The Metal Arts Guild (MAG) is an independent, non-profit, educational organization
of people who are skilled, interested, or share in the production and exhibition of metals.
Our Community
Everyone is welcome to join: from the beginner to the master craftsperson, teachers and students, metal arts collectors and more. Each member is a vital part of making the Guild work for our community.
We support the work of outstanding metal artists by organizing exhibitions, lectures, and workshops, awarding an annual MAG Community Project Grant, various student scholarships, and offering resources and opportunities for our members.
Featured Member
Each month a new Featured Member is chosen from the completed member profiles on our website. Their interview and work is highlighted on our blog and social media. Visit our archive of past Featured Members.
October 2021
To start our celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Metal Arts Guild, we want to highlight the background of a few of its founding members
Byron Wilson
Founding Member
“Byron Wilson was born in 1918, Alameda, California. Self-taught, he quickly developed his own unique style of art, while improving his techniques and advancing designs in mid-century modern jewelry. Wilson also experimented in the mediums of etching, painting and sculpture.
In 1956, the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC) – California College of the Arts, asked him to teach in their metal arts department, where he perfected casting techniques and created their first metal foundry. While teaching part-time at CCAC, Wilson also worked as a claims inspector for Southern Pacific Railroad for 47 years. He would find time to create his artwork in the off-hours between his two jobs. He eventually retired after 26 years of teaching at the CCAC. (more…)
