Thank you to our sponsors!
Copper Level:
Steel Level:
Thank you to our
Business Members!
Saturday, July 19 - Sunday, July 20, 2025 ~ Loveland, Colorado
Current Registration Fees for the two-day conference are as follows:
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CoMA Member Only Early Bird Registration - from $295*
CoMA Member - from $375 (after May 15th)
CoMA Student Member - from $100
Student Group Rate (5+) - from $75 each (email president@coloradometalsmiths.org for a code)
Non-Member - from $425
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Day rate (can be be booked at anytime):
CoMA Member one day ticket - from $195 per day
Non-member on day ticket - from $215
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This year, you will have the option to purchase lunch for Saturday and/or Sunday for an additional charge of $17.50 per meal. You must book your meal(s) by July 1.
*Members registering before May 15, will be able to choose a ticket that includes one conference two-color logo t-shirt for $20. T-shirts will also be for sale at the conference.
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Want that Member discount?
SCHEDULE
Subject to change
(last updated 3/14/2025)
Saturday, JULY 19th
8:00 - 9:00 AM - Check-in
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8:00 - 11:30 AM - Auction intake
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8:00 AM - 5:30 PM - Vendors Open
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9:15 AM - Morning Announcements & Welcome
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9:30 - 11:00 AM - Guest Presenter - Pat Pruitt
11:15 - 11:45 AM - Founders' Spotlight
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM - Lunch
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11:45 AM - 5:30 PM - Auction is open
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1:00 - 2:00 PM - Guest Presenter - Haley Bates
2:00 - 2:30 PM - Break & Move over to demo space @ Artworks
Loveland
2:30 - 3:30 PM - Live Demo from Haley Bates
3:30 - 3:50 PM - Break & head back to main venue
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4:00 - 4:30 PM - All Members Meeting
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4:30 - 5:30 PM - Cocktail hour (one free drink)
- Pin Swap
- Auction & Vendors Close @ 5:30/Both open again tomorrow
5:30 - 7:00 PM - Jewelry Trivia w/ open bar
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Sunday, JULY 20th
8.30 AM - 9.00AM - Check-in as needed
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8:30 AM - 12:45 PM - Auction is open
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM - Vendors Open
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9:00 AM - Morning Announcements & Welcome
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​9:15 - 10:45 AM - Guest Presenter - Andy Cooperman
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11:00 - 11:30 AM - Member Spotlight: Rynn Miller
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11:30 AM - 12:45 PM - Lunch
- Auction Closes @ 12:45
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1:00 - 2:00 PM - Guest Presenter - Ana Lopez
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2:00 - 2:30 PM - Break & Move over to demo space @ Artworks
Loveland
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2:30 - 3:30 PM - Live Demo from Ana Lopez
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3:30 - 3:50 PM - Break & head back to main venue
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4:00 - 5:00 PM - Master Panel with all four Guest Presenters
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5:00 - 5:15 PM - Closing Remarks
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5:15 - 6:00 PM - Pick up auction items
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PRESENTERS
Haley Bates
Haley Bates is an artist based in Fort Collins, CO whose work explores human interconnectedness through the lens of function, design, and craft. She is interested in the unlikely intersections of digital and traditional craft practice, utilizing materials as diverse as vellum, wood, and steel. However, she finds that her head, hands, and heart are most closely aligned when she is in the studio, working with the traditional tools and techniques of silversmithing. This dynamic relationship between maker and material, idea and object, mediated by process, has anchored her studio practice for the last two decades.
Originally from Texas, she received her BFA from the University of North Texas and her MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. She is currently an Associate Professor of Art and head of the Metalsmithing & Jewelry program at Colorado State University. In addition to teaching at CSU, Haley has led demonstrations and workshops at schools and institutions throughout the United States. Her work is
included in numerous private collections, and is in the permanent collection of the Metal Museum in Memphis, TN. Her artwork has been published in American Craft and Metalsmith magazines and exhibited both nationally and
internationally.
Andy Cooperman
Seattle metalsmith Andy Cooperman is an omnivore: Gold, steel, glass, bone or tiny plastic chickens—any material that seems tasty might end up in the pot.
Since moving to the Northwest in 1984, Andy has been making work for exhibition and private clients and has been a writer and educator for most of that time. Andy’s work and writing has been published in books and magazines such as The Penland Book of Jewelry, Humor in Craft and American Craft Magazine and can be found in public and private collections that include the Victoria & Albert Museum, The Washington State Arts Commission and The National Ornamental Metals Museum. Andy lectures widely, most notably for the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference, the Yuma Arts Symposium and the Colorado Metalsmithing Association conference as well as delivering the keynote presentation for both the International Society of Glass Bead Makers Conference and the East Carolina University Symposium.
For the past several years, Andy has been moving back and forth in scale between jewelry and small sculptural objects, experimenting with stainless steel and learning the idiosyncrasies of Pulse Arc Welding.
Ana M. Lopez
Ana M. Lopez is a metalsmith, educator and decorative arts scholar. Her creative work conflates references from the decorative and industrial arts to address our increasingly complex relationship to air conditioning. This is both a side-effect of living in Texas and the result of a lifelong vent fetish. She loves the ‘what ifs’ of process and most of the problems she solves are ones she has made for herself.
Her creative work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is featured in the art appreciation textbook, Art for Everyone. In 2023 Lopez had a two-person show at the Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, Reimagining the Real, with Natalie Macellaio. Her work is in their permanent collection as well as that of the Houston International Airport and the Special Collections of the University of North Texas Libraries.
In 2024 she co-curated the traveling exhibition, catalog, and symposium, Everybody’s Bolos, which is currently at the Fuller Craft Museum and was featured in Ornament magazine. Ana is the author of the reference book, Metalworking Through History: An Encyclopedia, published by Greenwood Press, as well as numerous other scholarly articles. She has worked extensively as an exhibition juror and grant reviewer. Lopez holds an MFA in Metalsmithing from the Cranbrook Academy of Art and an MA in the History of American Decorative Arts from The Smithsonian Associates and Parsons School of Design. She is currently Professor of Metalsmithing & Jewelry at the University of North Texas and lives with her family in Fort Worth, Texas.
Pat Pruitt
Pat Pruitt is a contemporary artist of Laguna Pueblo, Chiricahua Apache and Anglo descent who is known for his contemporary, cutting-edge work that uses innovative materials, design, and fabrication techniques. He first learned jewelry-making by studying with Laguna jewelers Greg Lewis and Charlie Bird, who gave him a solid foundation in traditional materials like silver and copper and traditional techniques such as repoussé. In college Pruitt studied mechanical engineering and worked as a machinist, an experience that led him to open Custom Steel Body Jewelry making jewelry for the body piercing industry. With his knowledge of machining technology and his love of working in stainless steel, he developed his distinctive style of jewelry that challenges notions of what Native American jewelry is. Pruitt’s Native American heritage inspires his jewelry, but he gives every design a contemporary, industrial edge. Pruitt has also served his people by holding key leadership roles within his pueblo and has served on the Laguna Pueblo Tribal Council for ten years collectively. Currently he is back in school pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He also balances his personal and home life with his partner between New Mexico and Oklahoma.
PRE-CONFERENCE
WORKSHOP
We are thrilled that Ana Lopez will be giving a 3-day workshop where creators will sew together copper foil vessels and learn how to apply liquid enamel to support and enhance them - Stitch & Dip!
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The workshop will be $385 for CoMA members and $450 for non-CoMA members.
Materials fees will run about $175 depending on what you need to purchase. Creators will be responsible for acquiring these in advance.
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The workshop will be held in Denver at the Metropolitan State University, Arts Building's Jewelry & Metalsmithing studio. Class limit is 12.​
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Marlin Cohrs Scholarship Fund, named in honor of Marlin Cohrs who donated numerous hours of audio/visual support at CoMA conferences for over 15 years, is made available by the continuing support of donations from members, sponsors and fund raising initiatives made by Board members. There are 8 scholarships available to purchase a ticket to attend the 2025 conference.
Additionally, CoMA is excited to offer, for the first time in 2025, The Burnt Opal Award. When Jim Miller was in the early stages of his metalsmithing career, he was told he could heat an opal and so he did. It was a serious financial hardship to replace the customer’s opal, and he swore that he would always help a less experienced jeweler if he had the chance. In that spirit of sharing information, his family would like to support a student or emerging metal artist with a conference registration and a $200 stipend to be used towards travel, accommodations or purchases at the CoMA Conference. If you would like to be considered for the Burnt Opal Award, please add a statement to your Student Scholarship application describing how or why this award would benefit you.One award will be offered to a qualified Emerging Metalsmith to attend the 2025 conference.
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Emerging Metalsmith is defined as follows:
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graduated from a full-time or part-time educational program (college, university, technical college, community college, non-traditional school) and/or any other degree, certificate or non-certificate granting program within the last 3 years.
OR
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enrolled full-time or part-time (2 or more classes) in any educational program (college, university, technical college, community college, non-traditional school) and/or any other degree, certificate or non-certificate granting program.
OR
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having less than 3 years of professional experience as a metalsmith.
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If you have received a CoMA scholarship anytime in the past, you may still be eligible to apply.
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Applications are open to all qualified persons regardless of member status.Current CoMA members will given priority until May 15th as will those who are applying for the first time.
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Emerging Metalsmith Scholarships and The Burnt Opal Reward will be selected by the current CoMA Conference Committee and Jim Miller's family (Burnt Opal Reward). Recipients will be notified upon acceptance. If you have any questions, please contact Kim Harrell at president@coloradometalsmiths.org.
TRAVEL INFO
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CONFERENCE VENUE: Rialto Theater Deveraux/Hach Rooms
228 E 4th St, Loveland, CO 80537
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DEMO VENUE: Artworks Center for Contemporary Art
310 N Railroad Ave, Loveland, CO 80537 (2 blocks West of the Rialto Theater)
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LODGING:
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TownePlace Suites Loveland Fort Collins, 256 E 2nd St, Loveland, CO 80537
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We have a group rate of $214+taxes per night/room; free WiFi and parking​
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Booking details & codes will be on your purchased ticket DISCOUNT RATES EXPIRE JUNE 20th
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PARKING:
There is free parking locally for both venues and near the hotel.
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WEATHER:
Sunny & hot! Temps average in the high 80s's in July. Loveland is 5,000 ft above sea level so bring your sunscreen and stay hydrated!
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ABOUT LOVELAND: You can visit these websites to learn more about Loveland, CO:
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