Photos courtesy of Annamarta Dostourian.

Annamarta Dostourian is an artist and designer based in Berkeley, California. Her multimedia works explore the complexities of overlapping cultural identities; of being both Armenian and American. Most recently she’s been knitting, crocheting, and weaving metal jewelers’ wire into unusual forms and couture onto which light or images are projected, creating shadows which are intricate parts of the sculptures and installations. This delicate media allows expression of her sense of subtle realms of light and space.

Born in Massachusetts, Dostourian received her BA from Clark University, attended San Francisco Art Institute and has exhibited at 5 Claude Lane Gallery, Mina Dresden Gallery, SomArts Cultural Center (San Francisco), Berkeley Art Center (Berkeley) Creative Growth Art Center (Oakland), and as part of the California Finale Juried Exhibition through RUSH Philanthropic! Arts Foundation in collaboration with 5 Claude Lane Gallery and Bombay Sapphire.

Dostourian's team includes Aurelia Fort, Chris Neimer, Kim Mirus, Laura DuBois, Patricia Natale, Richie Pattiso and Veronica Rojas.

Chris Niemer was born with metal in his blood, with both his father and grandfather being machinists. Chris has been forming metal since 1988, in his own smithy and with the the Crucible. "For me, metal smithing is a form of alchemy: forging the past into the future using the tools that are present." Chris has established the Crucible Smithy, as area head and instructor, and commits to helping youth forge their own futures through his ongoing participation developing the Crucible's youth program. Inspired by the ring and rhythm of the anvil, Chris enjoys creating musical instruments, such as forming Balinese cymbals to music as part of a bands rhythm section and helping to design and fabricate a 44 note calliope.

Kim Mirus is an artist and educator who earned her B.F.A. in Crafts: Jewelry, Metals & Enameling as well as a B.A. in Art Education from Kent State University. She began metalsmithing over a decade ago, and while she utilizes a variety of techniques ranging from weaving to casting, she is especially interested in using non-traditional materials. Creating with thoughtfully selected recycled and sustainable elements is an integral part of her work. Kim is currently a faculty member in the Jewelry Department at The Crucible.

Laura DuBois is a multimedia artist and teacher. She received her BFA in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MA with a focus on Sacred Geometry from Naropa Oakland. Her artistic passion lives in the medium of light as found in her photography and video light projections. She also loves the sacred arts and is an ongoing student and practitioner of Sacred Geometry and Hindu Yantra Painting. Her work has appeared in numerous shows throughout the years including SomArts Cultural Center annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition, The Black Box Gallery, La Pena Cultural Center and The University of Creation Spirituality.

Veronica Rojas was born in Mexico City in 1973. She was born into a multi-cultural family; her father is Mexican and her mother Swedish. In 1995 she came to San Francisco, USA, to get a BFA at the San Francisco Art Institute and later a MFA at the California College of the Arts. She currently lives in Berkeley, California. Veronica has shown her work nationally and internationally. Galleries that have represented Veronicas’ work include SFMOMA Artists Gallery and Bay Area Visual Artists Network. She is also a Visual Aid Grant recipient and has been nominated to The Eureka Fellowship Grant and the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant. In 2011 Veronica got the Jerome Caja Terrible Beauty Award. Veronicas’ paintings have been reviewed in Artweek Magazine, Bay Area Express and Latin Eyes.

A fashion designer since 12, Patricia Natale uses fur, lace, Lycra , beads, sequins, and more to transform thrift shop clothing, lingerie and dated clothing into one-of-a-kind wearable art.

Richie Pattison is a collaborator with Dragon Wings and armature for the Lotus structure.