Marilyn O’Hara
Metals Department Chair and Intermediate/Advance Metals Fabrication Instructor
Intermediate/Advanced students will work on various projects with an emphasis on technical problem solving, mastering new skills, and developing personal design. Students advance at their own pace. Instruction is individualized as you progress to more complex design and construction techniques. Ongoing processes taught are advanced soldering skills, hollow construction, hinges, clasps, overlay techniques, lockets, argentium silver, adding gold to silver, etching, design and product development and advanced stone setting including bezels, prongs, tube and flush setting. This class is held is Studio A.
A Little About Marilyn:
Marilyn O’Hara has been a studio goldsmith for more than 45 years. She opened a gallery/studio on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey in the mid 70’s where she designed and produced her own line of jewelry. She went on to earn a BFA degree from University of North Texas in Metalsmithing and did post graduate work at the University of Arizona and the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also studied Advanced Stone Setting and Diamond Grading at Gemological Institute of America.
Marilyn has specialized in restoration of antique jewelry and has been commissioned for one-of-a-kind pieces from major companies, including Bachendorf’s and Zale’s. Since 1989, Marilyn has worked as a 'ghost designer' for several top designers in the US, where her work has been purchased by Oprah Winfrey, Elton John, Hillary Clinton and Wynonna Judd, to name a few.
Today, Marilyn designs and creates limited-edition and one-of-a-kind jewelry in her Dallas studio. But, she still has her hands in multiple disciplines, including teaching. Teaching is very significant to her. She feels it is important to give back and to build community by sharing knowledge. Teaching has also made her grow as an artist and greatly influences her own work. She is very involved in her community as the Chair of the Metals Department at the Craft Guild of Dallas.