Glass Department Head Kier Lugo has been practicing and teaching the craft for nearly a decade. With a special love for the art and a glowing way of speaking about the material itself, Kier sat down with us in October for a perspective into what's happening with glass at The Crucible today.

We like to make everyone feel at home at The Crucible – and for one new community member, Hiroki Fukushima, that warm welcome is especially important. A Japanese immigrant, Fukushima moved to the Bay Area in July 2012, and his involvement at The Crucible has been essential to helping him find inspiration, community, and connection in his new home country. We sat down with Fukushima and his daughter, Marina, to learn more about his artwork and experience at The Crucible.

Feedback comes in many forms including praise, support, questions, and everyone's favorite, "constructive criticism". This month The Crucible received a wonderful letter from Yelp! with a very specific kind of feedback: congratulations!