Past Events

2013 2013 Playa Bound: Sale & Open House June 22, 2013 11am to 6pm FREE Our annual Playa Bound Open House is a wonderful way for the whole family to wander through our 56,000 sq. ft. studio and a maze of vendors with handmade crafts, desert costumes, camping supplies, playa bikes, shade ideas, and leave-no-trace education. Catch fiery performances as you support local artists, community arts education for youth and adults, and work your way through that Black Rock City shopping list.      East Bay Open Studios 2013 June 1-2 and June 8-9, 2013 Open Studios: 11am to 6pm Tours: 12 noon, 4pm FREE The Crucible is participating in this year’s East Bay Open Studios, presented annually by ProArts Gallery. Featured artists include Barbara Barnett, Peter Kropf, Johanna Neaderhouser, Rob Nehring, Alexander Smith, Daniel Stauber, Sam Waller and Mary B. White. The Crucible will also lead two studio tours at 12 noon and at 4pm.     Talk with Hugh Jenkins: Explorations in Efficient Glass Studio Operations May 31, 2013 6:30-9 pm FREE 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. Maker Faire 2013: The Crucible’s Fire Town Saturday, May 18, 2013 – 10am to 8pm Sunday, May 19, 2013 – 10am to 6pm $30 single day. $55 weekend pass. At Maker Faire 2013 in San Mateo, The Crucible will present dynamic demonstrations in blacksmithing, glass blowing, foundry metal pouring, art bikes frame alterations, jewelry making and eye catching fire poofers towering in the sky. Don’t miss The Crucible’s Fire Town located at Booth SL30! Maker Faire is the annual two-day, family friendly celebration of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement.   Fireside Lounge: Creation May 10, 2013 6:30-9:30pm Our next Fireside Lounge leads us to explore creation and how ideas move from concept into creative expression. We will explore processes that makes creation simple. We will discuss and demystify how to do-it- yourself, Crucible style, inspiring creativity in everyone. In collaboration with Maker Month, The Crucible celebrates creation with a spectacular evening. Read more…   Artifact: The Crucible at the Asian Art Museum Fridays– Sundays, March 15–May 5, 2013 Noon to 4pm Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin Street, San Francisco 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 question at San Francisco Asian Art Museum’s series “Asia Alive” using ancient techniques including glass fusing, jewelry, ceramics and hammering to create afterlife treasures you can take home.  Read more…     8th Annual Fire & Light: Soirée and Art Auction April 27, 2013 6-11pm 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, […]

Playa Bound: Call for Art

On Saturday, June 22, 2013 The Crucible will host a curated industrial art exhibit in a gallery setting during the annual Playa Bound Open House & Sale. Any artist utilizing techniques taught at The Crucible is eligible and welcome to submit their metal, wood, glass, neon, jewelry, molded and textile work for consideration.  Our Playa Bound Open House celebrates the approaching annual desert community art extravaganza – Burning Man. The studio will be a maze of vendors with handmade crafts, desert costumes, camping supplies, playa bikes, shade ideas, and leave-no-trace education. The Open House will feature live industrial art demonstrations, fire art performance, class discounts, food and beverage, and more. The exhibit will be set up in the upstairs performance room overlooking the central event space.    >> Download Submission Form (Word Doc) DEADLINE: June 17, 2013   The submission process is open to anyone involved with The Crucible including students, faculty, volunteers, studio renters, Create Program members and staff.    IMPORTANT DATES   Monday June 17th            SUBMISSION DEADLINE  Tuesday June 18th            Acceptance notification Thursday June 20th           Art drop off  4-8pm Friday June 21st                Art drop off 2-6pm Saturday June 22nd           Open House 11am-6pm Saturday June 22nd            Art pick up  6-6:30pm Sunday June 23rd             Art pick up  10am-12pm Please contact Daniel Stauber at daniel@thecrucible.org if you require an alternative drop off or pick up time.   We look forward to seeing your artwork on display at The Crucible’s Summer Open House:  Playa Bound!

East Bay Open Studios 2013

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: rustynoodlestudios.com     Alexander Smith 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 […]

Hugh Jenkins: Explorations in Efficient Glass Studio Operation

  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 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.

The Crucible at Maker Faire 2013

Fireside Lounge: Creation

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: King Bag Company (Bobby Glasser) Rusty Noodle Studios (Rob Nehring) Red Frog Designs (Carla Hall) William Rose Daniel Stauber 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 art projects, including eight major and award-winning temporary public installations within the City of San Francisco. She secured the organization’s first major grants from the James Irvine Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, SF Grants for the Arts, San Francisco Department of the Environment and several private foundations. The program for temporary art exhibition that she helped establish now serves as a model for municipalities around the country. Through public art consulting and production of major public art exhibitions, Leslie is able to integrate her business experience with her love of fostering community-building art programs. Leslie holds a Masters in Business Administration from Columbia University and a degree in French Literature from Dartmouth College. Panelist, Hopi Breton is a Bay Area-based artist and Professor or Art at Diablo Valley College. She received her MFA […]

2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction Items

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 $1,150Alexander 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 $9,500Billy 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 $963Brian Enright likes wood. He really likes metal too. Really he likes the blending of these two mediums in ways that provoke or ask questions or get you to ask yourself questions. He has been at The Cruciblesince 2005, and has been an instructor of sculpture in various mediums and forms of welding since 2000. He has worked in Oakland and San Francisco galleries and boutiques. He has had two artist in residencies: one in remote bush Alaska and one at a radical new K-12 school in San Francisco, Brightworks. He is continually excited to learn with and be a part of The Crucible community, and this year’s Fire & Light Soirée. Websites: 12sticks.com, enrightart.com  4. UNTITLED  kilnformed and engraved glass panel $900Carrie Iverson’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Glasmuseum Hentrich in Düsseldorf in Germany, Art Santa Fe, the Ukrainian Institute […]

2013 Fire & Light Soirée and Art Auction

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 Special gift from the Executive Director 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 Prominent acknowledgement on The Crucible’s sponsor page for one year. The Crucible’s website is visited by 170,000 people each year Press release announcement acknowledging sponsorship Mention in […]

Artifact: The Crucible at the Asian Art Museum

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 Hall, round 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.

2013: The Year Ahead

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.       Help The Crucible continue inspiring creativity in everyone. Sincerely, Steven Young, Executive Director