Mackenzie O’Brien
2021-02-25T15:15:45-08:00Phone:
Email: o.apostrophebrien@yahoo.com
Mackenzie O'Brien - Bio
My interests around the metal working field were first inspired by West African blacksmiths who continue to perfect their craft by making farming tools and forged instruments. I aspire to develop as a talented tool maker and utilitarian artist, incorporating the dynamic and imperfect beauty of nature into my work. I hope to inspire other worker-artists by writing about nature, history and science.
Kua Patten
2022-04-26T18:24:41-07:00Kua Patten - Bio
Kua Patten teaches Neon for the youth program at The Crucible and previously worked at the Exploratorium from 1993 until 2013, building exhibits after earning his Master’s Degree in Sculpture at Montana State University. He moved to the Exhibit Services department in 1998 as Production Manager and became its Director in 2005. Kua holds a BFA in Photography and other professional certifications.
Kua has a broad skill set including design (AutoCad, Inventor, Sketchup), Machining, Welding (Arc, MIG, TIG), Woodworking, Plastics Fabrication, Electrical (high and low voltage), Refrigeration, Metal casting, sheet metal fabrication, electronics, neon fabrication, photography, graphic design and layout, offset printing.
Lauren Ekman
2020-06-10T17:17:59-07:00Lauren Ekman - Bio
Lauren Ekman lives, plays and makes glass beads in her California studio since 1999. She has been an educator, including a school principal, for decades. Her passion is working on the torch and seeing the redredmelt of the glass as it turns into a bead or critter. The creations lean toward abstract color combinations that stir up happiness and reflect a modern garden. People get to wear the smooth magic of melted glass in the colors of a well-balanced garden. Sometimes you will see a cottage garden, a vegetable, and herb, or cactus garden. Often it's just the colors of a single fruit or flower. She continues to travel the country to learn from other flameworkers and teaches at The Crucible.
Nate Chandler
2019-01-03T11:49:06-08:00Phone: (510) 444-0919
Email: nchandler@thecrucible.org
Nate Chandler - Bio
Nate Chandler is a designer and maker that creates things you can interact with.
Megaen Curl
2021-08-30T11:23:27-07:00Megaen Curl - Bio
Megaen is an Oakland native and McClymonds High School alumn. She joined The Crucible in 2008 after seeing the Fire Arts Festival from home. By signing up to be a volunteer, Megaen just wanted to help where she could. She started volunteering in the Youth Program and in the Bike Shop. She helped run Bike Fix-a-thons and the Earn-a-bike program. She also teamed up with current McClymonds High School students to customize their own dream bike. Later, Megaen grew interested in glass fusing and fell in love with teaching, where she is now showing students her love of glass.
Warren Breslau
2020-04-08T13:56:13-07:00Phone:
Email:
Warren Breslau - Bio
Warren has been a professional welder and a machinist for almost 20 years. As owner of Moab Cycle Works he created over 150 bicycle frames out of steel, aluminum, and titanium. As a machinist, his creations have fixed antique tractors, won world championships and flown in outer space. His love of artistic creation first brought him to The Crucible as a student, but for the last three years he has been an instructor.
Sudhu Tewari
2019-04-30T13:35:37-07:00Phone:
Email: stewari@thecrucible.org
Sudhu Tewari - Bio
Sudhu Tewari has been called a professional bricoleur, junkyard maven, and young audio-gadgeteer. Sudhu builds audio electronics, electro-acoustic instruments, kinetic sculpture, interactive installations, wearable sound art, and sound sculpture.
Tewari received an MFA in Electronic Music and Recording Media from Mills College in 2002 and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Musicology at UC Santa Cruz. Sudhu Tewari has been teaching electronics and sound art to children and adults since 2009.
Roberta Smith
2018-02-13T12:07:28-08:00Phone:
Email:
Roberta Smith - Bio
“I started out making jewelry until I saw Marion Brown´s cloisonné ladies at a craft show in Santa Monica. I knew at once that was what I wanted to do. Marion offered classes at her home in Idyllwild and it was there that I learned the art of enameling. The colors of vitreous enamels intrigue me and I will always be a student of enameling. I have been the treasurer of Enamel Guild: West and am currently treasurer of the Northern California Enamel Guild. I collaborate with three close friends from San Diego, called the Flying Flux, on medium to large-scale enamel pieces, and expanded my experience from working on fine silver to copper. Quite a switch in mediums! Most of my work has been sold in small shows with the Gemological Institute and small craft shows in Southern California. Friends and family own most of my work. I continue to explore all aspects of enameling, but my true love is still small cloisonné wall pieces.” – Roberta