Artist Lecture: Creating Outside Your Craft

Hear from Artist Mark Schentzel: Creating Outside Your Craft
Artist Lecture Series – Event 2

In the second event of our Artist Lecture Series, join sculptor Mark Schentzel as he takes you through the practicalities of creating sculpture and public art. Mark will begin by discussing how to define and scope a project, then offer strategies for successfully bringing that vision to life. From the early stages of conceptualization to the challenges of fabrication and installation, he’ll guide attendees through the entire process—highlighting key considerations like outsourcing, budgeting, and logistics.

Mark will delve into the often-overlooked decision-making process that shapes a successful public art project, including how to assess strengths, build confidence, and utilize available resources. By focusing on the relationship between these elements and their impact on profitability and project success, Mark will share invaluable lessons drawn from his extensive experience.

With over 25 years of expertise in welding, custom metal fabrication, and public art installations, Mark’s talk will offer practical insights and real-world examples to help artists and creators navigate the complexities of large-scale projects. Through his own collaborations with custom shops, he’ll also highlight the importance of strategic partnerships in realizing ambitious artistic visions.

About Mark Schentzel
Mark Schentzel holds a BFA in Sculpture and Functional Art from Kendall College of Art and Design, where he received the Sculpture Excellence Award. He has honed his craft through workshops at institutions such as Ox-Bow School for the Arts (MI), Penland School of Craft (NC), and Peters Valley Craft Education Center (NJ). With over 25 years of experience in welding and custom metal fabrication, Mark co-founded EA-Craftworks in Grand Rapids, MI, a custom metal shop specializing in unique metal works across Michigan and beyond. A passionate educator, Mark has taught welding for over a decade and is expanding his instructional offerings in sculpture, welding, and metal fabrication.

About Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI)

DGRI is invested in activating our public spaces through art, placemaking and placekeeping installations that transform our Downtown into a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work, visit and play. Through efforts over the years like our Activate grants, Heartside Historic Mural program, Women’s Way alley activation initiative, Rad American Women project and more, we have been able to invest millions of dollars into local art in our Downtown. We continue to strive to be an arts city and invest in our local art scene that further educates, engages, inspires and welcomes not only Grand Rapidians, but all who come to enjoy our city.

This class will be held at our office at 29 Pearl St NW in Downtown Grand Rapids. We're right next to Tupelo Honey at the corner of Pearl and Ionia.

We will validate your parking if you park at the Pearl Ionia Ramp at 28 Pearl St NW.

This event may be photographed and recorded for promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be in any photo/video, please inform the photographer/videographer with the DGRI badge.

Host or Publisher Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.