West Oakland Youth Chop Shop Bicycles in the Name of Art
The Crucible Hosts Its Fourth-Annual Youth Frame Alteration Workshop.
Oakland, CA, October 28, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Crucible (www.thecrucible.org) will be hosting ten youth ages 12 and older for its wildly popular Youth Frame Alteration Workshop where youth learn to customize their own bicycle. For three weeks, beginning in October, students will learn basic fabrication skills in MIG welding, Oxy/Acetylene torch cutting and finishing techniques, along with general and specific safety training necessary to reconstruct their bicycles. They will strip the bicycle frames, redesigning and altering handlebars, rims, seat posts and frames to create a hip, one-of-a-kind look that will make them the talk of the neighborhood. This workshop is sponsored through foundation grants and offered to our local youth free of charge.
This workshop started three years ago as privately funded project that gave several students who had previously learned basic bike mechanic and welding skills the opportunity to design and fabricate their own unique bicycle. The small group debuted their remarkable rides at The Crucible’s 2007 Fall Open House to wild applause and amazement, as well as requests for more advanced bike classes. Over 60 youth have participated in this amazing program.
Over the last few years, The Crucible’s Bike Program has become the organization’s most popular community outreach program, teaching youth basic bike mechanics through the Earn A Bike Program, and sponsoring regular Bike Fix-A-Thons for cyclists in our West Oakland community. “The Bike Frame Alteration class is the next progression for youth who have moved beyond beginning bike mechanic skills towards intermediate skills,” says Carla Hall, Crucible’s Youth and Community Program Manager. “We’re so pleased to now be able to offer these advanced bike classes to a wider group of youth.”
Beatriz Cuevas, youth participant stated, “The things I learned will help me in my life because I can use these skills to build a bike in the future. I can use these skills to do art, later on. I learned that communication is important when you work with others and that you learn about others when you work as a team.”
About The Crucible
The Crucible is a non-profit arts education center that fosters a collaboration of arts, industry and community by teaching and showcasing fire, metal, glass and light art. Founded in 1999, The Crucible offers more than 500 classes to nearly 5,000 students annually in everything from bronze casting to neon, welding, glass working, blacksmithing, fire dancing, textiles and woodworking. Visit our website for more information: www.thecrucible.org.
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This workshop started three years ago as privately funded project that gave several students who had previously learned basic bike mechanic and welding skills the opportunity to design and fabricate their own unique bicycle. The small group debuted their remarkable rides at The Crucible’s 2007 Fall Open House to wild applause and amazement, as well as requests for more advanced bike classes. Over 60 youth have participated in this amazing program.
Over the last few years, The Crucible’s Bike Program has become the organization’s most popular community outreach program, teaching youth basic bike mechanics through the Earn A Bike Program, and sponsoring regular Bike Fix-A-Thons for cyclists in our West Oakland community. “The Bike Frame Alteration class is the next progression for youth who have moved beyond beginning bike mechanic skills towards intermediate skills,” says Carla Hall, Crucible’s Youth and Community Program Manager. “We’re so pleased to now be able to offer these advanced bike classes to a wider group of youth.”
Beatriz Cuevas, youth participant stated, “The things I learned will help me in my life because I can use these skills to build a bike in the future. I can use these skills to do art, later on. I learned that communication is important when you work with others and that you learn about others when you work as a team.”
About The Crucible
The Crucible is a non-profit arts education center that fosters a collaboration of arts, industry and community by teaching and showcasing fire, metal, glass and light art. Founded in 1999, The Crucible offers more than 500 classes to nearly 5,000 students annually in everything from bronze casting to neon, welding, glass working, blacksmithing, fire dancing, textiles and woodworking. Visit our website for more information: www.thecrucible.org.
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Contact
The Crucible
Jennifer Harrity
510-444-0919 Ext. 123
www.thecrucible.org
Jennifer Harrity
510-444-0919 Ext. 123
www.thecrucible.org
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