Second Phase of "100 Families Oakland: Art & Social Change" Underway in Oakland's Chinatown
Project will culminate with exhibition August 27–28
San Francisco, June 23, 2005
Twenty-five Oakland families begin the second phase of 100 Families Oakland: Art & Social Change, a multi-phase community art project, on Thursday, June 23, at 5:00 p.m. at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center at 388 Ninth Street.
The families will meet with professional artists and students from California College of the Arts (CCA) for 10 consecutive Thursdays to create individual art projects and collaborate with the other families to produce a collective public artwork. On August 27 and 28, the families' artwork will be exhibited to the public at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in conjunction with the Chinatown Streetfest. The project's lead artist is Christine Wong and additional artists include Stellie Kim, Nicole Chan and Nitya Venkaswaran.
One hundred families from four Oakland neighborhoods (East Oakland, Chinatown, Fruitvale and West Oakland) are participating in the yearlong project. Venture capitalist F. Noel Perry conceived and funded the project, which is being facilitated by the CCA Center for Art and Public Life. The project's purpose is to demonstrate and celebrate the power of families, the creative spirit of Oakland and how art connects families to families, families to neighborhoods and neighborhoods to neighborhoods. Participants learn about art while they create family-themed paintings, drawings, sculptures and prints. Individual exhibitions feature the artwork of each of the communities. The project will culminate in an all-neighborhood exhibition in June 2006.
The first exhibition of artwork created by 25 East Oakland families is currently on display at Oakland's Gallery 555 through July 29. On view are prints, paintings, ceramic pieces, murals, masks, body casts and banners created by adults, youth and children. Each piece is a reflection of the family and the community in which they live.
"To date, the program has exceeded expectations. The time spent together as a family and community is reflected in the completion of artwork from the first phase, created by East Oakland families," said F. Noel Perry, creative director, artist and social entrepreneur. "We encourage people to visit the exhibition at Gallery 555 and know that moving forward, the 100 Families Oakland project will have the same impact in Chinatown, Fruitvale and West Oakland."
"We're excited to be starting in Chinatown this month," said Sonia BasSheva Mañjon, director of the CCA Center for Art and Public Life. "We've seen the project create stronger connections within and between families. We hope this experience also encourages all families to work together to address challenges that affect the greater community."
Oakland families who would like to participate in 100 Families Oakland in Fruitvale and West Oakland should contact the CCA Center for Art and Public Life at 510.594.3763.
Timeline
East Oakland
* June 16–July 29, 2005: East Oakland families exhibit artwork at Gallery 555 in Oakland's City Center
Chinatown
* June 2005: 25 Chinatown neighborhood families begin project at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center
* August 27 and 28, 2005: In conjunction with the Chinatown Streetfest, 100 Families Oakland unveils its second public art piece and exhibition at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center
Fruitvale
* August 2005: 25 Fruitvale neighborhood families begin project at the Unity Council Senior Center in Fruitvale Plaza
* November 2, 2005: In conjunction with the Dia de Los Muertos, 100 Families Oakland unveils its third public art piece and exhibition
West Oakland
* November 2005: 25 West Oakland neighborhood families begin project with Art Esteem at the West Oakland YWCA
* February 2006: 100 Families Oakland unveils its fourth and final public art piece and exhibition
Collective Public Art Exhibition
* June 2006: Final art pieces created by all families displayed at an Oakland location to be determined
100 Families Oakland: Art & Social Change is sponsored by KPFA-AM, CBS5 and the Oakland Tribune.
For more information, to participate or to make a donation, please visit www.cca.edu/center or call 510.594.3763.
About the Center for Art and Public Life
The Center for Art and Public Life at California College of the Arts is at the intersection of art, education and community. Connecting art and design with community development, the Center for Art and Public Life enriches education and artistic practice at California College of the Arts. Its mission is to create community partnerships based on creative practice that serve the CCA community and the diverse populations of Oakland and San Francisco. For more information, please visit center.cca.edu or call 510.594.3763.
About the College
Founded in 1907, California College of the Arts (formerly California College of Arts and Crafts) is the largest regionally accredited, independent school of art and design in the western United States. Noted for the interdisciplinary nature and breadth of its programs, CCA offers studies in 19 undergraduate and 6 graduate majors in the areas of fine arts, architecture, design and writing. The college offers the bachelor of fine arts, bachelor of arts, bachelor of architecture, master of fine arts, master of arts and master of architecture degrees. With campuses in Oakland and San Francisco, CCA currently enrolls 1,500 full-time students.
Editors, please note: to arrange interviews and site tours or to access photos and b-roll, contact Kim Lessard at 415.703.9547 or klessard@cca.edu.