Curtis Arima (Jewelry / Metal Arts 1998, now Jewelry / Metal Arts faculty)

My studio is in the Sawtooth Building in West Berkeley. It is a historic structure, built to house the Kawneer Company factory in 1913, and then later home to the Sealy Mattress Company.

I specialize in ancient jewelry and metalworking practices that are no longer in widespread use in industry because of their time-consuming nature. I want to honor their history and continue their legacy while having a contemporary conversation.

Even though my studio is divided into a retail space and a making space, the "threshold" is transparent; the intent is for people who visit the retail space to be able to see and connect with my processes of making and understand more about what they are looking at and buying.

The studio is definitely an extension of my artistic brain. The aesthetic and functional aspects are totally intertwined. This is also exciting when clients and the public come in, as it allows them access to parts of my artistic process that they'd otherwise never see.

Photography by Andria Lo

Zarouhie Abdalian (MFA 2010)

My West Oakland studio is in a bright, sunlit space that I share with five other artists. I've been in this studio since graduating from CCA. Most of my artworks happen at sites, so I use the studio space to do research and test materials.

A large drafting table is the most important component. I've used it for the last decade, and before that, it belonged to my great-great-uncle Sebou Shields, who ran a machine and metal fabrication shop. I like to keep my workspace open and walls empty, but I allow my drafting table to be in a state of flux.

Photography by Andria Lo

Earlier this month, CCA alumna Amber Clisura took over the Oakland Metro Opera house to debut her line of Salt Clothing in a fashion show, featuring local Bay Area designers.

Maghan McDowell, who writes for the Style section of the San Francisco Chronicle's Style section was there to capture the event.

Read the feature »

It was a CCA lovefest at the AIA San Francisco Design Awards 2013 on Thursday evening, April 25.

Every year AIASF and the local architectural community gather to celebrate exceptional projects. The gala honors the best of Bay Area architectural design and recognizes achievement in a broad range of architectural work.