The Madagascar Institute is an art combine in Brooklyn that specializes in large-scale sculptures and rides, live performances, and guerilla art events.
We have an open membership workshop, with monthly and yearly subscriptions. For those of you who want to learn to be ArtStars, or just smell like one, and can not or will not just plunge in and show up and suffer abuse and work, we have classes. To find out about classes, check the current schedule.
Fresh from the blog:
- Spring Class Lineup
We've got a welding class each Saturday this spring! All sorts of people have come thru Madagascar Institute knowing nothing about a shop and have become capable metal workers. Get your start here. Artstar Hackett shows you how:
Beginning MIG Welding w/ Hackett
Mar 8, 2014
Mar 15, 2014*
Mar 22, 2014
Apr 5, 2014
May 24, 2014
Impress your friends, that cute bartender or your older brother with your tough new skill. This 3-hour introductory welding class will teach you the very basics of MIG welding and familiarize you with the tools you’ll need to finish a project.
MIG welding is the handy hot glue, do-all kind of welding--the type of machine you will most likely run into at any metal shop in the US. This class focuses on the hands-on experience of welding. You will learn the difference between MIG, TIG, arc and oxy acetylene, what type of shielding gas to use for MIG, why you won't get electrocuted, and how to run a bead... a little of the theory and tech, but mostly you will get a feel for the manual skill of welding. You can take this beginning welding multiple times with different teachers and you should! What is common to every class? Welding is about practice.
Beginning TIG Welding w/ Hackett
Mar 15, 2014*
Apr 12, 2014
May 3, 2014
May 17, 2014
TIG is the new MIG. The coolest thing about TIG welding is that TIG allows you to see exactly what is going on as a weld is executed, up close and personal, without being showered in splatter. Plus you don't have to wear those bulky gloves. Come down to the shop and do it slow with Hackett.
For all classes: Wear jeans, long sleeves and sturdy shoes or boots. Leave your fancy nylon sneakers at home. They will get ruined and your toes may burn off. You've been warned. Dress for the weather. If it's cold outside, it's cold inside. This is a working shop so prepare to get dirty.
*If you're looking to make-up a rescheduled combo MIG/TIG class, try March 15th, when there's both a MIG and TIG class-- sign up for both with the "make-up/reschedule" ticket type!
- January Classes
1/4/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim SOLD OUT
1/11/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim SOLD OUT
1/25/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim
2/8/2014 6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim
In this all day mig/tig combo class, artstar Jim Tensen will walk you through everything you need to successfully learn to weld. First, you'll some basic theory, then you'll learn how the MIG machine works, general safety, why you won't get electrocuted, and all those questions that have been floating through your brains while laying in bed at 3am. Then you'll move on to actual welding: Running a bead and tacks, butt joints and fillet welds. Finally, Jim will show you how to visually inspect and test your welds. You'll also learn how to cut and grind your steel.
The you'll do it all again with the TIG welder.
This is our newest most popular class. No previous welding experience neccessary.
You'll have a break half way between, but there's alot to learn, so plan on being pretty busy all day.
There are a few nasty delis near the shop to buy water and sandwiches near the shop but not a whole lot of options, so bring what you think you'll need for a day of welding. Lunch, water, snacks, bugspray--yes, the ravenous gowanus mosquitos are notorious.....
Wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and prepare to get dirty. Dress for the weather. Bring long sleeves or sunscreen. Ask Jim why! $110 with $15 materials fee.
Beginning MIG Welding w/ Hackett 1/8/14 7PM - 10PM
MIG welding is the handy hot glue do-all kind of welding, the primary kind of welding used in making traincars, art, cranes, etc.
All sorts of people have come through Madagascar Institute knowing nothing about a shop and have become capable metal workers; get your start here. This class focuses on the hands-on experience of welding. You will learn a little of the theory and tech behind it, but mostly you will get a feel for the manual skill of welding. $60 incl materials
Beginning TIG Welding w/ Hackett 1/18/14 1PM - 4PM
Beginning TIG Welding w/ Hackett 1/30/14 7PM - 10PM
TIG is the new MIG. The coolest thing about TIG welding is that TIG allows you to see exactly what is going on as a weld is executed, up close and personal, without being showered in splatter. Plus you don't have to wear those bulky gloves.
Come down to the shop and do it slow with Hackett. $60 incl materials.
Not sure which class? Pick up a gift certificate! - November Classes - Welding and Silkscreen
6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim, Saturday 11/9/13 11am-6pm In this all day mig/tig combo class, artstar Jim Tensen will walk you through everything you need to successfully learn to weld. First, you'll some basic theory, then you'll learn how the MIG machine works, general safety, why you won't get electrocuted, and all those questions that have been floating through your brains while laying in bed at 3am. Then you'll move on to actual welding: Running a bead and tacks, butt joints and fillet welds. Finally, Jim will show you how to visually inspect and test your welds. You'll also learn how to cut and grind your steel. The you'll do it all again with the TIG welder. This is our newest most popular class. No previous welding experience neccessary. You'll have a break half way between, but there's alot to learn, so plan on being pretty busy all day. There are a few nasty delis near the shop to buy water and sandwiches near the shop but not a whole lot of options, so bring what you think you'll need for a day of welding. Lunch, water, snacks, bugspray--yes, the ravenous gowanus mosquitos are notorious..... Wear long pants, closed toe shoes, and prepare to get dirty. Dress for the weather. Bring long sleeves or sunscreen. Ask Jim why! $110 with $15 materials fee.
6 hr MIG/TIG welding combo w/ Jim, Saturday 11/16/13 11am-6pm - same as above, different weekend!
Silkscreen with Ben Mortimer, Saturday 11/23/13 12pm-5pm
Learn to silkscreen with an actual art school grad!!!
In this 5 hour hands-on comprehensive, visiting artstar and good Mada friend Ben Mortimer will show you how to burn your own silkscreen with equipment you can put together at home.
We will supply the screens, Ben will pre-emulsion your screens for you, then demonstrate how to do it, then show you how to burn your screen with our light boxes. Then you all will burn your own artwork to your screen.
After your screens are cleaned off and dry, you'll have the chance to print onto fabric, paper, t-shirts or whatever you want, then go home with your own screen.
No experience necessary.
Bring artwork printed onto a clear transparency. If you don't have an artistic bone in your body, find an image online. If that's not your thing either, you can just use something we have. If none of this makes sense to you, shoot me an email and I'll help you out. You need to make sure the image is dark enough to keep light from penetrating. Or print doubles, or you can darken it up with a black sharpie.
We have fabric and paper you can use for practice, but if you want something specific, bring your own. Keep in mind there's a high F-up to good ratio in the beginning so don't bring your best old favorite irreplaceable t-shirt.
$80 Space is limited. - Hackett's Bike Generator Hackett shows you how to build a bike charger for a deep cycle battery so you can power your life during the next natural disaster. Mike Davis' 555 chip charging circuit
- The Transmission Problem - Pedicab Projector Tripod Hackett describes the projector tripod he's building for the pedicab version of The Illuminator, and discusses what he refers to as the "transmission problem" when building things from obtanium.
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