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:

Snowflakes fall against a deep blue sky in a wintry display by Edison Kindergartners. Students folded and cut coffee filters in snowflake patterns. Like real snowflakes, each are a unique design of cut out rectangles, circles, triangles or hearts. Then the kindergartners used markers to fill the snowflakes with color. Spraying water on the marker ink made the paper look as delicate as snow crystals. The end result are snowflakes that shine like rainbows or glisten like gold. Other snowflakes take on subtle earth tones or resemble washed denim. Thanks goes to Kate Faryngesh for bringing snowy magic to her classroom.

Location: Children’s Section, Main Library
1550 Oak Street
On Display Until: February 28, 2025

Bay Farm 3rd graders have created a forest of shimmering trees. Students used pencils to draw tree trunks and branches that combined realism with intersecting geometric lines. Chalk added color, embellishing the branches and creating vivid abstract art. Each tree is individual; some stand with barren limbs to suggest late fall and winter, others are in vibrant bloom. Art Teacher: Cathy Fong. Classroom Teacher: Jean Liu

Location: Bay Farm Island Library,
3221 Mecartney Rd
On Display Until: February 28, 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

Using markers and crayons, Franklin third graders pay homage to Bill Peet’s wonderful story: The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock. Prewitt is an ugly duckling of a peacock with an uninspiring plume of tail feathers. But those same feathers, with two large eyes, are just the thing to scare off a tiger and turn Prewitt into a hero. Using blues, purples and greens, each student captures their own version of a peacock with its regal head, long neck and massive train. Thanks goes to Jodi Barzelatto for combining art and literature.

Location: Lilac Dress Boutique
1918 Encinal Ave.
On Display Until: March 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

Winter bears have come to See Spot Run in an encore exhibit of work by 2019-20 third graders from Earhart. These bear portraits are anchored by colorful sweaters that are filled with geometric shapes. Fine lines of ink make the bear fur amazingly realistic. Each animal’s face is unique through the use of different shapes of eyes, ears and snouts. AEF is so glad to show this work again. Thanks goes to Rachel Yuen and her former students who are now eighth graders.

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