Art Across the Island

Over 6,500 works of student art have been displayed since Art Across the Island began in 2016. Every Alameda public school has participated in the program and locations including small businesses such as Books Inc., Lilac Dress Boutique, See Spot Run, all three of our city libraries, the College of Alameda library and the K Gallery at Rhythmix Cultural Works.

In 2018 Art Beyond Our Island sent 300 pieces of student artwork to schools impacted by the Camp Fire.

Please stop by and view student art at these locations:

Original art by Love third graders is in the Children’s Section of the Main Library. In an amazing lesson plan, students put flat canvases on easels and painted like professional artists. They were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms and learned about the artist and Post-Impressionism. Van Gogh’s painting has tree blanches against a blue background, students instead used bold red in a nod to Valentine’s Day. The branches are in contrasting brown, gray and black and blossoms in pink and white.
Teacher: Caylan Rodriguez. Art Docent: Katie Connell.

Location: Children’s Section, Main Library
1550 Oak Street
On Display Until: April 29, 2025

Bay Farm students love to read as is evident in the book posters made by 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. Some of the posters were made by individuals, but many were a group effect of up to three children. Younger students drew picture books like GrumpyMonkey and Mo Willems’ hilarious Pigeon series. Older students captured popular novels. Magic abounds in The Girl Who Swallowed the Moon, as well as Harry Potter. Adventure can be found in The Wild Robot, the Fablehaven books and The Land of Stories. Lebron James’ We Are Family tells the story of middle schoolers who work to save their after school basketball team the Hoop Group. Thanks goes to librarian Kim Chaney.

Location: Bay Farm Island Library,
3221 Mecartney Rd
On Display Until: April 29, 2025

Painted fabric soft sculptures, by Wood Middle School 8th graders, offer an amazing 3D abstract art experience. Students bent metal wire into twisting shapes to make a frame. Nylons were stretched between the wire and then coated with gesso primer, which allowed the students to paint the many-sided surfaces of their sculptures. In addition to using contrasting colors and designs, the Wood students let their imaginations go wild by hiding tiny images in the folds of their sculptures. Thanks goes to art teacher Lindsey Shepard for another wonderful project.

Location: West End Library,
788 Santa Clara Ave.
On Display Until: March 31, 2025

Alameda High School Advanced Multimedia students were inspired by Haida art. After studying works done by First Nation people of the Pacific Northwest, students created coastal animals and mythological creatures. They used traditional Haida colors of black, red and blue to signify strength and a oneness with the earth. The use of nontraditional shades of yellow, orange, brown and pink do not detract from the boldness of design. Currently on display at Lilac. Teacher: Andrea Szeto.

Location: Lilac
1918 Encinal Ave.
On Display Until: Mau 15, 2025

Japanese poetry on Japanese marbled paper is at Books Inc. Haiku, three lines of unrhymed words in a 5-7-5 syllable structure, offered a concise way for Love 5th graders to tell stories about themselves or to express their worldview. Discover poetry about the joys of reading, the intensity of playing sports, the soft glow and gentle sounds of nature, the smell of family meals and more. After the students composed their individual poems, they experimented with marbling ink to make sheets of swirling color. Teacher: Rochelle Kealohi

Location: Books, Inc. Alameda,
1320 Park Street
On Display Until: March 31, 2025

A colony of penguins have arrived at See Spot Run. Their collage bodies were created by Ruby Bridges first graders. Each penguin has an expressive face, whether they are looking wide-eyed or stern. What’s more, several of the beaks look like smiles. Always debonair with their tuxedo coloring, some students added scarves and bows to their birds for added sophistication. Behind each penguin is a swirl of tempera paint looking like the Northern Lights. Teacher: Ali Bower.

Location: See Spot Run,
1320 Park Street
On Display Until: May 15, 2025