ArtWork

A New Master Craftsman initiative at UW helps students gain real-world art experience.

Ashley Hope Carlisle, professor of art in sculpture at the University of Wyoming, has long been involved in hands-on community-oriented artmaking. Alongside her academic role, she owns a business that focuses on public art, featured artworks for homes and creative restoration projects. Her experience merging teaching and creative problem-solving inspired her to develop the Master Craftsman program, a unique initiative designed to help students gain real-world experience creating functional art and secure careers in industries such as manufacturing, design and fabrication.

Carlisle’s approach to sculpture teaching aims to equip students with an all-encompassing knowledge of the field. She gives her students practical tools they can use in various industries — ranging from foundries to fabrication companies and design problem-solving of all sorts. Her students often go on to pursue careers that involve both artistry and craftsmanship, proving that art degrees offer more than just gallery careers.

“In this program, students gain hands-on experience in welding, woodworking, metal casting and more,” Carlisle says. “We work with bronze, aluminum and cast iron, and our annual Iron Pour event each fall gives the community a chance to see these skills in action. We’re giving them the tools — both literal and figurative — to build their futures.”

Through Carlisle’s work, she also hopes to disprove the “starving artist” stereotype that has led to a misunderstanding of the value of artistic skills in the modern economy. She works to highlight the significant role artisans, designers and sculptors can play in contributing to industries such as manufacturing, tourism and industrial operations. She envisions that, by expanding the scope of the creative economy in Wyoming — particularly in manufacturing and fabrication sectors — artists can become key players in economic growth.

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“The creative economy is instrumental for growth in Wyoming and across the country,” she says. “It’s artisan industrial applications that can lead to us to becoming a real contributor in our state’s strongest sectors, which includes manufacturing, travel, tourism and industrial operations.”

Carlisle participated in a yearlong leadership program called the Academic Management Institute, where she was the first female visual artist to participate. This program, run by the Colorado and Wyoming Network of Women Leaders, encouraged participants to develop passion projects that could drive positive change. Carlisle’s idea for the Master Craftsman Program emerged from her belief that students trained in hands-on artistic trades can thrive in a wide range of industries by combining craftsmanship with creativity. She sees great potential in combining art, design, fabrication and business in a way that equips students with the knowledge and experience to succeed in industries that value creative problem-solving. As just one example, she highlights artists working for NASA, sculptors creating public art and entrepreneurs in design fields who thrive by blending artistic talent with industrial applications.

During her time as a Presidential Faculty Fellow (2022–23), Carlisle explored how such a program could function at UW. She was initially inspired by Florida State University’s Master Craftsman Studio, which began as a department and eventually grew into a stand-alone entity. At Florida State, the program’s artisans create functional, beautiful pieces for campus, such as ADA-accessible railings and large bronze emblems embedded in sidewalks. Carlisle sees similar potential at UW, where a Master Craftsman program could integrate paid internships for students and collaborations with units across campus, potentially boosting both student career prospects and campus aesthetics.

Carlisle believes that merging technical training with creative problem-solving is critical, and through the Master Craftsman program, UW students could gain skills that set them apart in a competitive job market. The potential for this initiative to grow into a comprehensive program — whether a minor, certificate or even graduate degree — remains under exploration. The program is still in its early stages, but Carlisle’s vision is already gaining momentum. She has recently been working on a project with Venture MBA candidate Emily Jarrell, who reached out to Carlisle for help creating prototypes for her prospective branding company.

“In one of my Venture Entrepreneurship classes, I developed an idea based on a trade I wanted to learn and saw a market gap for,” Jarrell says. “I connected with Ashley and attended her Sunday sculpture society classes, where I learned to cast, forge, weld and refine my project for sale. Ashley is an incredible mentor who cares deeply about all students, regardless of their background. I’m grateful for the experience and the chance to learn a new trade.”

Carlisle continues to collaborate with colleagues across campus to shape the future of the program, which could offer students an opportunity to participate in real-world projects, internships and apprenticeships — ultimately helping them build resumes that highlight both technical and entrepreneurial capabilities. During their time in the program, students will be able to gain hands-on experience, to work on projects from start to finish, and to learn how to pitch ideas, bid for jobs and manage the production process. She also envisions collaborating with community colleges across Wyoming, providing a pathway for students who’ve gained skills in welding or other trades to continue their education at UW and expand their career opportunities.

Additionally, the program could foster collaborations between UW students and organizations such as “By Western Hands,” a Wyoming-based group of artisans located in Cody, which would create further opportunities for students to intern and learn from experienced craftsmen. Carlisle is excited about these possibilities and is actively seeking partnerships and support to bring the vision to life.

“This is all about creative thinking and problem-solving, and that’s at the heart of what we do as artists,” Carlisle says.

Beyond UW, the program could also have a broader impact on Wyoming’s economy. Artists and artisans continue to play a significant role in public art, architectural design and fabrication, and so the Master Craftsman program could help keep state dollars within Wyoming by providing local solutions for projects that are typically outsourced to other states.

Carlisle also aims to shift the narrative about art degrees and offer students more pathways to success. By combining artistry with business acumen, craftsmanship with creativity, and technical skills with entrepreneurial thinking, students can forge diverse careers that contribute meaningfully to the state and beyond.

“I think it’s innate in me to work hard to make solid connections so our students have access to opportunities and can be successful once they graduate,” Carlisle says.

Whether it becomes a degree program or a series of collaborative internships, the program holds the potential to offer students a comprehensive education that equips them to thrive in today’s job market while contributing to the state’s growth.

“Ultimately, this initiative is not just about building objects — it’s about building careers, communities and a more robust creative economy in Wyoming,” Carlisle says. “Master Craftsman is definitely a passion project for me and one that I am excited to see flourish.”