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.
MAG is a 501(c 3) non-profit, all-volunteer-led arts organization, and we rely on your generosity to help us provide metal related events, lectures, workshops, exhibitions and networking mixers to the membership and community.
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.
February 2026
Member of the Month: Morganne Byrnes
Website: https://www.morgbyr.com/
Instagram: @morgbyr
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Morganne Byrnes. I am from San Diego, California. I am a student at California College of the Arts. My goal as an artist is to learn as many skills as possible so alongside my metalsmithing I enjoy painting, ceramics, photography, and have even worked on a few film sets in various roles.
2. What is your favorite tool and why?
My favorite metalsmithing tool would have to be my chasing hammer and steel bits which allows me to add all sorts of texture to my work as well as Thompson enamels & Sculpt Nouveau metal smart stains for vivid pops of color. I am drawn to the use of texture and color in all mediums I use.
3. Which materials do you create with most and what is your attraction to using them?
I love using copper for its flexibility and absorption of hammer marks as well as how it can be patinated and colored in a variety of ways you can’t achieve on other metals such as brass and nickel. I also love copper’s more earthly quality compared to silver’s more shiny look.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from nature a lot of the time from observing my home in San Diego. I love visiting the tide pools to look at the rock formations for patterns & textures and little animals for their movement & colors.
5. How long have you been working in metals and what brought you into this field?
I have been working in metal for about two and a half years. I took my first metalsmithing class at California College of the Arts under Curtis Arima and continued learning under the guidance of Amy Tavern, Marilyn Da Silva, Jo Ann Donivan, and Russell Larman. Also shout out to Olivia Shih, Corey Wolffs, and Kelly Jean Conroy who have helped me out in jewelry but I haven’t gotten a chance to practice under them yet. I originally enrolled at CCA as a Film Major but once I heard about there being a jewelry program, along with many other arts I wanted to study, I switched my major to the Individualized Art Program and started studying a mix of mediums.
6. What piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in metals?
My piece of advice would be to understand that metalsmithing will always challenge you and that there is always something new to learn and a new technique for how you do it. Through talking with my professors I’ve learned a plethora of ways to do the same task such as ring making, adding color to metal, and more. It’s also is a time consuming and slow process to learn but the end results are worth it.
7. What has been the biggest challenge for you as a metal artist and have you overcome it, or how are you working to overcome it?
My biggest challenge as a metalsmith is actually the current phase I am in trying to figure out how to set up a personal studio, what equipment I need and want to use, as well as finding reliable resources and vendors
outside of my network in San Francisco when I graduate.
8. Favorite resource/vendor or website
I love RioGrande and OttoFrei for purchasing tools and metals. I also have been looking on facebook marketplace to get deals on retired metalsmith’s used tools for my studio.
