NEW! Forgewelding Class at The Crucible (events » arts) Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 10:00 AM This advanced blacksmithing skill has long been the mark of “expert status” in metal working. For centuries it was the only way to weld steel and iron, most commonly being used for pattern welding blades and knives. Now the Crucible makes this skill available to you, with an intensive 2-day class that covers all the fundamentals of this ancient method. You will learn the process of repeatedly drawing out a billet of steel, then folding it back and welding it upon itself, the importance of flux, and finishing techniques.

For more info on other blacksmithing classes, and to register, visit: www.thecrucible.org/classes/...ksmithing

Introduction to Rubber Moldmaking for Jewelry (events » arts) Saturday, October 24, 2009 - 10:00 AM Want to make multiple copies of your jewelry? Here's a one-day workshop that will show you how -- just in time to gear up for those holiday fairs and gift shows! With vulcanized rubber molds, you can make wax models for the reproduction of original jewelry. The class will explore the basics of two-part molds, including hot and cold molding methods. You will make at least one vulcanized silicone rubber mold. Bring at least two original small-scale metal pieces to reproduce.
www.thecrucible.org/classes/jewelry

Get up close & personal with fire at The Crucible (events » arts) Saturday, October 31, 2009 - 3:30 PM Get ready to heat up your holidays with a new trick or two. Learn from the pyro-pros at The Crucible in these hot classes:

Fearless Fire Eating: Oct. 31-Nov. 1; 3:30-5:30 PM -- Learn the basics and make your own torches; a few slots available, but they go fast.
Dragon Breath: Oct. 31-Nov. 1; 4-6PM -- Learn how to breathe fire and make a real statement! Only 2 spaces left
Introduction to Fire Staff: Nov. 2-30, Mondays 6:30-8PM -- You'll learn how to dance safely with a flaming staff, and make one of your own for practice.

For more information on these and other fire performance classes, and to register, visit on line:
www.thecrucible.org/classes/...rformance

The Crucible's Holiday Gifty Art Sale (events » arts) Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 10:00 AM Where would you rather be two weeks before Christmas: fighting the crowds in a mall or browsing an art show?
On Saturday and Sunday, December 12th and 13th, The Crucible hosts its annual Gifty Holiday Art Sale, likely to be the Bay Area’s most unusual shopping experience. At Gifty you can shop for handcrafted holiday gifts while experiencing art in action in The Crucible’s vast West Oakland studio space where furnaces roar, sparks fly, and imagination runs wild.

Whatever holiday you celebrate, a visit to The Crucible will definitely spark it up with hands-on activities, family-friendly fire performers, and seasonal treats throughout the day. It’s a Crucible tradition for Santa to arrive in a most untraditional way, and elves and circus performers are on hand to welcome guests. Gifty Raffle tickets will be available for a chance to win Crucible classes and lots of other great gifts, with proceeds benefiting The Crucible’s arts education and community programs. Shop ‘til you drop among a wide array of unique gift items created by over 70 talented Bay Area artisans, while ongoing demonstrations illustrate many of the processes the artists used to create their work, like glass blowing, metal casting, and blacksmithing. Shoppers can choose from handmade jewelry, paper products, glass creations, sculpture, clothing, ceramics and more. In addition to items for sale, there will also be an exhibition of eclectic creations by noted artists working in metal, glass, wood, and multimedia. For a list of this year’s vendors, check our website: www.thecrucible.org/events/o...ouse/304.

The Crucible’s open house is intended not just to help out last-minute holiday shoppers, but also to ignite their own creativity and get them inspired to make art of their own. Demonstrations offer a rare chance to see how fire and silica fuse to make gem-like glass, or how metal is forged into one-of-a-kind creations. Visitors of all ages can find out about classes and workshops where they can learn the skills to create their own gifts next year…or just explore and express their creativity.

Though The Crucible is best known for its spectacular special events such as the annual Fire Arts Festival and their innovative Fire Ballets and Fire Operas, events are only a small part of what goes on at this Oakland-based art center and school of industrial and fire arts. Through its hundreds of classes, The Crucible promotes creative expression, reuse of materials, and innovative design. Shoppers who are interested in learning new skills can pick up a class schedule for the winter and spring sessions as they browse and explore over 56,000 square feet of studio space.

If you are an artist interested in vending at Gifty, the deadline to apply is November 3rd. For info and application, visit: www.thecrucible.org/events/o...house/303