Education
1998 MFA: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1994 BFA: New York State College of Ceramics: School of Art & Design: Alfred University, NY – magna cum laude
1992 Studio de Sem Ghelardini, Pietrasanta (Luca) Italy – Artist in Residence
1992 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy – Honor Student
1990 Pitzer College, Claremont Colleges, Claremont, CA
2010 LeaderSpring Fellowship: 2 year leadership program for nonprofit executive directors
Selected Teaching
2012 Mechanical Engineering Design, Stanford University: ReDesigning Theater Fellowship
1999-current The Crucible Oakland, CA: metal and glass departments
1995-99 Civic Arts Center, Walnut Creek, CA: bronze casting, ceramic sculpture
1998 California College of Arts, Oakland, CA: sodium silicate sand molding
1998 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL: figurative metal sculpture
1997 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL : introduction to metal working
1997 Ox-Bow, Saugatuck, MI : iron casting
1997 The Evanston Art Center, Evanston, IL: forging and metal forming
1996 National Institute for Art & Disabilities, Richmond, CA: ceramics
1996 Xcentric Metal Works, Oakland, CA: welding, metal design & fabrication
1996 Studio One Art Center, Oakland, CA: stone carving, ceramics
1994-96 Bay Area Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA: ceramics, woodworking
1995 ASUC Art Studio at U.C. Berkeley, CA: clay carving & glass cullet glazing
1994 Mendocino Art Center, CA : sodium silicate bronze casting
1994 Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland, Oakland, CA: fine arts
1994 The Way of The Doll School, Emeryville, CA: figure sculpture
1992 Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy: marble carving
Selected Lectures
2012 LIU Lecture Series Graduate Design Program Stanford University, Stanford, CA
2011 World Conference on Mass Customization, Personalization, and Co-Creation
Haas School of Business University of California Berkeley
2009 “Art & Design” Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust Nairobi, Kenya
2007 “Kinetic Art ” The Learning Connexion Ltd Wellington, New Zealand
1999 “From Artist to Teacher to Director” Blasthaus Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1997 “Alternative Ceramic Techniques” The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1994 “Ceramic Sculpture Techniques” Mendocino Arts Center, Mendocino, CA
Selected Theatrical Productions
2010 “Heat” Fire Cabaret: The Crucible, Oakland, CA: Designer, director & producer
2009 “Dracul: Prince of Fire” Fire Ballet: The Crucible: Designer, director & producer
2008 “Firebird” Fire Ballet: The Crucible, Oakland, CA: Designer, director & producer
2007 “Romeo & Juliet” Fire Ballet: The Crucible, Oakland, CA: Designer, director & producer
2007 “The Fire Odyssey” Epic theatre: The Crucible: Designer, director & producer
2006 “Seven Deadly Sins” Fire Opera: The Crucible: Designer, co-director & producer
2004 “Dido & Aeneas” Fire Opera: The Crucible: Designer, co-director & producer
1999-2009 “Fire Arts Festivals” Annual event at The Crucible: Designer & producer
1999 “Machines of Metal & Light” Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA
1998 “Organsmatic & Mechanatomical Works” The Better Weimaraner Gallery, Chicago, IL
1995 “Signs of Life” Art Tech: Holmes Fine Art Gallery, San Jose, CA
1994 “Remains and Artifacts of A Dead Planet” NYSCC, School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
1991 “From Here to Reality” Garden Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA
1990 “In the Beginning” Salathe’ Gallery, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
2012 “Heartworks” The Exploritoritum After Dark, San Francisco, CA
2012 “Viscosity” Float Art Gallery, Oakland, CA
2011 “Relaunch” Varnish Fine Art, San Francisco, CA
2010 “Installation” California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
2009 “Illuminated Sculpture” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA
2008 “Molten Metal Opera” performance installation: de Young Museum, San Francisco, CA 2005 “Carpe Lumen” USF Thatcher Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1999 “RGB: Red, Green, Blue” San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), SF, CA
1999 “Faculty Exhibition” The Current Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1998 “The Form of Function” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
1998 “SOFA: Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition” Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
1998 “Trans Cinema Festival” Victoria Theatre, San Francisco, CA
1998 “Civic Arts Faculty Show” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Center, Walnut Creek, CA
1998 “Not in My Lobby, You Don’t!” Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL
1998 “Ferris Opus” International Cast Iron Art Conference, Johnson Atelier, NJ
1998 “Pier Walk maquette exhibit” Wood Street Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997 “SOFA: Sculptural Objects Functional Art Exposition” Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
1997 “Works in Sculpture” Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
1997 “Global Bodies” ZKM Center for Arts and Media, Karlsruhe, Germany
1997 “8th International Symposium of Electronic Arts” Chicago Art Institute Chicago, IL
1997 “Water Visions” A New Leaf Gallery, Berkeley, CA
1997 “Film Arts Foundation” Installation Minna Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1996 “Ceramics in Northern California” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, CA
1996 “SMART: South of Market Art. Rhythm & Technology” San Francisco, CA
1996 “Post Waste: An Imperative for the Near Future” Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA
1996 “Natural Phenomena” Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center, Walnut Creek, CA
1995 “Tech Bash: Artist Bashing Technology” Blasthaus, San Francisco, CA
1995 “Beyond Boundaries” The Ebell Garden Center, Festival at The Lake, Oakland, CA
1993 “Studio Access to Glass” West End Gallery, Corning, NY
1992 “Honors Exhibition” Ginori Gallery, Studio Art Centers International, Florence, Italy
1992 “Designer Showcase” Villa Del Ensueno, Orinda, CA
1992 “WORLDESIGN 92” Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA
1990 “Communication of Form” McConnell Center, Pitzer College, Claremont, CA
Awards & Honors
2007 World Land Speed Record: Motorcycle on B100% bio-diesel, Bonneville Salt Flats, UT
1998 Absolut Au Kurant Juried Invitational Merit Award, Chicago, IL
1998 Dussek Campbell-Yates Shaping the Future Award, Chicago, IL
1998 Edward L. Rhyerson Fellowship Award The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
1996 Jury Award Bedford Gallery, Dean Lesher Regional Center for the Arts, CA
1994 Olin Award: F.W. Olin College of Business, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
1994 Departmental Honors: The School of Art & Design, NYSCC, Alfred, NY
1993 Jury Award for outstanding media articulation: School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
1992 Award for excellence in sculpture: S.A.C.I., Florence, Italy
Selected Permanent Collections
2012 Corporate collection: Fleenor Paper Company, Alameda CA
2009 The Olsen private collection, Oakland, CA
2006 Laurel District: Designed street furniture, The City of Oakland, CA
2005 The Lyon private collection, Mendocino, CA
1999 Longmont United Hospital Commission, Denver, CO
1998 Burmah Castrol House, Swindon, England, UK
1998 Aldo Castillo Gallery, Chicago, IL
1996 The City of Walnut Creek, Civic Park, Walnut Creek, CA
1996 Pro Arts Gallery, Oakland, CA
1994 The International Museum of Ceramic Art: School of Art & Design, Alfred, NY
1994 F.W. Olin College of Business, Alfred University, Alfred, NY
1994 Landmark College, Putney VT
Selected Reviews
1999 Artweek “Michael Sturtz at blasthaus” November Vol. 30, # 11, p. 18-19.
1999 San Francisco Chronicle “Arts Afire” Friday, July 9, Cover & p. 2 EB
1999 Oakland Tribune “Metal sculptor makes dream of arts school a reality” Fri. March 19, p.1,5
1998 San Francisco Chronicle “Those Who Teach Also Create” Friday, July 10 p. 2 cc
1998 Contra Costa Times: “Art keeps pulsing at gallery” Thursday, July 16, Cover & p. 3.
1998 Diablo Arts “The Art of Teaching Art” July-September, p. 35-36.
1998 Chicago Reader ”Galleries & Museums” May 29, Vol 34, Section 2, p. 21.
1998 Contra Costa Times “Exhibits” May 22, p.34.
1998 Chicago Reader “Public Displays: Designing a Disturbance” May 21, Vol 33, p. 19 & 43.
1997 MicroSoft NBC “The Site” (Television review)
1997 SF Weekly “Symbio-Mechanisis: Artificial Life Art” October 2-6, p. 53-54.
1996 Artweek “Natural Phenomena at the Bedford Gallery” June Vol. 27, # 6, p. 19-21.
1996 San Francisco Bay Guardian “Critic’s Choice” June 19- 25, Vol 30, # 38, p. 101.
1996 Benicia Herald “Unearthing what we’d rather leave buried” June 13, p. A3.
1996 Diablo Arts “Back to Nature” April-June, p. 26-29, 48.
1996 Contra Costa Times: “Art takes on a natural look ” April 11, Cover & p. 3.
1996 Metro Arts “Digging Up the Future” January 4-10; p. 31.
1996 Mac Home Journal “Blasthaus The Real Deal” January; p. 142.
1995 MAS moda “art seen” holiday; p. 48.
1995 c/net central (T.V. Interview/ Internet site) USA network, Sci- Fi Channel & KPIX 5
1995 The Oakland Tribune Thursday, September 7; cover & Cue 1,5.
1994 The Montclarion Friday, June 2; cover & p. 3.
1993 San Francisco Examiner Magazine Sunday May 7; p. 18-19.
1992 Northern California Home & Garden May; p. 105, 126-127.
Selected Employment
Stanford University Design Program: June 2012 – Current
Project Director: ReDesigning Theater: The project will identify and define the elements
necessary to create and launch a new artistic genre of live performance appealing to the
20-to 35-year-old demographic. http://redesigningtheater.com
Lecturer: Mechanical Engineering Design
The Crucible: $3 Million budget Non profit industrial arts education facility, theater, and gallery
Founder / Executive Director http://www.thecrucible.org/
January 1999 – January 2010 (Creative Director: January 2010 – January 2011)
• Conceived of and founded The Crucible. Designed its image, brand, and identity
• Raised over 8 million dollars from individuals and corporate sponsors
• Cultivated and maintained critical social, political, governmental and community relationships
• Designed educational programs that serve over 8,000 youth & adult students annually
• Pioneered, designed, directed, budgeted, fundraised, and produced interdisciplinary,
collaborative benefit performances serving over 25,000 guests annually
• Designed two complete Crucible facilities with classrooms, work spaces, and a theater that
maximize visitor flow and accessibility. Worked directly with architects, engineers and city zoning
and building officials while project managing building contractors and suppliers
• Developed strategic vision while overseeing the creation and implementation of the marketing,
public relations, development and communications plans
• Recruited, hired, trained, supervised, mentored, and evaluated 30 staff members, 90 faculty,
and oversaw the managing of the 800 volunteers annually.
• Updated and reported directly to the board of directors monthly.
• Initiated, negotiated & led collaborative partnerships with multiple agencies on complex projects
• Built strong alliances with numerous state, county, city officials and agencies, civic leaders,
community organizations, stakeholders, and trade unions inspired them to work together
• Developed and oversaw the annual organizational budget of $3 million, as well as individual
program and project budgets; maintained spending on budget.
• Cultivated supportive contacts with local and national television, radio, magazine & web media
• Acted as the principal public and media spokesperson and promoter
• Solicited, quoted and managed commissioned projects and an entrepreneurial product line
Voltage Metal Works: Owner, Designer and Fabricator
1994 – current
• Architectural works in metal, wood, glass & etc. work for a variety of clients, architects &
engineers
• Custom lighting, ornamental ironwork, furniture, hardware, automotive and motorcycle
customizations
KID Group LLC: Prototype Builder and Shop Manager
Product Design top 10 invention group with over 250 licensed products
1989 – 1990
• Created product prototypes and designs for a variety of products, including children’s toys to
food packaging, and health care products to personal electronics.
Consulting: Organizational & program development, facility design, user experience design
2004 – current
• Kitengela Glass Research and Training Trust Nairobi, Kenya
• The Learning Connexion Ltd Wellington, New Zealand
• Gunn Hill: Creative Center for the Arts and Sustainability, Panama
• Palos Talleres de Arte Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• The Gasyard Development Trust Derry, Northern Ireland
• LOCS (Literacy Ontario – Central South) Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
• RepairPal Car Care Confidence: Emeryville, California
• Mayor’s Office City of Everett Everett, Washington State
• Tek.Venture Incorporated Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Fallbrook School for the Arts Fallbrook, California
• Nimbus Arts St. Helena, California
• Project Knew Grove Half Moon Bay, California