San Juan Islands Museum of Art and nationally renowned sculpture artist Lanny Bergner have joined forces to offer two one-day workshops, entitled “Metal Mesh and More”.

Whether it’s stainless steel, bronze, copper, brass, aluminum mesh, or other materials, meshwork joins together materials to craft various organic and geometric shapes. Participants will learn about structural qualities of various materials and surfacing techniques, such as flame treatments, and steps like coiling, fraying, twisting, wrapping, gluing and knotting, in which mundane industrial materials are transformed into inspiring works of art.

Based in Anacortes, Bergner, whose artwork is on exhibit at IMA, is a mixed-media sculptor/installation, fiber and sculptural vessel artist. His work appears in numerous collections in the U.S. and abroad, including the Seattle Art Museum, the Museum of Art and Design in New York, and Fuller Craft Museum in Maine. In 2001, he was one of five U.S. artists invited to exhibit in the prestigious 13th International Triennial of Tapestry in Łódź, Poland. His work was recently included in the book “Fiber Art Today”, a survey of contemporary international fiber artists.

Class size for each workshop, May 17 and May 18, is limited to 12 participants. Time is 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at IMA’s new facility at 540 Spring Street, formerly home of San Juan EMS Frank Wilson Memorial Building. Fee is $90 per session. Mail checks to IMA, 156 Otter Lane, FH, WA, 98250.