_jewelry
Rebecca Kosinski
After a 30+ year career of professional, community and international dance experience, Rebecca retired to help found MAA back in 2017. Her background in dance discipline aligns perfectly with the idea of "if it's not in the body, it can't be in the brain". No stranger to repetition and practice, she is the Administrative Team and Michael is the instructor. They have been married, and a team, since 1990 raising four children together and traveling around the world as much as possible.
GUEST INSTRUCTORS
Lisa Slovis Mandel
Lisa is a metalsmith, teacher, mother, wife, artist and so much more. She has a passion for creating with metals and loves to share that passion with others. She creates jewelry, objects for the home and large-scale sculpture- All of which she refers to as “Jewelry for the Neighborhood”. She believes in the idea that as we adorn ourselves, we also need to adorn our environment. Our walls, tables, and outdoor spaces should all have art adding to our daily lives. Lisa has always led an active lifestyle and loves interaction- she wants people to see feel and hopefully interact with her pieces on many levels.
She currently teaches Jewelry at El Cajon Valley High School and teaches privately. She is a distributor for Foredom Products, and creates custom work of all sizes as Lisa Slovis Metalsmithing.
Keith Ryan
Keith is trained in Waldorf education for both elementary grades and high school as well as trained in the practical art of therapeutic education from the UK. Keith is a self-taught coppersmith and blacksmith specializing in 1500 BC blacksmithing. Keith has taught blacksmithing in Japan and across the United States. Keith works with students around the country teaching woodworking and Waldorf crafts and he teaches young adults with autism transferable skills through crafts. His love of learning shows in his many skills which he shares with his students. He is also a self-taught beekeeper, the first and currently the only Demeter certified Biodynamic beekeeper in the US.
Keith teaches Coppersmithing and the Copper Roses class.
