The Crucible
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The Crucible By Debra Hannula, KABF Board Chair Kelly Ann Brown Foundation Director Eric Martincavage recently moved to Oakland. Out jogging one day, Eric literally ran right into The Crucible. Eric’s enthusiasm for this non-profit made the rest of the board excited and curious. Here’s how he explained it: “I walked in off the street and was blown away by what I saw. The energy was contagious. I learned welding as one of the many tricks of the trade in the United States Coast Guard, so to see kids learning and using it to create amazing artwork really made my day.” We couldn’t just take his word for it. Kelly Ann Brown Foundation organized a site visit to this Oakland gem. The space is huge. A 56,000 square-foot warehouse that sounds and feels like a humming hive—every inch efficiently filled with artists busy as bees. There’s a bicycle repair nook, a jewelry making cranny, a welding alcove, a corner for blacksmithing, a glass blowing niche and oh wait, another welding area. It just goes on and on. We met a group of teens absorbed in their welding class. With a quick nod of acknowledgment to us, they went back to listening intently to their instructor. We later learned these kids had been coming to The Crucible since they were 12 years old—that’s six straight years! Their dedication was proof enough that this was a unique non-profit. The Crucible is a not-for-profit educational facility that unites the Arts, Industry and Community into one. As their mission statement explains: The Crucible promotes creative expression, reuse of materials and innovative design while serving as an accessible arts venue for the general public. The Crucible works to break down barriers for those who perceive the industrial arts as inaccessible. It fosters a sense of belonging for its students and community members and helps them to create rich connections and to support one another through the process of creative development. Crucible classes, camps, workshops and events have been attended by thousands of Bay Area adults and kids. The Crucible offers a unique space for youth ages eight and older to develop and explore their creativity while learning science, technology, engineering and math. The Crucible has so much to offer. I encourage everyone to check out their website and take a site tour. Words just can’t do this place justice! |