Author: Rachel Holmstrom

Support Our Work

Support our nonprofit gallery space and help us continue fostering creativity, community, and access to the arts. Your contribution directly empowers emerging artists and makes inspiring exhibitions and programs possible for all.

The Sprout & Bloom exhibition is on view now until May 23.

Tend : Share : Grow

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date April 22, 2025

Tend : Share : Grow is an open dialogue forum with the Sprout & Bloom artists: Lana Williams, Alex Arzt, and Sigrid Hubbell. Come join these artists as they talk “shop” about plants, flowers, shrubs, trees, and all the many forms of gardening care that are a part of their art practice, and daily life. Patrons are welcomed and encouraged to share their knowledge and experience with plants and gardening.

The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. Our gallery space is curated to connect professional artists with our local creative community. Our exhibits showcase local, emerging artists and include hands-on community workshops—because art is meant to be experienced, not just observed. Your participation directly empowers emerging artists and makes inspiring exhibitions and programs possible for all.

Create & Protest: Community Poster-Making Event!

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date April 17, 2025

Join us for Create & Protest, a FREE hands-on workshop where art meets activism. This all-ages gathering is a chance to raise your voice, stand up for immigrant rights and free speech, and connect with others through the power of art.

We’re protesting mass deportations and standing in solidarity with immigrant communities—and we’re doing it with bold visuals, loud messages, and collective energy.

🎨 What’s Happening:

Live screen printing with a professional artist!
Bring your own T-shirts or tote bags, or make a poster—we’ll have paper and ink ready to go.
DIY protest station with all the materials you need: poster board, cardboard, paint, markers, and more.
Community connection: Meet others, share your story, amplify your message.

Whether you come with a message in mind or just want to create in solidarity, everyone is welcome. Youth are especially welcome to join to create posters for May Day!

Date: Saturday, April 26th

Time: 12pm – 3pm

Location: 558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA (Lake Merritt)

Cost: Free!

Open to all ages – families, teens, and first-time protesters encouraged.

Meet the Artist

Yael Levy is a mixed media artist, storyteller, printmaker and art teacher based in Berkeley, CA. She believes the creative process to be its own reward and the act of making an incredible tool for healing and growing.

About Saturdays at the Lab

Saturdays at the Lab is a unique series of weekend art workshops connecting professional artists with our local community. Designed to foster creativity and collaboration, these hands-on sessions welcome participants of all skill levels to explore new techniques, exchange ideas, and experience the transformative power of art.

The Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) is a 501c nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. By blending creativity with experiential learning, we inspire big ideas and illuminate the everyday connections between art and science.

Your participation in these events not only nurtures your own creative potential but also supports our mission to provide equitable access to art and science programs for youth and families across Oakland and the greater East Bay Area. Learn more about us.

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

Artful Cards: A Digital Workshop

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date March 31, 2025

Unleash your creativity in our engaging Digital Art Card Creation class! This hands-on workshop is designed for adults who want to explore the exciting world of digital art while crafting beautiful, personalized cards for any occasion. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, this class welcomes everyone. Throughout the course, you will learn essential digital art techniques, and by the end of the class you will have completed multiple digital art cards that showcase your individual style and creativity. Join us for a fun and inspiring experience, where you’ll not only develop your art skills but also connect with fellow art enthusiasts!

Your ticket includes all materials and refreshments, so just bring your creativity! This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.

Meet the Artist

Zoe Oliver-Grey is an Oakland-based visual artist, with a focus on painting and digital arts. Zoe teaches Creative Technology classes and camps with Junior Center for ages 7-13.

About Saturdays at the Lab

Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

Print & Sip- Linoleum Edition

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date March 26, 2025
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Discover a fun and creative way to upcycle fabrics while giving new life to stained or worn textiles. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the art of linocut printing—a relief printmaking technique where designs are carved, inked, and printed onto fabric or paper.

This community class covers the full process, from transferring your image and carving the linoleum block to inking and printing. You’ll create your own custom prints and take home tips for easy at-home printing. Perfect for all experience levels. We will have paper and plain tote bags for you to use, but feel free to also bring in your own garments as well. This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.

Meet the Artist

Kelly DeFayette has been showing art in the Bay Area for the past 25 years, while painting is her main passion, her art background encompasses all of the disciplines. She is focused on color theory and shape, which translates into whatever medium she is working with.

About Saturdays at the Lab

Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

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Zen & Tonic: A Sip & Make Terrarium Workshop

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date March 26, 2025

Join us for a fun and hands-on terrarium workshop where you’ll design and build your very own glass terrarium to take home! Using a mix of air plants, succulents, soil, rocks, sand, and decorative elements, you’ll learn the art of layering and composition to create a thriving miniature ecosystem.

Throughout the class, you’ll explore different terrarium styles and techniques, gaining the confidence to experiment and personalize your creation. This workshop is a perfect opportunity to connect with nature, express your creativity, and learn plant care tips.

By the end of the session, you’ll have a beautiful, low-maintenance terrarium to brighten up your space and bring a touch of greenery indoors.

Your ticket includes all materials and refreshments, so just bring your creativity! This guided art-making experience offers plenty of flexibility, allowing you to explore and create at your own pace.

About Saturdays at the Lab

Every Second Saturday of the month, we unwind with a Sip & Make session, blending artistic exploration with a relaxed, social vibe.

Missed out on this workshop? Join our mailing list to stay in the loop about SATURDAYS at the LAB!

Afrofuturism Fashion & Art Show Fundraiser

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date March 12, 2025

Welcome to the Afrofuturism Fashion & Art Show Fundraiser!

Come join us on Sat, Apr 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Junior Center Of Art & Science for a night of creativity and community.

BUY TICKETS Today

Support local artists and designers while enjoying a one-of-a-kind event that celebrates diversity and imagination. Begin the night with drinks & breathtaking views of Lake Merritt on the Junior Center’s twinkling decks. Shuffle into your seats fo a fashion procession inspired by the vibrant creativity of the Afrofuturism movement. Later shop the gallery for your next masterpiece to take home, all made by local artists. Dance the night away with the musical styling of DJ Tabu.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something truly special. All proceeds from this event support the Junior Center of Art and Science, a nonprofit dedicated to cultivating curiosity and creative exploration through the arts and sciences. Located in the heart of Oakland on the shores of Lake Merritt, the Center is dedicated to providing equitable access to art & science programs for all youth and their families throughout Oakland and the greater East Bay Area.

After-school Enrichment with Junior Center this Spring

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date March 10, 2025

Spring Session 2025

Week of April 8 – Week of May 27

Create and explore with us after school! Our classes are engaging hands-on fun for young artists, makers, and inventors aged 6-16. Classes are small, student-centered experiences where youth can build skills, experiment with a variety of media, and connect with their creative selves.

All classes take place at 558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA.

Registration opens on Monday, 2/24 at 2:00 PM

Registration closes on Wednesday, 4/2 at 4:00 PM

Learn more

PROJECT UTER at the LAB

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date February 14, 2025

Join us for a presentation of PROJECT UTER, a huge collaborative drawing on the struggle for reproductive justice by Tonina Matamalas and Carles Garcia O’Dowd, a sister project of the Beehive Design Collective.

The gigantic portable mural will be on display from Feb 19 – Feb 22 11 – 5pm, culminating in a presentation on Saturday, Feb 22 from 4-6pm, before it heads off to another stop. You don’t want to miss this opportunity!!

From Carles:

This project took almost two years to make, it maps out the complexities and forces that operate when it comes to deciding over our own bodies. It started amidst huge protests in Spain for the right to access safe abortions. We interviewed people about the issue and slowly crafted a mind map that was then translated to drawings. Each scene represents a “small” picture, and interconnects with every other scene to give us the “big picture “. We have been giving oral storytelling presentations with it around the world ever since. This project was a huge learning experience and one I’m deeply proud of.

Micro Bouquets: A Sprout & Bloom Workshop

Post author By Rachel Holmstrom
Post date February 13, 2025

Celebrate spring with ecologically grown, freshly harvested, Oakland-grown botanicals! In this workshop, you’ll explore the unique textures, scents, and forms of flowers, herbs, and seed pods grown by our host, Sigrid Hubbell, just two miles from JCAS. Drop-in to design a micro bouquet to take home and tend. All botanicals and small glass vases provided. No experience necessary and children are welcome!

A Sprout & Bloom Workshop

This community workshop is part of our Sprout and Bloom gallery exhibit. Learn more about Sprout and Bloom.

Be sure to also check out Container Gardening 101 with Lana Williams on May 17th!

Meet the Artist

Sigrid Hubbell

Awestruck by the endless diversity, adaptations, and resilience of the natural world, Sigrid Hubbell spends the majority of her time in her urban garden cultivating flowers, herbs, food, medicine, and habitat. Growing and preserving the botanicals that comprise her work, she observes the vivid lessons revealed by natural rhythms. She hopes that noticing the contour of a leaf, the color of a petal, or the plumage of an individual seed invokes deep appreciation for the elegant intelligence and healing qualities of plants.

About Saturdays at the Lab