“This year, artwork by students are on display throughout the school, on every floor.”- Ariela Simon
Upon entering Oakland School for the Arts’ main entrance , the first thing you’ll see is a painting depicting young children juxtaposed in front of members of the Black Panther movement. The artwork was created by last year’s graduating seniors from OSA’s Visual Art department, to fulfill an assignment centered around social justice for the schoolwide “Heart of Oakland” show.
Visual Art teacher Bruna Wynn believes that “the assignment was an excellent way to focus on something that wasn’t included in our curriculum”. The Heart of Oakland piece, named “Oakland Legacy,” is not the only piece of art lining OSA’s previously plain halls either. This year, artwork by students are on display throughout the school, on every floor.
Looking at the pieces, it is evident how connected the school is to its home city. Life drawings of Oakland landmarks, such as charcoal landscapes of Snow Park (which can be found on the third floor), and pieces like “Oakland Feeds Us” (located in the second floor of the 18th street stairwell) celebrate Oakland’s diversity and multiculturalism.
“We try to be culturally responsive to our students and their backgrounds, which represent Oakland,” Wynn remarked. Because of the huge reaction to the Heart of Oakland show, Wynn says that one of Visual Art’s new main focuses is to develop interdisciplinary projects, involving other emphases. "Heart of Oakland had us do things in a very planned and organized way for Oakland,” she said, “and our heads were in that space anyway.”
This isn’t the first time that art has been displayed in the hallways. Last year, many students, as well as faculty members, were puzzled by bizarre words and phrases put up in seemingly random spots around the school. Some of the phrases were uplifting, while others referenced memes. Many, including Mr. Donn Harris, assumed that the phrases were graffiti, or a joke. Instead, they were actually an art project by Visual Arts, creating location-based art as a commentary on how we interact with our surroundings.
Unfortunately, confusion isn’t the only problem OSAVA has had to face while displaying their art—for years, art was not permitted in the hallways for fear of damaging the historic building. Even the aforementioned project was put a damper on, as they could only use tape, letters fell down quickly, ruining entire words and sentences.
However, it is evident throughout the plain sections of the halls, that while their preservation was a top priority for previous administrators, it clearly has never been for the students. The white walls are gouged, stained, and dirty from years of abuse. As soon as Facilities Manager Paul Schultz gave the go-ahead at the end of last year, Wynn asked the students to leave work they wanted up in the halls at school over the summer.
In the past few years, OSAVA has experienced somewhat of a slump when it comes to representation around the school. For an emphasis that deals in solid materials and well, visual art, there was previously a surprising lack of representation throughout OSA. Now, things are finally changing. “It’s empowering for students to see their own work in the hallways,” Wynn said. “The first time I was in the building, I was looking around the hallways like ‘where is the art?’” For years, other than the huge quilt pieces that have been hanging in the student center, Visual Arts has been far from the spotlight at OSA.
Finally, our hallways are no longer plain. When asked what was next for Visual Arts and the OSA hallways, Wynn talked about her desire to have students paint murals on approved sections of the hallways. The blank white walls might soon be a thing of the past.
To see more of OSAVA’s work check out their website or, go to their show in the White Box during October 14th and 15th.
This isn’t the first time that art has been displayed in the hallways. Last year, many students, as well as faculty members, were puzzled by bizarre words and phrases put up in seemingly random spots around the school. Some of the phrases were uplifting, while others referenced memes. Many, including Mr. Donn Harris, assumed that the phrases were graffiti, or a joke. Instead, they were actually an art project by Visual Arts, creating location-based art as a commentary on how we interact with our surroundings.
Unfortunately, confusion isn’t the only problem OSAVA has had to face while displaying their art—for years, art was not permitted in the hallways for fear of damaging the historic building. Even the aforementioned project was put a damper on, as they could only use tape, letters fell down quickly, ruining entire words and sentences.
However, it is evident throughout the plain sections of the halls, that while their preservation was a top priority for previous administrators, it clearly has never been for the students. The white walls are gouged, stained, and dirty from years of abuse. As soon as Facilities Manager Paul Schultz gave the go-ahead at the end of last year, Wynn asked the students to leave work they wanted up in the halls at school over the summer.
In the past few years, OSAVA has experienced somewhat of a slump when it comes to representation around the school. For an emphasis that deals in solid materials and well, visual art, there was previously a surprising lack of representation throughout OSA. Now, things are finally changing. “It’s empowering for students to see their own work in the hallways,” Wynn said. “The first time I was in the building, I was looking around the hallways like ‘where is the art?’” For years, other than the huge quilt pieces that have been hanging in the student center, Visual Arts has been far from the spotlight at OSA.
Finally, our hallways are no longer plain. When asked what was next for Visual Arts and the OSA hallways, Wynn talked about her desire to have students paint murals on approved sections of the hallways. The blank white walls might soon be a thing of the past.
To see more of OSAVA’s work check out their website or, go to their show in the White Box during October 14th and 15th.
