Meet Hot Couture designer Domonique Echeverria

2018-03-15T13:54:24-07:00

Meet Hot Couture designer Domonique Echeverria

San Francisco born designer Domonique Echeverria mixes romantic divinity with future tribalism, a nod to the past, and an ode to female power. Now based in New York City, her approach to Hot Couture this year includes chiffon gowns, headdresses, taffeta statement pieces, body harnesses and necessary outerwear for harsh weather and hiding treasures. The chiffon will mimic the flow of water and the details will mimic Aquatic Priestesses, the tafeta will mimic the folds and hills of the earth, organzas will be incorporated to give a light feel of air along with beaded rain, and detailing of feathers and body accents will allow the feeling of fire. Learn more about Hot Couture here.

Meet Hot Couture designer Domonique Echeverria2018-03-15T13:54:24-07:00

2015 Annual Fund Campaign

2017-11-08T14:06:57-08:00

Donate Now

Journalist Bill Moyers captured it best:
“Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.”

At The Crucible, I have witnessed the marvelous come to life in our studios: an old tree stump turned into a gorgeous wooden vessel, oozing molten glass coaxed into floral forms, an incredible gyroscopic welded sculpture engineered by an 11 year-old. Creativity brings pictures and stories to life and unlocks talents we didn’t know we had.

You play an important part of The Crucible’s creative story. When you make your year-end contribution to our Annual Fund, you are declaring that creativity matters in our community. And the creative community at The Crucible is what makes this place so special. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Listen to two voices of the over 13,000 folks we welcome every year:

“Because of The Crucible, I can now really say I know what I want to do in life (welding!) and how to do it as well. This place puts a lot of positivity in my life.”
–Te’von H., youth intern and future welder

“The Crucible has given me the knowledge, space and support to pursue my life long dream of starting my own artisan business. In addition to supporting my creativity, The Crucible allows me as an instructor to fan and fuel that creative spark in others.”
–Celeste F., artist and Ceramics/Blacksmithing faculty

Fantastic, aren’t they?

We need creative minds like these to push society forward, and The Crucible enables anyone—even you!—to push the boundaries of their creative exploration. However, tuition only covers 65% of costs to keep The Crucible fires burning–the rest is up to generous donors and sponsors like you! Your gift will sustain equitable access to quality instruction, tools, award-winning youth programs, and a supportive community for anyone who wants to advance their creativity.

Will you support creativity by making a gift before December 31?

Warmest regards,

David C. Miller
Executive Director

P.S. Did you know your Annual Fund gift of $150 or more qualifies you for a full year of family membership benefits? Donate securely today by mail or at theCrucible.org.

2015 Annual Fund Campaign2017-11-08T14:06:57-08:00

Winter Session 2015

2017-12-11T13:05:45-08:00

Register for winter in the new online store

Early bird discount extended – sign up by Dec. 21 and Save 10%.
Classes begin January 5.

The new Crucible online store is open – and member registration for winter classes is in effect. Sign up by Dec. 21 and you’ll receive an additional 10% off.

Our new, updated winter catalog is in the mail (some of you may have it already) and you can browse the pdf here. Public signup begins November 11.

Crucible members always receive an additional 10% discount on tuition. If your membership has lapsed, or you are not yet a Crucible member, you can renew or join here.

Winter Session 20152017-12-11T13:05:45-08:00

Glass Artist Guido Gerlitz Demo & Lecture

2018-03-08T12:09:30-08:00

Sunday October 19th
11:30am lecture and slide show
1:00 pm begin several hours of hot shop demonstrations

Guido received his BFA in Glass & Ceramics from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1993 and MFA in Glass from the California College of the Arts in 2004. He has international glassblowing experience, working in Venezuela at ICET and on Murano for Vetreria Pino Signoretto. He has worked as an independent gaffer for artists: Oben Abright, Kanik Chung, Bella Feldman, Linda Flemming, Jaime Guerrero, and Maria Porges. In addition has gaffed for: Union Street Glass Inc., Nikolas Weinstein Studios, Cohn-Stone Studios, Pilchuck Glass School. He served as the Executive Director of Public Glass in San Francisco for two years. In 2012-2013 Guido was a Senior Lecturer / Instructor for Glass III at the California College of the Arts. He is the co-founder and President of ‘Effetto Glassworks’ in Richmond, CA.

This free event is underwritten by the Glass Alliance of Northern California.

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Glass Artist Guido Gerlitz Demo & Lecture2018-03-08T12:09:30-08:00

Fireside Lounge 10/10/2014

2018-03-15T13:33:14-07:00

Fireside Lounge: Innovation & Improvisation

Featuring the artistry of Sung Kim

Friday, October 10
6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
$10 at the door. Free for Crucible members.

Sung Kim is a Bay Area based sculptor, improviser, and instrument maker. We are excited to host Sung and special guest David Dupuis as part of his artist residency at Studio Grand in Oakland. While studying art in 1989, Sung first tried to modify a guitar to capture a sound he was imagining… and his imagination has continued ever since. Sung will be displaying, discussing, demonstrating, and performing with his unique instruments, resonators, and acoustic devices, beautifully hand-crafted out of wood, steel, and more. Sung has been a frequent guest at Exploratorium events and has appeared at Maker Faires. We are excited to welcome him for his first-ever Crucible appearance! This program is presented in collaboration with Studio Grand, 3234 Grand Avenue, Oakland

Studio Grand logo

Will will also feature demonstrations (submission guidelines) and display of Crucible glass and enameling work in our studios, including glass blowing, glass flameworking, glass fusing and slumping, enameling, and glass casting and coldworking. We will offer $25 discounts on classes during this Fireside Lounge, and of course, members always save 10% off tuition. The Fireside Lounge is a chance to catch up with the Crucible community, see what creative mischief folks are up to, and maybe think over that project you have in mind. We’ll have live music, demonstrations in our glass studios, a gallery, and our brand new industrial fire-pit will be up and running along with vendors, food and drink. We hope to see you there!

Sung Kim is an improvisor, sculptor, and an instrument builder born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Washington, DC. In 1989, Kim studied ceramic sculpture at the Corcoran School of Art. It was here that Kim started building his own variations of the guitar. Kim received his BFA in sculpture from The Art Institute of Chicago in 1999. It was in Chicago where Kim began to deviate from the guitar to explore other techniques, tonalities, and sympathetic resonance. It was also in Chicago where Kim started his collaboration with musicians to explore his instruments in an improvisational context. Kim facilitates his musical and sculptural endeavors by owning and operating an architectural woodworking design/build studio in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sung Kim's dome SungKimPlaying

SungKimDome2 Sung Kim in studio
SungKimBoxes Sung Kim's instruments

Fireside Lounge 10/10/20142018-03-15T13:33:14-07:00

Lie-Nielsen Tool Event – 9/20/2014

2017-11-08T14:17:03-08:00

Lie-Nielson Tool Demo at The Crucible

The good people of Lie-Nielson were in The Crucible all weekend demonstrating the use of their gorgeous woodworking tools, and chatting about all things woodworking. We grabbed a few images to share.

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Lie-Nielsen Tool Event – 9/20/20142017-11-08T14:17:03-08:00

Bike Fix-A-Thon – Sunday, August 31, 2014

2018-03-08T15:05:43-08:00

Got a bike that needs a fix? Let us help!

The Crucible’s Bike Fix-A-Thon mechanics will get you back on your wheels again

During Bike Fix-A-Thons, Crucible faculty and volunteers create a bike repair studio by opening our roll-up doors at the back of the building facing West Oakland neighborhood homes. Mechanics work at six work stations, each customized to examine and repair bicycles. Mechanics explain their work as they help you, deepening your understanding of bike repair and maintenance. The repairs include patching and replacing tubes, wheel and tire work, cable and gear repairs, chain repair and replacement, and seat and handlebar adjustments.

Volunteer bicycle mechanics are needed!

Please email volunteers@thecrucible.org if you want to help out. You’ll be rewarded with a coupon for 10% off any Crucible class, free pizza and soda, and of course, the gratification of having helped the West Oakland community get rolling again.

The Fix-A-Thons are a direct way to serve the needs of the West Oakland youth, providing them functioning bicycles and a greater knowledge of bike repair, and also strengthen The Crucible’s relationship with the local community, connecting with both the youth and their families. The workshops are also an opportunity for participants to tour The Crucible, learning more about other art classes and opportunities.

The Crucible’s Bike Fix-A-Thon
Sunday August 31, 2014
Noon to 5 pm
The Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakland, CA
FREE to West Oakland residents, with priority given to youth

Bike Fix-A-Thon – Sunday, August 31, 20142018-03-08T15:05:43-08:00

West Oakland’s McClymond’s engineering students building custom bikes at The Crucible

2017-02-09T11:39:21-08:00

Congratulations!! A great “ride” for McClymonds Engineering Students!

“It feels great that I have a bike that I made” – McClymonds Student

They did it!! Applause for the McClymonds Engineering Students and the bikes they built themselves!

Thanks to McClymonds High School and The Crucible!

PART THREE

The finish line is in sight! Besides sanding and painting, the bike-building students from the McClymonds Engineering Academy learn one other necessary skill – perseverance!

The Crucible offers classes and workshops in industrial arts for youth. It’s located at 1260 – 7th Street in Oakland, near the West Oakland BART station. For more information: thecrucible.org

PART TWO

To make their bicycle frames – the McClymonds Engineering students go to The Crucible for their “hands-on” lessons!

Just watch the sparks fly!!

PART ONE

The students in the McClymonds High School Engineering Academy are gearing up for a big project with a big payoff – they’re designing and building their OWN BIKES!!! ONews will follow them from start to finish, so hang on for the ride!!

December 2nd, 2013

West Oakland’s McClymond’s engineering students building custom bikes at The Crucible2017-02-09T11:39:21-08:00

Maker Madness

2017-11-08T13:59:03-08:00

KRON4’S MAKER MADNESS features The Crucible this weekend

A fun five-minute exploration of The Crucible as a maker space filmed at the end of our 2014 youth summer camps

The Crucible’s long association with Maker Faire and culture is part of KRON4’s story in this documentary and celebration of all things maker. They spent a full day shooting here a few weeks ago and we had a great time showing them the studio. It was also the last day of our youth summer camps so there is good coverage of the Friday gallery we do with each camp for parents to see what their kids have been working on all week.

Our fall class schedule is up, so if you’re interested in learning more about any of The Crucible’s exciting classes, you can browse the catalog or sign up now.

You can see the full 60 minute version of the show friday night at 9 and Sunday at 7.

Maker Madness2017-11-08T13:59:03-08:00

Bike Fix-A-Thon – Sunday, August 31, 2014

2017-12-12T12:18:45-08:00

Got a bike that needs a fix? Let us help!

The Crucible’s Bike Fix-A-Thon mechanics will get you back on your wheels again

During Bike Fix-A-Thons, Crucible faculty and volunteers create a bike repair studio by opening our roll-up doors at the back of the building facing West Oakland neighborhood homes. Mechanics work at six work stations, each customized to examine and repair bicycles. Mechanics explain their work as they help you, deepening your understanding of bike repair and maintenance. The repairs include patching and replacing tubes, wheel and tire work, cable and gear repairs, chain repair and replacement, and seat and handlebar adjustments.

Volunteer bicycle mechanics are needed!

Please email volunteers@thecrucible.org if you want to help out. You’ll be rewarded with a coupon for 10% off any Crucible class, free pizza and soda, and of course, the gratification of having helped the West Oakland community get rolling again.

The Fix-A-Thons are a direct way to serve the needs of the West Oakland youth, providing them functioning bicycles and a greater knowledge of bike repair, and also strengthen The Crucible’s relationship with the local community, connecting with both the youth and their families. The workshops are also an opportunity for participants to tour The Crucible, learning more about other art classes and opportunities.

The Crucible’s Bike Fix-A-Thon
Sunday August 31, 2014
Noon to 5 pm
The Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakland, CA
FREE to West Oakland residents, with priority given to youth

Bike Fix-A-Thon – Sunday, August 31, 20142017-12-12T12:18:45-08:00