New Programming for 2017-18 at The Crucible!

The Crucible is scheduling new classes for the upcoming academic year! They offer a unique and fun learning experience for youth between ages 8 and 18. Youth classes explore blacksmithing, welding, woodworking, glass blowing, ceramics, and other arts. Students can apply what they’ve learned here—creative problem solving, scientific principles and teamwork—at school and beyond. The Crucible’s noncompetitive environment lets students choose their own direction, not just copy what the teachers demonstrate. Kids make something in every class that they take home at the end of the course.

If you are interested in a course listed below or learning more about The Crucible in general, contact Ben in The Center.

Available Courses:

Blacksmithing (5-10 students). Heat metal to a glowing red and then pound it into exciting shapes on an anvil, often depicted in movies with the making of swords and the shoeing of horses. In this workshop, students will hand forge a bracelet in three hours or a medieval looking clothing hook in four hours.

Enameling (4-6 students). Discover the ancient art of fusing glass to metal. Students learn to fuse glass powders onto metal, usually copper or steel to create a functional coaster. The glass powders can be transparent or opaque to create complex designs. No previous jewelry making, enameling, or metalworking experience necessary.

Foundry: Aluminum Sand Casting (5-8 students). Learn how to cast aluminum shapes in sand molds. Using sand-carving techniques, participants create a mold with foundry sand. Molten aluminum is then poured into the mold to create a positive aluminum casting.

Foundry: Adventures in Sand Casting (5-8 students, three 3-hour workshop minimum and has additional cost). In this introduction to foundry processes, you’ll turn your ideas into cast-metal sculptures as you learn the basics of metal casting. Students will make a sculpture, create a mold in resin-bonded sand, and then watch as molten aluminum is poured into their mold. Once their piece has cooled, they will open the mold to reveal their very own unique, finished sculpture!

Glass Cast Sculpture (4-8 students, three 3-hour workshop minimum). Use clay and wax to create a positive form, such as a starfish, and then transform it into a glass sculpture. Students learn how to sculpt wax or clay and create molds using plaster and silica. Molten glass from a kiln will be poured into the molds, resulting in a clear or colored glass duplicate of the clay original.

Glass Flameworking (5-7 students). Create beautiful glass ornaments, pendants, marbles, and more! Students will learn how to use tools and equipment like an oxy-propane torch to melt and shape glass with confidence. A variety of techniques including color pulling and applying, color pattern application and marble making will be covered.

Glass Fusing (5-8 students). Glass fusing is a technique with incredible potential for creating colorful imagery. Cut and shaped glass are assembled to create an image then melted together in a kiln. In this workshop, students learn glass cutting and shaping skills to create a mosaic tile.

Creatures in Fused Glass (5-8 students). Create a variety of creatures and habitats in both warm and cold glass. In this multi-day workshop, students learn how to cut, shape and embellish glass using a variety of tools, molds and machines. 2D and 3D projects may include fused tiles, jewelry, treasure chests, wind chimes, cityscapes, toadstools, insects, and jellyfish. Students will be encouraged to choose projects based on their own interests.

Metal Jewelry (5-10 students). Make a fashion statement! Students will learn to anneal, cut, drill, hammer and texture copper or bronze to create a charm, pendant or key chain, zipper pull or card holder.

Exploration in Metal Jewelry (5-10 students). Make a fashion statement! Using copper, silver and other nonferrous metals, students will learn jewelry and metal art skills such as filing, sanding, texturing and polishing techniques. By the end of this exploration, each student will leave class wearing a jewelry creation of their own design.

Leather Working (5-8 students). Students will learn to cut, pierce, fold, stitch, and stain leather. Depending on the amount of time, cardholders, bracelets and even a wallet can be made.

ARC Welding (5-12 students, three 3-hour workshop minimum). Learn to fuse, cut, bend, and shape metal. This intensive introduction to stick welding (also known as ARC welding) and oxyacetylene torch cutting is taught by a technical pro. Indepth demonstrations and one-on-one guidance will be given on the safe and effective operation of welding equipment as students create a small welded sculpture or project.

MIG Welding/Plasma Cutting (4-7 students). Students learn the basics of wire-feed welding that is typically used in the fabrication of furniture, light construction and auto restoration. Plasma cutting is an amazing technique to cut out shapes in metal for negative space or pieces to be welded onto a larger metal project.

TIG Welding (4-7 students, minimum age of 14). TIG (tungsten inert gas) is a highly precise method of welding that makes clean and focused welds on everything from super-thing to very thick materials without losing the integrity of the metal. Students will get to work on a small figurine made out of bolts and miscellaneous scrap metal in a one-day workshop or a larger sculpture projects in a multi-day workshop.

Woodturning (3-5 students). Students learn the safe use of a wood lathe in which raw wood is spun and chisels are used to shape the wood. In a three-hour workshop, a spinning top can be made. In three (or more) days of three-hour workshops, a hammer or candlesticks can be made.

Frame Alteration: Art Bike (5-8 students, 20 hour minimum, minimum age of 14 and has additional cost). Customize your bicycle in this exciting workshop! Students learn basic fabrication skills in MIG welding, plasma cutting, grinding, and finishing to reconstruct their own bicycles. Frames will be stripped, and students will learn to redesign and alter handlebars, rims, seat posts, and frames to create unique look that will make them the talk of the neighborhood. Students are required to bring their own bicycle.

Glass Blowing (4-6 students, 6 hour minimum, minimum age of 14, and has additional cost). With supportive instruction in a team environment, students will learn to safely work with molten glass, gather glass from the furnace, apply colors, and shape and sculpt molten glass. Students should be prepared to work in the heat and will create a glass ornament or a solid and hollow pumpkin by the end of the workshop.

Hot Glass Sculpting (4-6 students, 5 hour minimum, minimum age of 14, and has additional cost). Participants learn the basics of hot glass sculpting (gathering, marvering, glass shaping). In a 5-hour workshop, participants can make a small pumpkin or similar item.

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