These are the products of Karen Cusolito and the sculptors of the space she manages — American Steel Studios — within the former American Steel building at 20th and Mandela Parkway.
Ms. Cusolito began working in a small space within the nearly vacant American Steel building in 2005. In 2009, she signed a lease on the entire 6 acre property and has been running "American Steel Studios, LLC," which provides studio and gallery space to over 100 artists, innovators and small green businesses, ever since. American Steel is an incubator of creative cross-pollination and inspiration for innovators focused on art, sustainability and cultural enrichment.
Of late, American Steel artists participated in the first "Oakland art ride;" Amsteel artists exhibited in a new space in the Oakland Art Murmur; and Cusolito recently had an opening on Market Street, San Francisco, with two sculptures from "The Infinitarium." She has been approached by several Oakland neighborhoods and communities to bring large scale art to their neighborhoods, and is working towards the production of a "trade show" type of event, focusing on re-use and green innovation.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and Massachusetts College of Art, Ms. Cusolito's thesis focused on public art, specifically in public transit environments, and the long term benefit of the percent-for-arts program for cultural enrichment. She has produced several public art installations in and around the Boston area, including permanent murals and three-dimensional wall sculptures.
After relocating to the Bay Area in 1996 in search of a wider creative horizons, Ms. Cusolito has been producing monumental sculptures which have enjoyed installations on The Embarcadero and in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, CA, The Institute for Solar Living, Hopland, CA, and Cardwell, North Queensland Australia, along with numerous events such as The Dumbo Arts Festival, The Makers Faire, The Fire Arts Festival, Burning Man, Electric Daisy Carnival, Nocturnal and Outside Lands. She will soon be exhibiting two monumental sculptures on Market Street, as part of the Artery's Lights on Market program, and other pieces in the 2011 San Francisco Marathon, a new local music venue and the 2011 EarthDance Festival.
To learn more about American Steel Studios, you can see their website at americansteelstudios.com, or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
