Events

East Bay Open Studios 2013

2018-03-01T14:35:17-08:00

The Crucible is participating in the 2013 East Bay Open Studios, presented annually by Pro Arts Gallery.

Our featured artists are

Barbara Barnett, Peter Kropf, Johanna Neaderhouser, Rob Nehring, Alexander Smith, Daniel Stauber, Sam Waller and Mary B. White. Read about their work below and come join them on June 1-2 and June 8-9 at our studio. 

The Crucible will also offer two

studio tours at noon and 4pm

Barbara Barnett

Barbara has been an artist most of her life but only recently began working in glass. In 2007, she started working with stained glass and moved through kiln formed glass to cast glass after taking a class at The Crucible in Oakland, CA.  Her work reflects the natural world she sees around her, combining her love of nature and a passion for art. Creating a glass sculpture starting with a clay or wax model is always a journey of discovery.  Her geeky side loves the physics of glass, the problem solving, and the complexity of the process.  Her emotional side loves the observation and discovery of the form, the surprise at the outcome, and discovering new aspects of myself through the process.

Website: barbarabarnettglass.com

 

 

Peter Kropf

Peter Kropf is fascinated with all forms of fire and its ability to transform. He creates sculptures with a variety of materials, and often seeks to include fire as a focal point. He is always looking for different and interesting ways to share his joy of fire with the community at large. Peter can often be found at The Crucible working as a Senior Studio Manager and setting pyrotechnic effects for Crucible productions. In his spare time, he is known to drag chaos through their IT Department.

Website: practicalfirearts.com

 

 

Johanna Neaderhouser

Johanna Neaderhouser has been a woodworker since 2010 having enrolled in the Distance Mastery Program at the Northwest Woodworking Studio. She has recently started teaching woodworking classes at The Crucible.

 

Rob Nehring

Rob Nehring received his BFA from the University of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in Inter-arts, which included theatre, dance and sculpture. After professionally dancing for 17 years and 18 years in the candy business, he dropped everything to take a class at The Crucible. Driven by the definition of sculpture as “something you back into when looking at a painting,” he strives to produce thought-provoking, yet whimsical work in three dimensions. An accomplished artist, Rob’s sculptures are in galleries and private collections throughout the United States. His sculptures are created from 99% recycled materials. Through found scrap materials, Rob lets the materials dictate what they will become. Rob runs Rusty Noodle Studios, teaches and is the Adult Program Director at The Crucible.

Website:

East Bay Open Studios 20132018-03-01T14:35:17-08:00

Hugh Jenkins: Explorations in Efficient Glass Studio Operation

2018-03-08T13:13:17-08:00

 

Could blowing glass cost you less and be more environmentally friendly? 


Join Hugh Jenkins, renowned Hawaiian glass art educator, artist and expert in glass studio efficiency, to learn tips for use of renewable energy, alternative fuels such as reclaimed cooking oil and energy efficiency in a glass hot shop.

Friday, May 31, 2013
6:30-9 pm
The Crucible, 1260 7th Street, Oakland, CA
FREE

Hugh Jenkins’s studio, Big Island Glass, is considered a nationally leading glass shop in the use of renewable energy, reclaimed cooking oil and energy efficiency.  Hugh has consulted and assisted hot studios with energy efficiency throughout the US. He is in the Bay Area retuning Lee Meltier’s furnace for higher efficiency and has graciously agreed to share his information on recuperation, his innovative use of bio fuels and other techniques with our community.

    • 6:30-7:30 pm  Potluck (please bring a dish to share)
    • 7:30-8:30 pm  Hugh Jenkins presentation
    • 8:30-9:00 pm  Q&A and discussion

This event is free, open to the public and co-sponsored by The Crucible and BioGlass.org. BioGlass’s mission is to feature research, development and community resources for eco-efficient glass studio techniques, which simultaneously assists glass artists to make more profit and protect the environment.

Hugh Jenkins and Stephanie Ross, a husband and wife team of Big Island Glass Gallery, have blown glass on the Big Island of Hawaii since 1999, after leaving long teaching careers in Honolulu, Stephanie at Holy Nativity and Hugh at Punahou School. Since 2001 they have collaborated in their home based studio in Honoka’a.  They established Big Island Glass Gallery in 2004.   It is located in the old sugar plantation town of Honoka’a, on the Hamakua coast of the Big Island of Hawai’i. Paintings and fine crafts by other local artists are also featured.  In their glass, Hugh and Stephanie work in response to their surroundings and reflect the ever-changing water, volcano, forest, landscape, and climate of the Big Island.

Questions? Please contact Mary White at 510 847-4916 or mwhiteglass@gmail.com

Event Location & Directions

The Crucible
1260 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

>> Directions

Parking

The Crucible has a very small parking lot on the corner of 7th & Union that will be available for disabled placard parking only. Those spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are also two paid parking lots. One is on Kirkham Avenue and the other is the 5th Street lot by BART. Please do not park in lots owned by local businesses or the residential area behind The Crucible.

Public Transit

Ditch the car and don’t worry about parking – The Crucible

Hugh Jenkins: Explorations in Efficient Glass Studio Operation2018-03-08T13:13:17-08:00

The Crucible at Maker Faire 2013

2018-03-22T10:20:51-07:00

Fire artist, Peter Kropf helping a young guest operate The Crucible’s fire poofers!

We love Maker Faire! A celebration of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness, the festival brings makers together to showcase their wares, inspire creativity, and most of all – to have fun. Check out a few pictures of our exhilarating weekend!

The Crucible kicked off Maker Faire with the festival’s Education Day. With a blacksmithing demonstration by Celeste Flores, an art bike build by Maurice Cavness, and an interactive Fire Poofer extravaganza by Peter Kropf, we had an awesome time showing 2,500 Bay Area youths the wonders of the maker world.  After Education Day, we celebrated the weekend with makers from all over the nation and the world.

See you next time!

The Crucible at Maker Faire 20132018-03-22T10:20:51-07:00

Fireside Lounge: Creation

2018-03-15T13:41:20-07:00

Our next Fireside Lounge leads us to explore creation and how ideas move from concept into creative expression.

Friday, May 10, 2013
6:30-9:30pm
$10 / Free for Crucible members
The Crucible, 1260 7th St, Oakland  
>> Directions

In collaboration with Maker Month, The Crucible celebrates creation with a spectacular evening of art, performance, thoughtful discussion and, of course, fire!

In our studios, we will explore processes that make creation simple. With our distinguished panel we will discuss and demystify how to do-it-yourself, Crucible style, inspiring creativity in everyone. The Crucible student and faculty will showcase creation with the “In Motion” art exhibition. Fire and dance performances will delight guests throughout the evening. 

7pm: Panel Discussion

Public art consultant, Leslie Pritchett, will facilitate our May panel discussion in our Performance Studio at 7pm with:

  • Hopi Breton, Sculpture Artist and Diablo Valley College Professor
  • Melissa Alexander, Director of Public Programs at San Francisco’s recently relocated Exploratorium
  • Dale Dougherty, Founder, President and CEO of Make Magazine, the heart and soul of Maker Faire

>> Full Panel Bios

Live industrial art demonstrations: 

  • Foundry – Our foundry department will be doing a live iron pour – an amazing demonstration of molten metal you won’t want to miss!
  • Kinetics and Electronics
  • Welding – MIG, TIG, ARC/OXY
  • Bike Shop – Art Bike Showcase
  • Machine Shop
  • Paper & Textiles – Leatherworking, Bookbinding


Exhibit

The Crucible’s art exhibit “In Motion” will showcase remarkable artwork by Crucible artists under the theme of movement.

Performances throughout the night:

  • Rockabelly – West Oakland-based bellydance fusion group
  • The Crucible’s Fire Performance faculty and student showcase


Vendors

Own a piece of creation by:

Food truck by Subs on Hubs
Beer by Linden Street Brewery


“Creation” Panel Bios

Facilitator, Leslie Pritchett brings to her public art and community art program consulting more than 20 years experience in corporate marketing, small business and start-up business management. She spent several years as managing partner of Digital Pond, a high-end digital imaging company serving clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, such as Nike and Hewlett-Packard, to leading museums and fine art print purveyors, including the Ansel Adams Gallery. She entered the nonprofit arena as executive director of the Black Rock Arts Foundation, where over the course of three years she produced or supported more than 28 public

Fireside Lounge: Creation2018-03-15T13:41:20-07:00

2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction Items

2018-03-15T11:52:55-07:00

The Bay Area’s top artists working in metal, glass, fire, wood and mixed media have donated fine art for the 2013 Fire & Light Auction. The live art auction will take place during dessert. Have your paddle ready and bid generously — good luck! Your artwork will be packaged and ready for you when you leave for the evening.

>> Download the Auction Program (PDF)

1. TAKA 
polished and painted cast bronze
$1,150
Alexander Smith was born into a family of educators and craftsmen in Berkeley. His early artistic development was thoroughly encouraged by his parents with gifts of tools and space to work. Alex attended the UC Santa Cruz where he earned his BA in Sculpture in 2000. It was here with the challenges of academia he began to formalize his skills in metal casting and fabrication processes to demonstrate his ability in expression and form. Alex has instructed the tradition of bronze casting at The Crucible for twelve years. He is an Apprentice and Project Manager for Sculptor Fletcher Benton, where he enlarges Mr. Benton’s designs to monumental size, supervises building and installation of these works. Alex’s castings, paintings and fabricated works are inspired by his travels, love of form, nature and technology havebeen featured at the Sculpturesite Gallery San Francisco, in public projects in Tucson, Arizona and are currently featured at the Shidoni Gallery in New Mexico.

Website: alexanderthesmith.com
2. SPIKE – THE RESURRECTION 
cast resin and ABS pipe
$9,500
Billy Hiebert received his MFA for Sculpture in 1965 from CCAC, now the California College of Arts. After a few years of sculpting with metal, carving marble and teaching sculpture and design, he was attracted to industrial processes involving molding and casting. This soon led to a full-time business that offered model making, molding and casting to both artists and industrial clients. His exposure to new methods and materials soon led to a different direction in his sculpture. Billy left behind welded steel and carved marble and embraced a world of molding and casting. Most of his current sculpture is expressed through molded plastic resin.

Website: billyhiebert.com
3. WALLSCAPE #4 
walnut and steel
$963
Brian Enright likes wood. He really likes metal too. Really he likes the
2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction Items2018-03-15T11:52:55-07:00

2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction

2018-12-13T12:21:29-08:00

Join us for the 8th Annual Fire & Light: Soirée and Art Auction at The Crucible!

Saturday, April 27, 2013
6 – 11pm

>> Preview Auction Items

Industrial artists, acrobatic performers and The Crucible team are busy preparing for the 8th Annual Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction. Our industrial art studio will once again transform into a stunning setting of art, fine food, wine, performance and fiery effects. Under the direction of Jo Kreiter, this year’s performance will feature an acrobatic spectacle by Flyaway Productions in collaboration with composer Mark Growden.

We will be honoring Dennis Bartels, Executive Director of the Exploratorium, for his enthusiastic support of the art community. Dennis has been an advocate for the cultivation of creative thinking and informal learning environments amongst young people and adults believing that these types of classrooms have the most lasting impact on young minds. Dennis works with artists, scientists, collaborators and Exploratorium staff to design exhibits which mirror his own vision of encouraging learning by doing through hands-on experiences for people of all ages.

All guests willl enjoy an amazing performance in our fire and light filled industrial art studio, a delectable three-course dinner by Grace Street Catering with fine wines, and a live auction of beautiful fire-crafted art.

Platinum Sponsor 
Bently FoundationSilver Sponsors
The Exploratorium in honor of Dennis BartelsAB&I FoundryBronze Sponsors
Lauren & Steve Adams
Paul & April Buchheit
CASS, Inc.
Loretta Clarke & Allen Hurtt
George Cogan & Fannie Allen
Jeremy Crandell
Greg Hansen & Marsha Roberts
Tim Irvin
Edward B. Kangeter IV
Joseph Olivier
Charles Olson & Yoko Watanabe
One PacificCoast Bank
Leslie Pritchett
David Shulman
Schnitzer Steel
Pasha & Laney Thornton
  


All proceeds from this event directly support 
The Crucible’s educational programs.


Expect the spectacular. Support The Crucible. Buy your tickets.

Can’t attend the Soirée? You can still support The Crucible’s educational programs!

 

Single Ticket: $250

Experience an elegant dinner, dynamic performance, art auction and more.

 

Bronze Sponsor: $2,500

Our Bronze Sponsors enjoy:

  • Table for 10 at Soirée with preferred seating
  • Premium wine pairing with dinner
  • Name recognition on the website and in the event program

Silver Sponsor: $5,000

Our Silver Sponsors enjoy:

  • One table of 10 with premier bronze seating
  • Wine pairing with dinner
  • You and your table guests will be hosted at a VIP reception prior to the event 
  • Bronze Name Plaque on The Crucible Donor Wall
  • Prominent logo placement on event website page
  • Name recognition on the website and in the event program

Gold Sponsor: $12,500

Our Gold Sponsors enjoy:

  • One table of 10 with premier gold seating
  • Champagne and wine pairing with dinner
2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction2018-12-13T12:21:29-08:00

Artifact: The Crucible at the Asian Art Museum

2018-03-01T13:51:11-08:00

Artifact: The Crucible at the Asian Art Museum

Fridays–Sundays, March 15–May 5, 2013
Noon to 4pm
Asian Art Museum, Ground Floor, Resource Room, Vinson Nook
200 Larkin Street, San Francisco
FREE with museum admission

What would you take to the afterlife? The Crucible in partnership with UC Berkeley’s Archaeology Research Facility (A.R.F.), is excited to tackle this ancient question in the San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s series, “Asia Alive,”a free, interactive, all ages program featuring live art demonstrations, hands-on activities and discussions

The series focuses on the museum’s exhibition, “China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy,” which explores the young Emperor’s worldview, enduring influence and fixation on the afterlife. Although he died in 210 BCE, his legacy lives on through his terracotta warriors. 

The Crucible invites you to reflect on your own life using imagination and skill, transforming timeless raw materials with the stamp of your own individuality. Participants will investigate ancient artistic techniques used for creating afterlife treasures, including glass fusing jewelry, ceramics, and hammering to create their own afterlife pendant.

  • Copper charms: Copper, a common material in this exhibition, was used throughout history. Starting with a piece of raw copper, you will use letters and decorative stamping as embellishments to create an artifact that will function as a charm for a keychain or pendant for a necklace.
  • Art Clay Copper: This innovative material, Art Clay Copper, looks, feels and works like ordinary clay, but when fired in a kiln or with a torch its clay binders burn off, leaving 99.9% pure copper. Today, you will make an artifact by manipulating copper clay through rolling and fashioning texture to create a unique charm. Art Clay Copper donated by Art Clay World, USA.
  • Moldmaking: The terracotta warriors were among the earliest examples of the use of sophisticated reproduction methods. Moldmaking is the most common technique used for reproduction. Starting with clay, you will fashion an artifact that will then be vacuum molded to produce a symbolic negative copy in plastic.
  • Video footage from renowned Crucible faculty, including foundry artist Nick DiPhillipo and blacksmith artist Carla Hallround out the series. 

Artifact is a phenomenal opportunity to explore the First Emperor’s life in a hands-on, community oriented fashion. Between archaeological discussions, artistic explorations, and your own reflections about the afterlife, Asia Alive is sure to inspire creativity in everyone.

Artifact: The Crucible at the Asian Art Museum2018-03-01T13:51:11-08:00

2013: The Year Ahead

2018-02-15T14:57:16-08:00
Glass Blowing
Innovation
Welding
Dance
Training

Music

Summer Camps
Field Trips

Reuse

Industry

Fire

Hands-on

Collaboration

Inspiration

D.I.Y.

Artist Studios

Blacksmithing

Exhibitions
Woodworking

Youth

Life-long Learning

Family

Community
There are amazing things happening in art, science, history, fashion and performance at The Crucible. In the coming year, The Crucible will partner with organizations and museums throughout the Bay Area to create spectacular and engaging exhibits and interactive experiences. We will inspire more people than ever before to explore their creativity and develop a better understanding of their own creative opportunities.

2013 will mark The Crucible’s 14th year of providing cutting-edge arts education programs, spectacular performances and community events. Hands-on creative learning is at the core of The Crucible’s mission of Arts, Industry and Community. Arts and creative learning help prepare young people for more success in life. We teach creative problem-solving skills and critical thinking through making that leads to higher success in school and in the job market. The Crucible builds stronger communities and inspires creativity.

We are building new relationships and forging stronger bonds with stellar organizations like The Exploratorium, The Asian Art Museum, The DeYoung Museum, The Oakland Museum of California and the California Academy of Sciences, which will allow us to present inspiring hands-on experiences to an even larger audience. We are currently preparing for our next not-to-be-missed Industrial Fashion Show: Hot Couture, which will have its premiere in January 2013 in The Crucible’s performance space. In the spring of 2013, we will hold eight weeks of hands-on workshops at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco to help illuminate their new exhibition of the First Emperor of China and his fascination with the afterlife, including some of his terracotta warriors. We are working with the Exploratorium to bring hands-on learning opportunities to their new Embarcadero location in San Francisco. The Crucible is increasing our impact and touching more people than ever before.

Please consider how The Crucible has touched your life and join me in making a 100% tax-deductible donation to The Crucible Fund. Your donation will keep our kilns and forges running and help to cover the costs of our 56,000 square feet facility. Your gift will also support our education programs that will serve 5,000 youth and adult students and provide arts education scholarships to Oakland youth. Know that every dollar you donate will be appreciated and spent on providing the highest quality industrial arts education you’ve come to expect from us.

Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Mary Lou Cook.

 

2013: The Year Ahead2018-02-15T14:57:16-08:00

2013 Fireside Lounge Schedule

2018-03-15T11:53:59-07:00

The Crucible’s Fireside Lounge is an intimate evening of art, industry, community, and entertainment. This exclusive engagement takes place in The Crucible’s studio and highlights our extraordinary art programs. In 2013, The Crucible will explore themes of conception, creation, and curation in three dynamic hour-long discussions during our Fireside Lounge.

The 2013 Fireside Lounge Schedule:

  • February 15: Conception
  • May 10: Creation
  • October 11: Curation

The Fireside Lounge panel discussion provides a forum for fine and industrial artists to engage in and promote contextual conversa- tions. Join us as artists, makers, innovators, dreamers, and creators discuss art, industry, and community. A gallery of remarkable artwork by students and faculty will be on display and live performances are scheduled throughout the night. Admission is $10 at the door and is free for members of The Crucible.

2013 Fireside Lounge Schedule2018-03-15T11:53:59-07:00

Fireside Lounge: Conception

2018-03-15T13:40:35-07:00

Friday, February 15, 2013 • 6:30-9:30PM
$10 at the door
Free for Crucible Members

Join us for an evening of demonstrations on how materials such as clay, wood, stone, and steel inspire and inform the process of conception. How do fine and industrial artists conceive sculpture? How does conception move into the physicality of art? We will explore materiality and how it shapes an idea.

A gallery of remarkable artwork by students and faculty will be on display and live performances are scheduled throughout the night.

Are you a Crucible artist? Submit your art to the Fireside Lounge gallery.

>> Download Submission Form (doc)

The Crucible’s Fireside Lounge is an intimate evening of art, industry, community, and entertainment that takes place in The Crucible’s studio and highlights our varied art programs. It’s your chance to explore the creative passions of professional artists and the educational opportunities available while sipping libations in our unique atmosphere. 

Team Building Blacksmith Immersion Classes in Bay AreaEvent Highlights:

 Live industrial art demonstrations in featured areas:

• 
Moldmaking
• Ceramics
• Blacksmithing
• Jewelry
• Stone Working
• Woodworking
• Fire Performance
• Spectacular art show, Raw Material, highlighting work from renowned Crucible faculty
• Fiery stage performances from The Crucible Fire Performance Department Faculty
• Hosted Fire Spin Jam
• Tasty food, wine, and beer
• Exciting discounts on Crucible classes

Event Location & Directions

The Crucible
1260 7th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

>> Directions


Parking
 

The Crucible has a very small parking lot on the corner of 7th & Union that will be available for disabled placard parking only. Those spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. There are also two paid parking lots. One is on Kirkham Avenue and the other is the 5th Street lot by BART. Please do not park in lots owned by local businesses or the residential area behind The Crucible.

Public Transit

Ditch the car and don’t worry about parking – The Crucible is easily accessible by BART! From the West Oakland BART Station, exit onto 7th Street, turn right, and walk 2 blocks east to Union (at the 2nd light). The Crucible is on the northwest corner of 7th & Union, at 1260 7th Street.

Beer provided by Linden Street Brewery.

 
 
Fire Performance Classes
Fireside Lounge: Conception2018-03-15T13:40:35-07:00
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