Em Rooney Brooch-Making Workshop at The Aldrich, Ridgefield

On a Friday evening in Ridgefield, Connecticut, The Aldrich opens a different kind of trailhead: a narrow path from museum lobby to worktable where molten pewter, artist Em Rooney’s steady hands, and a tray of mismatched molds converge. The Aldrich in Ridgefield, Connecticut, hosts a Happy Hour that pairs gallery browsing with a pewter‑pouring demonstration followed by a hands‑on brooch‑making workshop led by Em Rooney. It’s an intimate, tactile alternative to a typical outdoor excursion—a creative route into local culture.

Start the night at 4:00 p.m. for Happy Hour Fridays: Em Rooney pours pewter into molds and talks through her mold‑making and finishing techniques while visitors sip and shop at The Aldrich’s recently re‑opened Shop. At 5:30 p.m., the brooch workshop begins. Over 90 minutes you’ll file, refine, and assemble a wearable piece inspired by Rooney’s Clits.r.us line, with the option to buy artist‑made pendants after class to support the maker directly. The setup feels like a field lab—diagnostic tools become studio tools; bench spaces replace trail benches.

What makes this experience special is that it compresses a maker’s studio into a museum evening: you’re not just watching craft, you’re joining a practiced rhythm of pouring, cooling, filing, and finishing. The scene features the artist’s pouring station, the Shop’s curated display cases, and a communal workbench where small hand tools and metal filings collect like evidence of a shared creative journey. There aren’t notable geological formations here—the draw is cultural and material, the shine and texture of pewter rather than a rock face—but the workshop does locate you in Ridgefield’s lively arts corridor.

This is a standout offering because it connects museum energy to direct participation and artist support. It’s a practical way to learn about mold‑making processes that rarely open to the public, and to leave with something you crafted yourself. The Aldrich’s program highlights the living economy of making—students and collectors mingle, and proceeds for add‑ons go straight to the artist.

Expect the metallic tang of hot metal, the rhythmic rasp of files, and the hush of gallery spaces punctuated by conversation. The workshop rewards patience and fine‑motor focus more than athleticism; it converts curiosity into a keepsake and a clearer sense of how metal is shaped. Perfect for craft‑curious visitors and locals alike, it's a relaxed evening activity—bring closed‑toe shoes, a card for shop purchases, and curiosity to learn.