Blog Archives - Page 51 of 55

Hot Couture 2013 Call for Artists

2018-03-08T12:41:33-08:00

Something amazing is in the
works at The Crucible. For the second time in our history, we’re
launching an event bringing the creativity, skill and glamour of high
fashion together with the strength, power and volatility of the
industrial arts. Introducing HOT COUTURE: A Fusion of Fashion and Fire.

As
our 14th year anniversary event, Hot Couture seeks teams of designers
to collaborate and design industrial haute couture. Our event concept is
to blend the intensity and craft surrounding true French haute couture
with the raw energy and materials found in the industrial arts. We’re
calling for fashion designers to pair with industrial artists to use
talents from both fields to create bold design, visionary fashion, and
accessories that can only exist in this rare coupling of worlds.

Leather,
metal, paper, stone, silk, fire, electricity… All materials and methods
of beautifully integrating them with the human form are up for grabs.
The supporting event will be produced in proper Crucible style, with a
focus on industrial elements set to a backdrop of metal and fire.

Once
the show run has completed, all pieces will be included in a moving art
installation as part of a set of exhibits in museums throughout the San
Francisco Bay Area.

We are currently seeking submissions and team proposals from fashion
designers and industrial artists. Interested participants should click here to fill out our proposal form.

Requirements

Design teams much produce a minimum of four complete looks for the show.
Looks must be imaginative and well executed.
Wearable is a guideline; we are looking for fashion sculpture.
All designs should be flame resistant.

Event Details

The dates for the show will be Friday and Saturday nights, January 11th and 12th, 2013.
The Crucible will provide a materials stipend for each team selected.
The Crucible will own the works after the show.
All artists and designers will be credited for their work.

HOT
COUTURE: A Fusion of Fashion and Fire fashion is a spectacle that you
won’t want to miss. We’re looking forward to supporting you and your
team, and we’d like to get started as soon as possible.

For information on haute couture and it’s place in France’s fashion DNA, Vanity Fair has this: http://www.vanityfair.com/style/features/2009/09/couture200909

Interested in participating? Click here to fill out our proposal form!

Hot Couture 2013 Call for Artists2018-03-08T12:41:33-08:00

Holiday Gifty Art Sale 2009

2018-03-08T12:32:57-08:00

Hot for the Holidays!

Saturday & Sunday, December 12 & 13, 2009
10AM – 4PM

Vendors – Applications Closed
Art Show – Call For Artists – Apply Here

Shopping at the mall was never like this!

Support local artists and community arts education for youth and adults while you get your last minute shopping done at the Bay Area’s most unusual holiday celebration.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, spark it up with a visit to The Crucible’s Holiday Gifty celebration. Shop for unique and affordable gifts created by over 70 Bay Area artisans, and experience the excitement of our 56,000 sq. ft. studio, where furnaces roar and sparks fly.

• Handmade jewelry, glass creations, sculpture, clothing, ceramics
and more
• Demonstrations of glass blowing, metal casting, and blacksmithing
from 11AM to 3PM
• The Crucible’s Bike Shop with be selling Bicycles of all sizes
• Family friendly performances
• Santa arrives at 1PM
• Prize drawing at 3PM each day; grand prize drawing Sunday
• Refreshments and holiday treats
• Learn about classes and workshops that will ignite your own creativity!

And the best part…FREE admission!

Check us out last year on ABC 7 News!

Picture Gallery from 2008 Gifty

Vendors – Applications Closed
Art Show – Applications Closed

photos by Becca Jay

VENDORS

CERAMICS
Aaron Vonk
Catherine Bildhauer
Moriah Hart
VAM Pottery

CLOTHING/ACCESSORIES
Alpaca by Karim
bunnywarez
Carolyn Yugo
Daphne Ruff
dorklandia
Field Day Wearables
fiftyseven-thirtythree
King Bag Company
Like Minded People
Lucky Space Monkey
Mani Padma
O’Lover Hats
Recession Clothing
RocknSock
Sew is Your Face!
SuperSugarRayRay
THREAD together

JEWELRY
Asti Glass Design
Baja Nights Jewelry
Beadzilla Jewelry Creations
Beauty and the Beads of Santa Fe in Berkeley
Bobbie’s Baubles
Colleen Mauer Designs
D.A.C. Metals
Found Treasures
Fun Girls Jewelry
Heart’s

Holiday Gifty Art Sale 20092018-03-08T12:32:57-08:00

Holiday Gifty Art Sale 2010

2018-03-08T12:35:05-08:00

Hot for the Holidays!

Friday, December 10, 2010 (Preview Night)
7-10PM • $10 at Door / Free Admission for Crucible Members

Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12, 2010
10AM – 4PM • Free Admission for all

Press Release (PDF)
Event Poster (JPG)

Shopping at the mall was never like this!

Support local artists and community arts education for youth and adults while you get your last minute shopping done at the Bay Area’s most unusual holiday celebration.

On Friday night we have our first ever special preview night with live music, adult beverages and first crack at the fabulous gifty items. This evening is free to Crucible members, so become a member now or at the door to start reaping the rewards of your member benefits!

Then on Saturday and Sunday we have the most unique holiday shopping experience around. Shop for affordable handcrafted gifts created by over 70 Bay Area artisans, and experience the excitement of our 56,000 sq. ft. studio, where furnaces roar and sparks fly. Kinetic Steam Works will also be on hand with their large steam powered tracker “Pappy” to usher in a very important guest.

Holiday Gifty Features:
• Over 70 amazing artisans selling handmade gifts
• Exciting live industrial art demonstrations in welding, blacksmithing, glass blowing and more
• Bicycles for all ages will be for sale in The Crucible’s Bike Shop
• Fabulous family friendly stage performances
• A visit from Santa at 1PM (Saturday & Sunday Only)
• Spectacular Art Lottery
• Tasty refreshments and holiday treats
• An opportunity to talk and interact with our instructors, students and staff to learn more about The Crucible, sign up for classes, or purchasing a gift certificate
• Kinetic Steam Works “Pappy” (Saturday & Sunday Only)
• Destiny – Harpist from the Hood (Friday Only)
• Fiddlerats (Saturday Only)
• Fade2Black Youth Jazz Ensemble (Sunday Only)

Whatever holiday you celebrate, spark it up with a visit to The Crucible’s Holiday Gifty celebration.

Picture Gallery from 2009 Holiday Gifty

Also Not To Be Missed…
Register for a class at Holiday Gifty and save 20% or even 25% off class tuition for the winter quarter.

– New students receive a 20% discount
– Crucible members receive a 25% discount

* Class cost comprises tuition and studio costs; discount is on tuition only. Discount cannot be applied to classes for which you have already registered. There is limited space for discounted tuition available in each class, and this offer cannot be combined with any other offers, volunteer/intern hours or coupons. Not good for Family Fun Weekends, Tasters, Labs or CREATE access.

Holiday Gifty Art Sale 20102018-03-08T12:35:05-08:00

Fantastic Faculty in the News

2017-02-09T11:39:23-08:00

Recently, two members of our faculty have been in the news, reflecting the amazingly talented people in our community and their passion for making and sharing art.

Norman Moore, neon and light instructor, recently completed a public art project for the Alameda County Arts Commission in collaboration with Nancy Mizuno Elliot, a student in one of his classes. They created a series of windows for the new Castro Valley Library, which just opened to the public.

Learn more about Norman Moore here…

Jay Bridgland, head of our Flameworking department, was recently profiled in Alameda Magazine, where he has recently set up a new studio and is a driving force in the 2nd Friday Estuary Art Attack open studios.

See a digital copy of the magazine article here…

Jay was also recently named a finalist in the 2010 NICHE Awards, sponsored by NICHE Magazine.

Learn more about Jay Bridgland here…

Fantastic Faculty in the News2017-02-09T11:39:23-08:00

Newsletter October 09

2018-03-15T14:05:06-07:00

FEATURE

Fall Classes in Full Swing

If you’re missing the heat of summer, then come to The Crucible to get up close and personal with a kiln, torch, furnace, or flame and ignite your creativity.

There are classes to suit just about anyone’s schedule, including several NEW classes just added.

Download (pdf)
Fall Class Schedule

CLASSES

Halloween Family Fun Weekend

Saturday & Sunday – Oct 31 & Nov 1

Halloween Family Fun Weekend classes offer a family member discounted tuition when you take a class together. The tuition is for one adult and one child age 12 and up. As far as family goes, you define family, not us.

So why stop at carving a pumpkin when you can carve hot metal! Check out what we still have open below:

Introduction to Blacksmithing
Glass Flameworking
Introduction to Jewelry & Metals (A)
Introduction to Welded Sculpture
Introduction to MIG Welding
Beginning TIG
Woodturning

BACK TO TOP

New Classes Coming This Fall!

In Blacksmithing
Forgewelding
Weekend Intensive, Oct. 24-25
This advanced blacksmithing skill has long been the mark of “expert status” in metalworking and is often used in bladesmithing.

In Ceramics
Create a Blessing Bowl
2 Sundays, Nov. 8 & 15
In this class you’ll experience the special joy of giving and receiving, while you learn basic ceramic skills.

In Hot Wheels
Bike Mechanic Workshop
3 Sessions, starts Oct. 17
You will leave this class with your bike deep and completely tuned up, as well as a solid working knowledge of bike repair.

In Moldmaking
Life Casting
5 Sessions, starts Nov. 3.
In this class you will learn the basics of creating a negative mold to make your unique sculpture using the human form.

In Resources for Artists
Discovering the Artist in You
5 Sessions, starts Oct. 22. Access your creativity and find your muse through a unique approach that includes movement, breath awareness and lots of engaging materials.

In Textiles
T-Shirt Reconstruction
3 Sessions, starts Nov. 10.
Learn how to re-size, cut and convert your old clothes and transform them into new and exciting garments.

BACK TO TOP

Weekend Warriors

Do you have a free weekend coming up? Are you looking for something to do? Do you just need to get those creative juices flowing? Check out these fun weekend possibilities:

October 10-11
Stilt Walking

October 17-18
Glass Flameworking Lab
Sheet Metal Forming with Evan Wilcox
Copyright Law for Artists (Saturday only)

October 24-25
Forgewelding
Intro to Rubber Mold Making for Jewelry (Saturday only)
Gemology (Sunday only)

October 31-November 1
A Primer in 3D Enameling (Saturday only)
Fearless Fire Eating
Introduction to Glass Blowing

November 7-8
Foundry – Patinas Made Easy
Advanced Glass Marble Making Techniques
Jewelry – Introduction to Art Silver Clay
Making Your Own Jewelry Stamping Tools (Saturday only)

November 14-15
Glass Flameworking – Core Vessel

Newsletter October 092018-03-15T14:05:06-07:00

Fall Community Open House 2009

2018-03-15T13:17:58-07:00

Celebrating Art & Community

Saturday, September 12, 2009

12PM to 4PM

Interested in participating in this exciting event?

Exhibitor Information…

We know you’ve driven by a thousand times wondering what goes on here.
Well now’s your chance to come find out!

These two are ready for some Crucible demos!

Glass Flameworking Demo by Instructor Tara Murray

Community Exhibitor - Oakland Fire Department

Prescott Circus performing at 2008 Fall Open House

Live bronze pour - hot fun for all ages!

Come on down and visit us during our annual Fall Community Open House.

We will be hosting an expo of several amazing community organizations that bring vital and important services to our diverse neighborhood, and an art show highlighting the talents of our students and faculty. Our Open House is a wonderful way to experience many of the fabulous things West Oakland has to offer. This is a family-friendly event with circus and fire performances, food and fun for all ages and the best part – it’s FREE!

Event Activities Include:
• An expo of several amazing organizations committed to serving
Oakland communities
• A Fiery metal pour in our foundry
• Tasty Food & Refreshments
• Fabulous live performances of fire, music and dance
• Exciting live demonstrations including welding, glass working,
metal casting, and blacksmithing
• Student art show displaying the creativity of The Crucible

Check out pictures from last year…

Fall Community Open House 20092018-03-15T13:17:58-07:00

Fall Open House 2007

2018-03-15T13:18:25-07:00

Fall Community Open House

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Art Show and Open House – 2-6pm
Artist Reception – Featuring the Art of Githinji Wa Mibre – 6-8pm

Celebrating Art & Community

At The Crucible’s annual Fall Open House, you’ll experience the collaboration of art and community first hand with an extraordinary celebration of both in our centrally located 56,000 sq ft studio in West Oakland.

Featuring an expo of community organizations based or serving West Oakland that bring vital and important services to the vibrant neighborhood; an art show and sale showcasing the talents of our students and faculty, and a special artist reception (6-8pm) launching our new Artist-in-Residence program and artist Githinji Wa Mbire.

Green Living

Also highlighted at this event will be green and environmental living strategies, including solar power information and a special appearance by The Crucible’s celebrated biodiesel motorcycle, the Die Moto, recently featured on the cover of the August, 2007 issue of Popular Science.

Fire Arts Festival® 2009

2018-03-15T13:30:23-07:00

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The Crucible’s 9th Annual Fire Arts Festival

Wednesday – Saturday, July 15-18, 2009

8:00PM – 11:59PM

NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR! (see where)

2009 Festival Recap Gallery | 2009 Soirée Recap Gallery

About The Fire Arts Festival

Each July The Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival celebrates creativity through fire and light with a spectacular open-air exhibition of interactive fire art, performance and the largest collection of outdoor fire sculpture on the West Coast. The Fire Arts Festival is our major fundraising event, and proceeds benefit The Crucible’s arts education programs for youth and adults. You’ll be dwarfed by gigantic sculptures, get hands-on with interactive installations, and experience an eye-popping array of cutting edge fire sculpture and art from the all over the country. Each evening, fire performers will awe and amaze the most discerning pyrophile and you’ll be dazzled by incredible music and dance performances. It’s the must-see event of the summer.

More Bang for the Buck – Literally!

This year we will be expanding the festival in a new, larger location. Our new Oakland location is three times larger than years past, giving attendees more elbow room and us the ability to bring you more of your favorite artists. We will have more fire and light sculptures, food and merchandise vendors. In addition to our regular performances, we will feature the world premiere of Dan Cantrell’s The Rootabaga Opera

a>. Oh, and did we mention that entrance into the Fire Arts Festival will be cheaper this year too! This year ticket service fees will be included in the price of the ticket, making the total cost of entrance into the festival more affordable than last year.

Simon Chaban - Fire Staff - Fire Arts Festival 2008 - Photo by Eric Gillet

Copper Lantern Fire Theatre - photo by Eric Gillet

Department of Spontaneous Combustion - Fire Arts Festival 2006 - Photo by Tory Fink

Dan Cantrell’s The Rootabaga Opera

Rootabaga Opera The 2009

Fire Arts Festival® 20092018-03-15T13:30:23-07:00

Fire Arts Festival – Applications

2018-03-15T13:27:16-07:00

Wednesday – Saturday, July 15-18, 2009

Call for Artists and Performers

We invite you to submit your work for inclusion in our 2009 Fire Arts Festival.

Jump down to Applications

The Crucible is a non-profit arts education center that fosters a collaboration of arts, industry and community, teaching and showcasing fire, metal, glass and light art in the East Bay for over ten years. The Crucible offers over 700 classes to over 8,000 students every year in everything from bronze casting to neon, welding, glass working, blacksmithing, and fire dancing. Events like the Fire Arts Festival help support The Crucible’s programs and allow us to continue offering them to the community. Dedicated to the creative use of fire and light, The Crucible is known for its innovative and stunning public events and fundraisers, uniting artists from diverse disciplines.

We’d like to invite you, as a performer or artist, to get in touch and tell us how you’d like to participate in this year’s event.

The Fire Arts Festival will take place July 15-18 at a NEW LOCATION in Oakland, just off the Bay Bridge. There will be a full program of art, performance and education throughout four days and nights, including music, dance, fire and art demonstrations. This year’s highlight will be the world premiere of an opera specially created for the Fire Arts Festival.

The fire arts community and general public will be captivated by this event, and we hope that you will want to be a part of it. You’ll get ample set-up and breakdown time and we’ll be doing extensive outreach and publicity for the event.

The Mission of the Fire Arts Festival
The summer of 2009 marks the ninth annual Fire Arts Festival, galvanizing education and growth of the fire arts community both on the West Coast and nationally. The Fire Arts Festival is a one of a kind showcase of innovative works of fire and light art, performances and classes. We offer the community a dedicated space and resources that gives them a unique learning and collaborative opportunity. Through providing a meeting place for artists, performers, teachers, students and City officials to share information, the Fire Arts Festival engenders and promotes fire safety and education like no other organization.

Applications and Deadlines

Please fill out an online application listed below. To include you in our promotional materials, please send us the items listed below. We prefer support materials sent via email at faf@thecrucible.org, but if necessary please mail your support materials.

All applicants should send us the following:
• Your art installation or performance application
• Fire Safety plan if you are using fire
• Digital photos of your proposed installation or performance
• Link to your website(s), if applicable
• Digital photos of your previous work, if applicable
• A 10-15 minute video clip

If you have only hard copies of support materials, please mail them to the Crucible at:
The Crucible
1260 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
c/o Events Coordinator

Please download, fill out

Fire Arts Festival – Applications2018-03-15T13:27:16-07:00

Getting to Know Plywood Guys – Kevin & Matt

2017-02-09T11:39:23-08:00

Two of our woodworking instructors have teamed up to teach a unique design-build workshop that challenges entry-level students to make something out of one sheet of plywood. Together, Kevin and Matt share their extensive design and fabrication expertise while encouraging self expression and exploration.

Kevin Hoelscher

Kevin completed his master’s of architecture degree in 2005 and joined the teaching faculty at the Crucible in 2007. Rather than practicing architecture, he prefers working on a smaller scale and has spent the last four years creating intricate sculpture and furniture in a variety of media, including steel, solid wood, laminated wood, and cast plastic resin. Inspired by sources ranging from graphic design to the standardized parts of the early industrial revolution, his aesthetic is further influenced by travels to Japan and throughout Scandinavia.

Matt Wolpe

Matt graduated from The Evergreen State College in 2005 with an emphasis in Urban Studies. Upon graduation he moved to New York City to work for an architecture firm that specialized in housing for refugees made out of recycled shipping pallets. From there, Matt went on to work with a variety of nonprofits whose goal was to link design, community and education. These included The Center for Urban Pedagogy, The Riverside Park Fund, as well as participating in a Post-Katrina Design/Build trip with Designcorps that provided experimental relief structures to refugees from the Hurricane. In the summer of ’08 Matt interned at Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Vermont where he studied woodworking, natural building, sustainable design and carpentry. Currently, Matt is a studio manager at The Crucible in Oakland as well as a teaching resident with San Francisco Public Schools teaching architecture to 5th graders. Matt is interested in engaging design on a variety of scales including urban planning, living structures and furniture.

Check out Matt and Kevin’s class:
One Sheet of Plywood: Design/Build

Getting to Know Plywood Guys – Kevin & Matt2017-02-09T11:39:23-08:00

Blog

Requirements

Event Details

Hot for the Holidays!

Saturday & Sunday, December 12 & 13, 2009 10AM – 4PM

Shopping at the mall was never like this!

VENDORS

Hot for the Holidays!

Friday, December 10, 2010 (Preview Night) 7-10PM • $10 at Door / Free Admission for Crucible Members

Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12, 2010 10AM – 4PM • Free Admission for all

Shopping at the mall was never like this!

FEATURE

Fall Classes in Full Swing

CLASSES

Halloween Family Fun Weekend

New Classes Coming This Fall!

Weekend Warriors

Celebrating Art & Community

Saturday, September 12, 2009

12PM to 4PM

Fall Community Open House

Saturday, September 8, 2007

{youtube}VyxZJPsuS9k{/youtube}

The Crucible’s 9th Annual Fire Arts Festival

Wednesday – Saturday, July 15-18, 2009

8:00PM – 11:59PM

Jump To:

About The Fire Arts Festival

More Bang for the Buck – Literally!

Dan Cantrell’s The Rootabaga Opera

Wednesday – Saturday, July 15-18, 2009

Call for Artists and Performers

Applications and Deadlines

Kevin Hoelscher

Matt Wolpe

Saturday & Sunday, December 12 & 13, 2009
10AM – 4PM

Friday, December 10, 2010 (Preview Night)
7-10PM • $10 at Door / Free Admission for Crucible Members

Saturday & Sunday, December 11 & 12, 2010
10AM – 4PM • Free Admission for all