Liberty Arts

Community Welding Project with The Scrap Exchange - Staff Retreat 

As part of the Shopping Cart Corral Project, we're inviting the Scrap Exchange team to join us for a special behind-the-scenes workshop at Liberty Arts.

Together, we'll cut and prepare the iconic SCRAP EXCHANGE lettering in your signature font and style, creating a permanent feature of the new cart corral. Along the way, you'll get a hands-on introduction to the metals studio while working alongside Liberty Arts instructors and fellow Scrap Exchange staff.

No previous welding or metalworking experience is necessary, and this workshop is provided free of charge as a thank-you to the Scrap Exchange team for being part of this collaborative project.

What to Wear

For your safety, please wear:

• Long pants made from cotton or denim (no leggings or synthetic fabrics)
• Closed-toe leather shoes or boots, avoid running or knit sneakers styles.
• A cotton long-sleeve shirt (avoid polyester and other synthetic materials)
• Long hair must be tied back
• Remove dangling jewelry before class

Wearing the recommended clothing helps protect you while working and allows you to avoid wearing additional heavy leather safety gear whenever possible.

Summer Heat Advisory

This workshop takes place during the summer, and our metals studio can become very warm. Please bring a refillable water bottle, wear lightweight natural-fiber clothing that meets the safety requirements above, and pay attention to how your body is feeling throughout the workshop. Staying hydrated and taking breaks when needed are important parts of working safely in the studio.

Pre-requisites

No prior welding or metalworking experience is required.

Skills & Equipment

Participants will receive an introduction to basic metal fabrication while contributing to a collaborative community art project.

Participants will learn:

• Basic shop safety procedures
• Introduction to metal cutting equipment
• Safe use of metalworking hand tools
• Surface preparation and finishing techniques

Equipment used in this workshop includes metal cutting equipment, grinders, hand tools, and standard welding studio safety equipment.

Materials

All materials are provided by Liberty Arts. Participants will create the permanent SCRAP EXCHANGE lettering that will be installed on the new shopping cart corral.

Safety & PPE

Protective gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and any additional required safety equipment will be provided.

Location

This workshop will meet at Liberty Arts Studio, located at 918 Pearl St., Durham, NC, United States.

Notes / Important Info

This workshop is offered exclusively for Scrap Exchange employees and is provided free of charge. The letters created during this workshop will become a permanent feature of the Shopping Cart Corral Project, giving everyone who participates a lasting connection to this collaborative work of public art.