Blog
Our blog features articles on events, projects, programs, and people in The Crucible’s community. To stay up to date, subscribe to our weekly enewsletter and follow us on social media! We are the most active on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Hiroki Fukushima In Memoriam
Hiroki Fukushima passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco on August 21, 2024. He lived fully every moment dedicated to his artistic work and family. During his...
Christian Schiess In Memoriam
Please join The Crucible in honoring and remembering the life of Christian Schiess, longtime faculty member and department head at The Crucible, who passed away at 11am, September...
Jolie Karno in Shoutout LA
This past Thursday, February 23, more than 180 students and educators from across the East Bay gathered at The Crucible for our first Field Trip Day in three years....
Celebrate Women’s History Month With These Bay Area Events
Throughout March, we’ll be recognizing the remarkable contributions of women past and present, as part of Women’s History Month. Check out local Women’s History Month events...
April-June Classes Open For Members On February 6—Get Your Guide!
Get ready to make this spring! April-june classes open for Early Member Registration this Tuesday, February 6. If you haven’t secured your Crucible membership, now is the time....
Black History Month In The Bay Area: Your 2024 Events Calendar
Every February, The Bay Area celebrates and recognizes the myriad contributions of Black Americans to our local and national culture during Black History Month events....
Test Your Crucible Knowledge: 25 Facts for 25 Years
It’s hard to believe, but 2024 marks The Crucible’s 15th anniversary! Since first opening our doors on January 15, 1999, we’ve had the pleasure of meeting thousands of artists,...
Thank You For Spending Your Weekend At GIFTY!
We are still beaming after an incredible GIFTY 2023! What a spectacular weekend full of creativity and community. Thank you to the thousands of visitors who came out to support our...
Crucible Board President, Melanie Moore Named One of Influential Women 2023
This is an interview with one of San Francisco Business Times' outstanding professionals in the 2023 class of Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business....
Art Transforms Lives: Youth Find Their Path Making Art With Rikki Smeltzer
In the summer of 2011, after graduating from his metalsmithing program at the University of North Texas, Rikki Lee Smeltzer set his sights on the Bay Area, in search of a creative...
The Crucible Welcomes Seth Steward As New Executive Director
The Crucible is pleased to announce Seth Steward has been named our new Executive Director ahead of our upcoming 25th anniversary year....
Plan for a Creative 2024: January-March Classes Open 10/31
This Tuesday, October 31, over 150 January-March classes open for early member registration. 2024 marks The Crucible's 25th Anniversary and there's no better way to ring in a...
A Case For Making: The Importance Of Education Accompanied By Art
As students settle into the new school year, we’re reminded of the important role art-making plays in a fulfilling, well-rounded education....
High School Students Unveiled Talents During 2023 Fuego Youth Leadership Reception
On Thursday, July 28, eight high school students gathered on the main floor of The Crucible, buzzing with excitement and nerves. In just a few short hours their guests would arrive...
Check Out Your September-December Classes In Our Latest Member Guide
Are you ready to shape glass, forge metal, and mold clay this fall? September–December classes open this Tuesday, July 11 exclusively for Crucible members. And with more than 200...
Get To Know Our 2023 Fuego Youth Leadership Cohort
Each year, during our four-week Fuego Youth Leadership Program, high school students work with a faculty mentor to deepen their industrial art knowledge in a specific department...
It’s Officially 2023 Summer Camp Season–See All The Pics!
No corner of the imagination went unexplored during the first week of 2023 Crucible Youth Summer Camp. From friendly robots to glistening glass creatures, we were blown away by the...
See The 2023 Fire & Light Soirée In Photos
Over the past four months, The Crucible’s founding Open For Business cohort—Amy Alaman, Brandyn Willridge, Cori Pillows, and Komoia Johnson—have been building new skills in the...
Your Summer Plans Just Landed: July-August Class Guide
Summer is synonymous with good times, and what could be more fun than exploring a new creative hobby? This Tuesday, May 2, our July-August 2023 classes will open for early member...
Plan The Best Summer With Our 2023 Youth Summer Camp Guide
2023 Youth Summer Camp registration is nearly here. With so many offerings we thought you might like a little help finding the perfect fit for your kiddo. Behold, our 2023 Youth...
Beloved Crucible Field Trips Return After Three-Year Hiatus
This past Thursday, February 23, more than 180 students and educators from across the East Bay gathered at The Crucible for our first Field Trip Day in three years....
The Crucible’s CFO, Renée Ventimiglia, To Act As Interim Executive Director
The Crucible is in the process of hiring our next Executive Director. But, in the meantime, we are thrilled to announce Crucible CFO, Renée Ventimiglia, as our Interim ED....
Your Guide To April-June 2023 Classes!
Grab your planner because it’s time to pencil some creativity! More than 140 April-June classes open for remember registration this Tuesday, February 7....
Celebrate Black History Month With Events In The Bay Area
February is Black History Month, and every year, the Bay Area celebrates the occasion with a myriad of events for all ages....
Please Welcome The Crucible’s Three New Board Members For 2023
As The Crucible continues to expand our relationships across Oakland and the Bay Area, we are thrilled to grow our Board of Directors in 2023. Please join us in welcoming B Byrne...
Job Opportunity: The Crucible Is Looking For A New Executive Director
As we enter our 24th year, The Crucible is launching a search for our next Executive Director (ED). The Crucible Board of Directors is working closely with search firm Koya...
Thank You For Spending Your Weekend At GIFTY!
Thank you to the thousands of visitors who attended our annual GIFTY craft fair and open house this past weekend! With rain forecasted for both days, we weren’t sure what to...
Executive Director Susan Mernit to Retire from The Crucible in February 2023
After four and a half years, The Crucible’s Executive Director, Susan Mernit, will retire from her role as of February 1, 2023. The Crucible has been incredibly fortunate to have...
Sharing Our Gratitude for Kelmen Wu This Thanksgiving
It’s the season of gratitude and we are so lucky to have a team full of dedicated individuals who keep our organization running. But this holiday, we wanted to take special care to...
Your Guide To January-March 2023 Classes Is Here!
Resolve to get creative in 2023! More than 130 January-March classes go on sale this Tuesday, November 1, including popular favorites, rare finds, brand-new offerings, and more....
Estate of Ronald Wornick Makes Large Wood Shop Donation
The Crucible is thrilled to announce the receipt of a large gift from the Estate of Ronald Wornick. The donation, which will greatly benefit our Woodworking Department, includes a...
Please Welcome Our New Open For Business Cohort
Last Tuesday, our newest Open For Business (OFB) cohort gathered for the first time, kicking off their three-month program. This is the second iteration of our entrepreneurship...
HOT! GLASS! BRUNCH! Is A Hot Hit With Members
This year, The Crucible is on track to reach 1,000 members—the largest number in our nearly 24-year history! Not only do Crucible Members have access to perks like early...
Plan A Perfect Weekend For You And Your Friends This October
Making art with friends and family is a guaranteed great time! In our 3-Hour Taster classes running this October 8 and 9, you and your loved ones can try out techniques in eight...
We’re Looking For A Senior Studio Supervisor—Is It You?
The Crucible is hiring for a full-time Senior Studio Supervisor position. This role oversees, supports, and coordinates a team of studio managers, shop technicians, studio interns,...
Arts & Crafts Nights Afford Crucible Studio Staff Creative Opportunity
Crucible studio staff are constantly putting their maker skills to work for our facility—fixing machines, upgrading equipment, and helping prep for classes are regular daily tasks....
Get The Scoop On October-December Classes In Our Latest Member Guide
Our final classes of 2022 are about to be here! With more than 100 October-December classes on the roster, there is something for every age and experience level....
High School Students Share Final Projects During 2022 Fuego Reception
This summer, after two years of pandemic-altered programming, we welcomed ten new and returning high school students to The Crucible for our annual four-week Fuego Youth Leadership...
When The Student Becomes The Teacher: Avery Lockwood-Johnston
In 2016, just before his freshman year of high school, Ben Lockwood-Johnston took his first Crucible class—Youth Blacksmithing Immersion. Over the next couple of years, he explored...
Please Welcome Taj Wilson and Melanie Moore As Our 2022 Acting Board Co-Presidents
The Crucible’s Board of Directors is a talented and dedicated group that helps guide our mission. Over the past few years, as we’ve navigated the pandemic, our Board of Directors...
Please Welcome Our 2022 Fuego Youth Leaders
This week, eleven high school students came together at The Crucible to begin their four-week Furgo Youth leadership Program. The program, now in its thirteenth year, is an...
Youth Return To The Crucible For 2022 Summer Camps—See The Pics!
Every summer, our studio comes alive as youth summer campers return for week-long offerings in the industrial arts. This summer, students will have the opportunity to cast metal,...
Meet Glass Blowing Department Co-Heads, Kate Drury and Sam Schumacher
Earlier this year, we relaunched our Glass Blowing Department with a greater community focus in mind. The idea was to expand our offerings to include free or subsidized programming...
Please Welcome Josephine Lee, Director Of Programs
The Crucible is pleased to announce Josephine Lee as our new Director of Programs. This role is crucial for developing and managing faculty, classes, events, community outreach,...
Relive The Magic Of Our 2022 Fire & Light Soirée And Art Auction
Over the past four months, The Crucible’s founding Open For Business cohort—Amy Alaman, Brandyn Willridge, Cori Pillows, and Komoia Johnson—have been building new skills in the...
The Crucible Is Hiring A Team Builds & Volunteer Programs Assistant
Be a part of our growing team! The Crucible is hiring a Team Builds & Volunteer Programs Assistant to support our Volunteer, Events, and Team Builds Manager. This is a part-time,...
Open For Business Closes Out With A Bang
Over the past four months, The Crucible’s founding Open For Business cohort—Amy Alaman, Brandyn Willridge, Cori Pillows, and Komoia Johnson—have been building new skills in the...
It’s Here—Get Your Guide To July-September Classes
No matter how old we get, there is always something magical about summer. And what better way to tap into the youthful spirit of the season than by learning something new?! Our...
ERV, Our Educational Response Vehicle, Returns In Style
We recently had the pleasure of reintroducing ERV (our fire truck-turned-Educational Response Vehicle) to the community during the Old Oakland Block Party hosted by Civic Design Studio....
2022 Youth Spring Camps—See Every Inspiring Project
Our 2022 Youth Spring Camps have the studio buzzing with creative energy. Campers have come up with some amazing projects, including a giant ceramic toothbrush, beautifully crafted...
Our Team Is Growing! The Crucible Is Hiring A Marketing Associate
The Crucible is hiring a Marketing Associate! This role is crucial in telling the stories of our community, artists, makers, and mission. The ideal candidate has experience in...
Surprise—We Have New April Classes And Your Member Guide Is Here!
Big news! Today, members can register for Crucible Glass Blowing classes for the first time since March of 2022—and we are ecstatic! The Hot Shop is the heart of our studio and the...
The Crucible is Hiring Foundry Instructors
The Foundry department at The Crucible is looking for instructors to teach Foundry classes at our 56,000-square-foot non-profit and industrial arts school in West Oakland....
KIPP Bridge Academy Students Explore New Educational Pathways Through Crucible Classes
On Wednesday, March 2, Mischelle Brown and ten of her students from KIPP Bridge Academy here in West Oakland arrived at The Crucible for the first in an eight-week-long series of...
The Crucible is hiring a director of Marketing and Ecommerce!
The Crucible has begun our search for a new Director of Marketing and Ecommerce! The ideal candidate for this role has direct experience both with the industrial arts and marketing...
The Society For Inclusive Blacksmiths Makes Crucible Scholarship Possible
The Crucible is thrilled to announce the Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths scholarship for access to our blacksmithing department and smithy. The scholarship will cover the full...
April-June Classes Open This Week: Get Your Member Guide
Spring is just around the corner and that means it’s almost time to register for classes running this April-June. On Tuesday, February 8, members can register for dozens of...
The Crucible Hot Shop Relaunches With A Greater Community Focus
For the first time since March 2020, our Glass Blowing department is hosting a series of short-form classes for local educators and community program affiliates. These...
Get Your Week-By-Week Breakdown of The Crucible’s 2022 Youth Camps
The Crucible is excited to be releasing our schedule for 2022 Youth Spring & Summer Youth Camps! Art-making has the capacity to help kids and teens build confidence, develop...
Welding Department Head Mark Metz Sends 750 Pound Sculpture On A Cross-Country Journey
In Spring of 2021, The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County put out a national call to artists for the public art project—a call that found its way to our Welding Department...
Zeydi Gutierrez Joins The Crucible’s Board of Directors
Zeydi Gutierrez, prior strategic director of AB&I Foundry and longtime community member and supporter of East Oakland, has recently joined The Crucible Board of Directors. Zeydi...
McClymonds High School Students Show Up For Last In-Person Art Classes of 2021
A few weeks back on Wednesday, December 8, 32 McClymonds High School students joined us for a series of 3-Hour Tasters—the final free classes for McClymonds students of the year....
The Crucible Partners With SFMade For The Open For Business Program
The Crucible is excited to announce that SFMade and The Crucible were just awarded $275,000 from Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund to support Bay Area entrepreneurship....
The Crucible is hiring for a Development Associate
The Crucible is hiring a Development Associate! This is a great role for someone who wants to build their nonprofit fundraising skill and be positioned to grow in their role. You...
Spread the word! The Crucible is hiring for Director of Programs
The Crucible has begun our search for a new Director of Programs! The ideal candidate for this role has direct experience both with the industrial arts, and program administration....
Relive the Magic of GIFTY 2021 With All The Photo Highlights
Thank you to everyone who braved the storms this weekend and made it out to GIFTY 2019! Staff, faculty, and volunteers came together to make our studio shine, and all the months of...
Open Bike Shop Hours Give New Access To The Community
Having access to reliable transportation can be life-changing. That’s why this past September, we launched our Open Bike Shop Hours, a weekly event that offers local residents the...
When the Student Becomes The Teacher: C’Zarriah Davis Smith
As C’Zarriah Davis-Smith turns on the gas line and gathers her glass frit, a sense of calm falls over the flameworking studio. It’s a feeling often found in the presence of someone...
Everything You Need To Know To Have A Great GIFTY 2021
Are you ready for two days of epic shopping, industrial art demos, and family fun? We hope so because GIFTY is just around the corner! GIFTY 2021 is the best place in the Bay to...
Your Guide to January-March 2022 Classes Is Here!
Goodbye 2021, hello 2022, and hello to a slew of new opportunities to get creative in the new year. Our next member registration day is this Tuesday, November 9 and before classes...
Square Supports Local Small Businesses with Scholarships and Webinars
Following the challenges of the last two years, The Crucible is committed to hosting an equitable and inclusive 2021 GIFTY Craft Show and Open House. Thanks to Square, the...
Wheel Throwing (Finally) Comes to The Crucible’s Ceramics Department
Rosa Dorantes, The Crucible’s Ceramics Department Head, has been working with clay since she was in 7th grade, She proudly remembers having her early ceramics work displayed at her...
Explore Your Digital Copy Of The 2022 Crucible Magazine
We’re so thrilled to share the first edition of our new Crucible Magazine. This 60+ page volume features stories from our industrial arts community, photos of artwork created at...
Starting Nov. 1, vaccination or negative test required for entry at The Crucible. Vaccination required for all students Jan. 1, 2022
In response to Federal and statewide mandates for schools and other educational settings, starting November 1, 2021, The Crucible will require all staff, faculty, volunteers, lab...
Welcome To The Crucible’s Community Newsletter
Welcome to The Crucible’s community newsletter! This is a space where we share opportunities like scholarships, Field Trip updates, job opportunities, programming updates,...
McClymonds High School Students Explore Industrial Arts During Recent Field Trip
This past Thursday, after a 21-month hiatus, The Crucible hosted its first field trip day since February 2020 with 48 McClymond's High School students....
What’s New In Studio: Projects And People To Know About
The month of August is an important time for our studio staff. June and July bring the roar of Youth Summer Camps, and September is when adult and youth afterschool classes are...
Celebrating The Life Of Community Member Jeremy ‘Aaron’ Mattia
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of maker, mentor, Myth Buster, and friend, Jeremy ‘Aaron’ Mattia. Since his passing last week, friends and colleagues have been...
October-December Classes Are Here—Get Your Guide
The fall is fast approaching which means October-December classes are about to open for early member registration on Tuesday, Aug 10!...
Please Join Us In Welcoming New Machine Shop Department Head, Ian Wenck
At age 17, an eager High Schooler named Ian Wenck got a waiver to take an adult Blacksmithing class at The Crucible. On his way to the Smithy he passed the Machine Shop and was...
100 Youth Have Renewed Opportunity Thanks to The Port of Oakland
Thanks to the Port of Oakland, 100 BIPOC youth have renewed opportunity in The Crucible's studios, with hundreds of classes to choose from....
What Is A Crucible? Definition & Intro To Crucibles
Have you ever wondered what exactly is a crucible? Here, we cover different types of crucibles and how The Crucible got its name....
Relive All The Creative Magic Of 2021 Youth Summer Camp
The first week of 2021 Youth Summer Camps just wrapped! Students came to camp with major creative ambitions, making impressive projects like beautifully handcrafted skateboards,...
Help Us Welcome 11 New Fuego Youth Leaders For Summer 2021
We can’t wait for our youth summer programming to kick off, and are especially looking forward to the return of our Fuego Youth Leadership Program. For twelve years, high schoolers...
Volunteer Katherine Chan Helps The Crucible Run Smoothly
Over the past year, Katherine Chan has been volunteering for The Crucible, supporting administrative efforts behind the scenes. Most of her volunteering has happened from home, but...
Mark Your Calendars For Juneteenth 2021 Events In Oakland And Beyond
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, celebrates the news of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States reaching Southern Texas....
Celebrating The Life And Impact Of Machine Shop Department Head Ken Gilliland
Beloved friend and mentor, Kenneth Christopher Gilliland, born in Alameda on September 2, 1957 passed away in his home in Oakland on May 6, 2021 surrounded by friends and family....
Explore Every Little Detail Of The Crucible In 3D
When was your last visit to The Crucible? For many of our community members, it’s been well over a year. But now you can step back into the studio from the comfort of your couch....
Check Out Our Latest Guide On July-September Classes
Somehow it’s already April and July-September classes are about to go live for early member registration. You can start exploring our upcoming classes before they go on sale this...
Students Escape Remote Learning Fatigue At 2021 Youth Spring Camps
Leading up to last week’s Youth Spring Camps, the excitement in the air was palpable. After more than a year of remote learning, we could not wait to see students tap into their...
Recommitting To Our Mission With Community Agreed Upon Goals
During a time in which racial and social justice movements are reaching a critical point, the need for change and commitment to equity is more obvious and important than ever before....
9 Ways You Can Support The AAPI Community
The Crucible recognizes that recent violence against the AAPI community is not an isolated series of events, but rather an escalation of long-standing anti-Asian sentiments. The...
For McClymonds High School Students, In-Person Crucible Classes Offer A Respite
After more than a year of remote learning, students are struggling to find focus at home. Here in West Oakland, McClymonds High School has seen an uptick in absences as students...
Earn-A-Bike 2021 Program Gives West Oakland Youth New Confidence
For more than a decade, West Oakland students ages 10-18 have been participating in our Earn-A-Bike Program, learning free bike mechanics while fixing up two frames. Upon finishing...
A New Wood Shop Opens The Door For More Creative Opportunities
Our Woodworking classes are some of our most varied and most popular. The department includes offerings in woodturning, woodworking, marquetry, hand carving—but doesn’t have the...
Centro Community Partners Helps Program Graduates Small Business Dreams Flourish
Starting a small business is always a challenging task, but doing so during the pandemic makes it especially difficult. Artists, crafters, and makers have spent the last year...
Your Guide To April-June 2021 Adult Classes Is Here
It's been a minute, but The Crucible is back! We resumed classes this past Tuesday and it feels so great having our departments (safely) active again. In just the past week,...
5 Black History Month Stories Of Fine and Industrial Artists
This Black History Month, we collected five instances of inspiring black artists and artisans of the fine and industrial arts. We hope these stories will be a jumping off point for...
Free Earn A Bike Program Relaunching At The Crucible | Youth Ages 10-18 Encouraged To Apply
We are excited to be restarting our Earn-A-Bike Program this February 16, as a newly designed 4-week program, running Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3-6pm. The Crucible’s Bike Shop...
This Guide To 2021 Youth Camps Will Spark Your Camper’s Creativity
In a year where most students are participating in remote learning, hands-on opportunities for creativity and skill building are more important than ever. After our successful...