Celeste Flores fell in love with blacksmithing in art school, but it wasn’t until she came to The Crucible that she decided to become a full-time metalworker. “I’ve been rejected for my appearance and for being unconventional and in those environments, I wasn’t able to thrive,” she says. But The Crucible was a welcoming and supportive place for her, both as an artist and an entrepreneur.
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 effort by our vendors leading up to GIFTY fully paid off. The wide range of beautiful and hand-crafted goods, from jewelry to candles to embroidery kits, were the best and brightest collection we've ever had! Check out our favorite GIFTY 2019 photos from the event!
There are few Marc MacDonalds in the world. He was equal parts compassionate and ambitious, and endlessly giving. After a 30 year career in the Coast Guard, followed by a 13-year career in the private sector, we struck gold when Marc began donating his time to our studio in early 2014 and quickly became an integral part of our Bike Shop’s team. A self-proclaimed fixer, Marc loved tackling the most difficult bike donations, even taking frames home to do extra work after hours.
For most makers, November is high production time, and that is no different for Latisha Baker. This year, she’ll be returning for her third GIFTY craft show at The Crucible. About a year-and-a-half ago, Latisha committed to making art full time, but she’s been creating fine and wearable art for the past two decades.
The holidays come complete with cozy activities and quality time with loved ones. But sometimes, finding the perfect gift can be stressful. Thankfully, we know a way you can enjoy the best parts of the holiday season and leave the stress of gift-giving behind.
At GIFTY 2019, dozens of leading East Bay artists, craftspeople, and Crucible faculty members will be selling their best handmade pieces in a holiday celebration of local creative culture. You are sure to find the perfect gifts for the toughest people on your list with vendors showcasing exquisite pieces of jewelry, locally designed clothing and accessories, whimsical metal sculptures, practical ceramic tableware, and more!
Get your guide to 2020 member registration with our Volume 1 Catalog Awards, highlighting the best and brightest of our latest offerings.
Making perfectly identical ceramics by hand can be a challenge. But with a plaster mold, ceramicists can make endless duplicates of their work. Slip casting is often used for production pottery or replicating highly detailed pieces, but that doesn't mean it's not for the novice potter or sculptor. Slip casting is a great way to get more familiar with the properties of clay and build on existing ceramic experience.
Keep an eye out for our 2020 Volume 1 Catalog due in your mailbox any day! Here is your advanced look at all of our classes running now through March, with additional listings for Youth Spring and Summer Camps and adult weeklong classes through August.
What did you do this summer? For most people, we’d guess plans didn’t include taking seven industrial arts classes. But for 13-year-old Jada, that’s exactly what her summer looked like. Even though she’d never been to The Crucible before, Jada dove in headfirst at the suggestion of her mom who wanted her to do something fun during summer break.