Jewelry is among the oldest of art forms. Jewelry connects us to history and the earth. Our desire for beauty and the urge to decorate ourselves are universal. Kings and queens have sported rare, expensive, and extravagant crowns, necklaces, and rings. Others strung together beads and bits of shell. What they all had in common is the person behind the bauble, the craftsperson or artist who carves, solders, and hammers the jewelry that ends up on someone else’s body.
CJAS was founded on the belief that we can all do with more community, more beauty, and more hands-on experiences. When you come to CJAS, whether as a regular student or for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you will have the opportunity to tap into your creativity, and leave with new knowledge and the beautiful work of your own hands.
We are committed to creating a warm environment in which everyone is welcome to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. We hope you will join us, and then come back again and again.
Who We Are
Michal Lemberger
Founder Michal Lemberger came to jewelry design and fabrication by way of writing, editing, and teaching. She studied and taught ancient and modern literature, and in the process deepened her engagement with history and her appreciation for the stories that people have told of themselves and the worlds around them and the objects they have created, worn, and used.
Michal began studying jewelry-making techniques over 15 years ago, seeking out instructors whose passion for teaching and the craftsmanship of the well-made object matched her own. Long enamored with color and texture, she gravitated to jewelry as an outlet for creativity, drawn by its blend of technical precision and aesthetic beauty and the ways in which it connects us to the past and the world. She brings that passion and her belief in the power of community to CJAS.
Shuoran Zhou
Shuoran (Carmen) Zhou was born in Beijing, China, and is an artist currently located in Los Angeles. She graduated with a BFA in Oil Painting from China Academy of Art in 2019, and anMFA in Studio Arts from Syracuse University. Shuoran’s work has been exhibited internationally in China, Spain, Belgium, New York, as well as in several online exhibitions including ones juried by Robert Ebendorf and Laura Kalman. Aside from being an artist, Shuoran was a jewelry instructor at Syracuse University for two years and taught introductory jewelry classes at Brooklyn Metal Works after graduation. In April 2023, Shuoran launched her duo exhibition in Manhattan.
Taylor Girouard
Taylor Girouard established Larkwood Rose Jewelry, where she specializes in the art and technique of lost wax casting, in 2015 Originally from Oregon, where she was raised to recognize and express her artistic skills through whatever outlet she saw fit, she brought her curiosity to Brooklyn, NY, and then Los Angeles, where she has continued to express her passion and skill for making jewelry, both independently and as a bench jeweler.