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:

The Teen Section, on the second floor of the Main Library, has been part of Art Across the Island since the summer of 2025. While new to AEF’s program, the Teen Section offers the largest space for student work of all the current venues. The 10th Anniversary exhibit has taken full advantage of the spaciousness, with 30 works from Bay Farm, Lincoln and Wood Middle Schools, Alameda and Island High Schools and, of course, Encinal Junior and Senior High. There is digital art as well as fine line drawings. There’s photography, collage and watercolors. Much of the art reflects a STEAM education whether it’s a chalk drawing of deep space or plastic animals formed by a 3D printer. All the work shows a great deal of skill and imagination. Congrats to all the 6th-12th graders who have participated in Art Across the Island throughout the decade.

Location: Second Floor, The Main Library
1550 Oak Street
On Display Until: October 10, 2026

Poems by Edison 3rd Grade Students
Classroom Teacher: Jennifer Howell

Edison 3rd grade students in Ms. Howell’s class have been working on a poetry unit, which tied in to the Poetry Slam hosted by AEF. Students learned about poetry and then created their own poems, taking inspiration from our beautiful little island to write about topics like Lincoln Park, the Alameda Free Library, the turkeys, the beach, SubPar, South Shore, and more local favorites. Some of these students came to the Poetry Slam in March to read their poems in front of an audience. Then, all students were invited to add an illustration, bringing their poems to life visually.

Location: First Floor, The Main Library
1550 Oak Street
On Display Until: May 31, 2026

Popsicles by Otis TK Students
Classroom Teacher: Ali Bower

Otis TK students made these delightful 3-D popsicle creations. The class was exploring a broader unit on the 5 Senses. While learning about the Sense of Taste, they were asked to imagine their very own popsicle: “What would it look like and what would it taste like?” They painted their popsicles using tempera paint sticks and watercolor, cut them out, and attached them to popsicle sticks. They created such a fun range of flavors, colors and patterns!

Location: Bay Farm Island Library,
3221 Mecartney Rd
On Display Until: August 31, 2026

Art Across the Island started in September 2016 at the West End Library. From there, the program expanded to the Main Library and the Bay Farm Branch Library, as well as a dozen small businesses. To celebrate a decade of student art, AEF is featuring some of the earliest work to be showcased across our city. You’ll discover art from Love and from Bay Farm based on Peter H. Reynolds’ books. You’ll find collage from Earhart, Maya Lin, NEA and Paden and watercolors from Edison, Franklin, Otis and Ruby Bridges. Lum Elementary was a very active participant in Art Across the Island’s early years and the West End Library display includes printmaking as well as art inspired by Chinese calligraphy from Lum.

Location: West End Library,
788 Santa Clara Ave.
On Display Until: October 5, 2026

Animal art from all 9 elementary schools, from Lincoln and Wood Middle and from Alameda, Encinal and Island High are at See Spot Run in celebration of Art Across the Island’s 10 year anniversary. Most of the prints were part of an animal project including pelicans from Paden, rainforest creatures from Franklin and bears from Earhart. But some are examples of students choosing to make an animal as part of a larger project, like the child from Maya Lin who made a towering dragon while classmates were making paper bridges and the Otis student who painted a cat as part of their Paul Klee watercolor project. The work spans the decade with art from 2016, on through the Pandemic and into the present year.

Location: See Spot Run,
1320 Park Street
On Display Until: September 15, 2026

Books Inc.’s partnership with AEF began in Fall 2016 with student art displays. Poetry took center stage two years later when Alameda students wrote poems for school children who were impacted by the Camp Fire. Much of the writing that was sent on to Paradise was showcased at Books Inc. The 10th Year Anniversary exhibit includes Haiku and Shape poetry as well as paintings based on children’s books (including Black: The Many Wonders of my World illustrated by Maya Lin’s Constance Moore). There is also student art that ties in with work that is available at Books Inc. like cook books and science fiction. Books Inc. was been the site of three AEF Poetry Slams, which featured students reading autobiographical work as well as nature poetry and poems about our city.

Location: Books Inc. Alameda,
1344 Park Street
On Display Until: September 23, 2026

Please consider a donation to keep arts alive for Alameda students.