Betsy Alwin
Betsy Alwin is the Artistic Director of Ceramics and Expanded Media. She is a sculptor working across media. She attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture and holds an MFA from Illinois State University. Her work has been exhibited widely, including the Berkshire Botanical Gardens (Mass MoCA), the National Botanic Gardens in Washington D.C., AIR Gallery, New York, The Phipps Center, Hudson WI, and most recently in the Colorado Ceramics Educators Exhibition in Denver, CO. Public commissions include sculptures at the Onoden Elementary School in Tokyo, Japan, Franconia Sculpture Park in Shafer, MN and Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, MN. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including two Artist Individual Support grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and a finalist for the Jingdezhen Prize in China in 2025. She is represented by Rubine Red Gallery in Palm Springs, CA.
Betsy's Links:
Betsy's Upcoming Workshops
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Level I
Students are new to ceramics and have no formal training.
Aug 31 - Sep 4, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Basic Mold Making for Slip or Slab Casting
Betsy Alwin
Tuition $1,300
Code C1416-26
This basic mold-making workshop focuses on plaster piece molds for slip and press-mold casting. Students are guided through the technical aspects of design of an object for casting, development of a plaster mold, and methods of casting. Discussion and demonstration give insight to how artists use this practice to create a catalog of forms and objects to use again and again in their work. Participants come away with knowledge of best practices, functioning piece molds, and a bisqued cast form.
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Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Sep 7 - 18, 2026
9 AM - 5 PM
Introduction to Hot Metal Casting
Betsy Alwin, William Lanzillo
Tuition $1,650
Code S1513-26
Experience the power of hot metal casting in this two-week intensive workshop covering the entire process of creating a cast metal sculpture. Students start by learning how to create wax forms to be transformed into bronze or aluminum, then are guided through the highly technical process of creating the ceramic shell mold, the burn-out process, and casting hot metal. Participants also explore the green sand-casting technique for quick-casting possibilities. Students come away with the knowledge, vocabulary, and an understanding of cast metal’s place in contemporary art practice. This workshop is ideal for anyone who has never cast metal before and for those who wish to brush-up on their skills.