“Some of my best teachers have been full-time studio artists. Linda Christianson, Michael Simon, and Clary Illian, all stepped into academia briefly to do sabbatical replacements for my professors. Their real-world experience, a lifelong love of material, coupled with articulate teaching skills, made working with them life-changing. The Cohorts.Art program was created with professional artists as mentors, these are people who I wish I could have had as teachers. Having one of these wonderful folks on your side for a year and a small group of committed colleagues along with you is a game changer!“
-Simon Levin
Application for 2026 will open August 15, 2025
On this page you’ll find our list of mentors for 2026 in our metals programs.
2026 Metals Mentors
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Barbara Minor (she/her)
Individual Meetings: To be decided upon in agreement with each individual participant.
Group Meeting: Group meeting dates to be decided upon in agreement with the group and held on Friday, Saturday or Sunday - 10:00am-12:00pm CT // 11:00am-1:00pm ET // 5:00pm-7:00pm Italy Time
Workshop Agenda: We'll spend a week in my personal studio, exploring creative problem-solving and bringing ideas to life through demonstrations and experiments in enameling and metalworking techniques. We'll also discuss other relevant topics and answer (or discover) all those "what if I tried this?" questions. Specific content will be determined by the needs of the group.
My studio is one level on the ground floor. Participants may need to navigate tight spaces around certain equipment.
In-Person Workshop Dates TBD.
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Erica Moody (she/her)
Individual Meetings: 2nd & 4th Wednesdays
Group Meeting: Last Friday of the month
Times possibly can be shifted as agreed upon with group, but will still be regular.
Workshop Agenda: A summer week in midcoast Maine, where we will all stay together in my 1850s house to work and share meals together. In my barn studio we will work individually and as a group to play with techniques or a project, whether it be welding, silver soldering, hydraulic forming, forging, enameling, heat treating, hand filing, etching....options to be discussed prior to the gathering. Trips to the ocean and on the ocean are encouraged!
Workshop in Summer (July/August), dates TBD with group
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Jenn Wells (she/her)
Individual Meetings: 2nd & 4th Tuesday or Saturday, EST from 9am - 1pm (later time availability may be requested).
Group Meeting: Last Sunday of the month, (EST 9am - 1pm)
Workshop Agenda: A week in my home studio near Certaldo, Italy. We will spend the time exploring enameling and jewelry fabrication techniques. I will provide demonstrations and look forward to everyone bringing a “problem” piece with them that we can brainstorm together on. In the evenings we’ll drink wine and eat all the pasta.
My studio is ground floor, however, participants should be comfortable with stairs and uneven pavement.
Our Incredible Staff and Resources
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Mary Barringer (she/her)
Word Up with Mary! A special opportunity for past and present Cohorts students to schedule time with a professional writer for review of written projects.
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AnnMarie Cooper (she/her)
AnnMarie is the Cohorts.Art Manager. She handles the administrative side of things and guides you through the Instagram guest hosting experience.