Attending open house, I was very impressed with the hands-on training being given in the use of all fire-related materials--including the less common, such as bending glass and creating neon signs and art work incorporating neon, jewelry and bronze casting--beautiful bells, with wonderful tone, ceramics, and of course the wonderful entertainment of fire dancing, the fire tornado and so much more. They also did a great job of repairing some silver dishes for me.
The Crucible is a dynamic, energizing and inclusive arts school where I learned how to harness my own creative energy. My first experience with The Crucible was in a welding class. The instructor was amazingly friendly and helpful, encouraging me to dive in to the class with excitement and enthusiasm. While there, I discovered that there are many exciting things to learn that I would have never had the opportunity to try without The Crucible. I went on to learn Blacksmithing, Metal Furniture Fabrication, Neon Sculpture, Glass Casting and even took a fire performance class called Fire Staff where I learned to spin a five feet long staff alight with fire on each end! While on my journey of learning, I got to know many of the faculty and staff who pour their souls into this organization. My involvement grew and eventually I became part of the Board of Directors. In my current role as Board President, I have had the opportunity to help this organization fulfill it's mission to provide inspiration and access to the arts to a wide variety of clients and audiences. I have also had the opportunity to grow as a person and to develop a deep sense of pride in my relationship to The Crucible and to all of the amazing people who make this organization and it's mission a vital part of the West oakland community and the wider community of artists in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Crucible is an amazing organization that provides facilities, education and a community for arts involving fire. The arts supported range from welding and blacksmithing to glass blowing and jewelry making - activities few of us can do at home. More importantly, the Crucible serves the West Oakland community in which it is located. Despite some recent gentrification, West Oakland is a neighborhood that struggles with many social ills including high rates of poverty and crime. The Crucible provides West Oakland youth with opportunities to master new skills and develop a sense of pride by building custom bicycles and participating in other youth programs. It periodically offers free bike repair, and lets West Oakland residents attend its amazing Fire Arts Festival free of charge.
The Crucible , like all great institutions, attracts the best people of their chosen field of practice to be there.
The courses are great - I have taken several. The atmosphere at The Crucible building is amazing. The events are spectatcular.
I love The Crucible for the diversity and commuity. It is an industrial arts hub, alive with constant creative activity and change. It provides wonderful opportunities for adults and youth to explore fire arts.
I first became aware of The Crucible's programs when i went as a spectator to their annual fundraiser, a production of Romeo & Juliet -- as a fire ballet. Astounded by the creative mixing of classical music, hip-hop, ballet, fire performance, glass and metal work, I vowed to learn more. A few months later, I attended their summer fundraising event, the Fire Arts Festival, and was again blown away by the ambitious production of The Odyssey and the array of art installations. When I found out that The Crucible was actually a school that taught skills in the fire and industrial arts, i was even more impressed: Clearly, this was an organization to get involved with --
