The Crucible’s 2023 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction
The Crucible’s Annual Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction returns to West Oakland this spring. Join us for an unforgettable evening full of delicious food, craft cocktails, fiery demonstrations, captivating performances, and a live auction featuring luxury experiences and stunning work by local artists.
Your support will help us raise over $250,000 and ensure that, in the coming year, all young people have access to The Crucible’s Industrial Arts Program, regardless of background or income.
Our Fire & Light Soirée celebrates the transformative power of making and creative risk-taking. It is an occasion to recognize and pay tribute to the people who inspire us and help to safeguard the future of arts education in our community. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Purchase your 2023 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction tickets here. Table Sponsorships are also available.
Freddie Moussa, Youth Honoree
Freddie Moussa has been interested in art since an early age. In 2021, at age 16, they joined our Fuego Youth Leadership Program, focusing on metal jewelry.
During their second summer as a Fuego Youth Leader, Freddie pushed the boundaries by expanding their jewelry-making into glass. They are drawn to statement jewelry and wearable art as a way of creating identity.
Freddie has recently started as a Teaching Assistant in our Glass Flameworking department. This spring, they will graduate from Design Tech High School and plan to continue their metal and glass education in the fall at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
Rudsdale High School, Community Honoree
Rudsdale High School is a Title 1 alternative education program located in Deep East Oakland. In 2022, students and educators from Rudsdale began attending Crucible workshops as part of a three-year Arts Incentive Grant, designed to connect OUSD schools with alternative arts education opportunities.
Not only have Rudsdale students and educators continued to deal with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the past school year, but the community has also been coping with the aftermath of an incident of on-campus gun violence.
Despite these challenges, students and educators have shown immense passion and dedication to their arts practice, exploring creative career pathways and using art-making as a way to heal together. Some participating students have even begun selling their work.
As our 2023 Community Honoree, we recognize the incredible heart, resilience, and tenacity, that is Rudsdale High School’s community of students and educators.
Fire & Light Soirée Entertainment
DJ Speakeasy Ray
Tunes provided by the legendary Bay Area DJ
Glass Blowing Demos
See our Glass Blowing faculty perform live demos during cocktail hour
Emcee D'Arcy Drollinger
Bay Area drag icon, D’Arcy Drollinger, will keep you laughing throughout the evening
Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir
Enjoy a special performance by the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, accompanied by a Foundry bronze pour
Live Auction
Bid on stunning works by prominent Bay Area industrial artists and one-of-a-kind exclusive experiences. Every purchase supports our Youth Industrial Art Program.
Thank you to the generous artists and organizations for your contributions to our auction.
To see a larger image of the artwork, click on the photo.
“Wine-A-Saurus” Wine Decanter and Pair of Wine Glasses
Sam Schumacher
Blown Glass
2023
Decanter: 16” x 5.5” x 8.5”
Wine Glasses: 8.5” x 3”
Estimated Retail Value: $900
“Rawr”
Rob Nehring
Welded Mild Steel
2023
29” x 12” x 27”
Estimated Retail Value: $1,000
Luxury Jewelry Design Experience
Rikki Smeltzer
Your choice of precious or semi-precious gemstones, and sterling silver setting
2023
Estimated Retail Value: $1,000
A surprise piece designed and fabricated by former Feugo Youth Leader, Rakau “Rocky” Boikanyo
2023
Estimated Retail Value: $750
Case of Wine, Sommelier, and 8-person glass blowing demonstration
Eric White
Estimated Retail Value: $2,500
“Horizon” Series
Erik Eiserling
Blown Glass
2019
30” x 7”
Estimated Retail Value: $1,900
Oversized Chessboard and Pieces
David Page
Maple and Walnut Woods with a Variety of Veneers
2020
Estimated Retail Value: $2,000
Exclusive Pixar Animation Studios Tour For Up To 8 People
Pixar Animation Studios and Elliot Simons
Estimated Retail Value: $2,000
Set of 5 Copper Candlesticks from the “Originals” Series
Gregg Hessel
Copper
2021-2023
6.75” – 21.5” tall
2.5” – 5” wide
Estimated Retail Value: $1,200
Bronze “BLM” Sculpture, Pour, and Casting Experience
Andrea Blasich
Bronze
2023
17” x 10” x 5”
Estimated Retail Value: $4,500
“SQUISH”
Adrian Rodriguez
Salvage industrial pipe donated to The Crucible by the Port of Oakland
2023
4” x 13”
Estimated Retail Value: $2,500
Ridge Library Tour & Tasting for up to 6 people, plus 2 custom glass bead wine stoppers
Eric White and Lauren Ekman
Stainless steel bases and flameworked Italian soft glass beads 2023
4.25” x 1”
Estimated Retail Value: $690
Botanic ally-Dyed Vintage Table Linen Set
Verenice Berroa-Torres
100% Linen
2023
Tablecloth: 118” x 66”; Lap Napkins: 16” x 16”; Fingertip Napkins: 6” x 6”; Table Runner: 17” x 57”
Estimated Retail Value: $1,000
“To Go With Your Big Boy Shoes”
Freddie Moussa
Flameworked Glass
2023
36” long
Estimated Retail Value: $500
Catered Dinner for 10 Guests Plus Glass Blowing Demonstration
Grace Street Catering
Estimated Retail Value: $3,500
Smithed Side Table and Plant Stand
Celeste Flores
Smithed Bronze/Brass With Ash Wood Top 2023
Side Table: 16.75” x 16.75” x 23.75”
Plant stand: 8” x 8” x 15”
Estimated Retail Value: $3,500
Two Oakland Athletics Exclusive Passes: 4 Batting Practice Passes and an 18-person Luxury Suite During A 2023 Season Game
Oakland Athletics and Colette Lucas-Conwell
Estimated Retail Value: $2,500
“Spring Sea Rising”
Phoebe Deutsch
Ceramic Sculpture
2023
14” x 9” x 9”
Estimated Retail Value: $1,200
Chef’s Knife and Cleaver Set
Clifford Bohm
Recycled Spring Steel (5160)
2023
Chef’s knife: 13.5” x 2” Cleaver: 12” x 2.75”
Estimated Retail Value: $600
California Claro Walnut Charcuterie Board and Serving Bowl
Jolie Karno
California Claro Walnut
2023
Bowl: 12” x 4”
Charcuterie Board: 28.5” x 10” x 1”
Estimated Retail Value: $600
Person: Kagero
Hiroki Fukushima
Forged Iron
2023
26” x 7.5” x 7.5”
Estimated Retail Value: $500
Birdcage Raffle
Bid on the key that unlocks our vintage birdcages, and win one of our luxury jewelry prizes!
Cut-Steel Antique Button & Star-cut Onyx Necklace and Ancient Echoes Earrings with Black Crystal
Compass Rose Design
Gemstones, steel, and glass
2023
Estimated Retail Value: $508
Bombshell Stitch Ring
Kristy Ford for Cast Jewelry
100% recycled silver
2023
Estimated Retail Value: $500
Thank you for making The Crucible’s 2023 Fire & Light Soirée possible
Corporate Sponsors
Forge Sponsor
Flame Sponsor
Torch Sponsors
Individual Sponsors
Forge Sponsor
Virginia Lincoln
Torch Sponsor
B Byrne Astrella
Jeremy Crandell
Craig Croteau
Shawnee Keck
Melanie Moore
Joyce Shulman
Renée Ventimiglia
Thank you to our beverage sponsors
Fire & Light Committee
Co-Chairs
Melanie Moore
Joyce Shulman
Members
B Byrne Astrella
Jeremy Crandell
Shaina Johnson
Shawnee Keck
Renee Ventimiglia
The Crucible Board
Melanie Moore, President
Julie Sigoloff, Vice President and Secretary
Jeremy Sugerman, Treasurer
B Byrne Astrella
Ken Cassidy
Jeremy Crandell
Craig Croteau
Zeydi Gutierrez
Greg Hansen
Cindy Johanson
Tasion Kwamilele
Shawnee Keck
Joyce Shulman
Taj Wilson
Alex Zwissler