Today we’d like to introduce you to Caron Dessoye.
Hi Caron, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I relocated to Denton, Texas from the Phila PA area in 2017 in order to attend graduate school at UNT for Metalsmithing and Jewelry. After graduating in 2020 with my MFA, I decided to stay in Denton. I was fortunate enough to be offered an adjunct teaching position in Fall 2020 and have been teaching one Metalsmithing class a semester ever since! In 2021, I decided to try to meet the need for a local art studio for craft art. Craft art includes but is not limited to processes like metalsmithing, ceramics, and fibers. We have such great artists in Denton but few places to work or learn besides universities. There is a vibrant and evolving artist community in Denton. No offense to DFW but the drive there is inconvenient if you want to take class, participate in open studio, sell your items or simply gather. We are an inclusive and safe space for all artists. So far, the reception has been great! I feel fortunate to still have one foot in the University in order to be able to hire students, consult with peers and promote my business. UNT has amazing art facilities that a lot of folks are not aware of. While I have no formal affiliation with UNT, I definitely connect as often as possible. My studio assistant, Gillian Hernandez (@ghcreates_) is a former student of mine! I would be lost without I am still new at all of this and am definitely having growing/learning pains but overall, the experience has been great. I am always looking for artists, instructors, and vendors!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been smooth in many ways. I was fortunate enough to find a realtor who understood what I was looking for and even better a landlord who was open to me having a kiln, etc. in the space. I already had a great community that has continued to be supportive. I think the challenges, besides funding, is having to wear so many hats. While wearing one hat, I am usually thinking about when I should switch gears to something else. I am not a traditional business or traditional businesswoman so I do not really fall into an easy category to manage.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a metalsmith! And I make jewelry. A jeweler may be a metalsmith but not all metalsmiths are jewelers. Many metalsmiths also make objects that are decorative and functional. I have always had a toe in the arts but never found anything that held my attention. When I took a metals class at a community arts center in PA, I fell in love. At the time, I worked full-time at a university. After taking all the classes I could at the community arts center, I decided to take college-level courses at Arcadia University. Then I decided to get a second bachelor’s degree in Studio Art so that I could apply to graduate school. Now that I have completed that goal, sharing my knowledge with the community seemed like a logical step. While currently pretty busy with the business, I still get to make my own work on occasion. The pieces I make are simple and strong. Wearable and comfortable. I work primarily in sterling silver and primarily sell to friends and markets. Recently, I have collaborated with a group of wonderful, badass femme, metalsmiths (@naryametals, @ghcreates_, and @mergingmetals) to make work for a client, MadGirlLifestyle. It has been great to establish a community within a community and support each other in our personal and professional practices. While I love making, I love teaching more. I am a good metalsmith, not a great metalsmith. I am okay with that! Because I am great at solving problems in the craft and pretty patient while doing it.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
People are resilient. People can be kind. It is definitely affecting my business. But I think that is more me being nervous about other people getting sick than myself.
Pricing:
- I work in a range of $10-$500
Contact Info:
- Email: dentonworkbench@gmail.com
- Website: dentonworkbench.com
- Instagram: dentonworkbench
- Facebook: dentonworkbench
