Category: Events

Afrofuturism Fashion & Art Show Fundraiser

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.

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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.

Couture Crafting

Get ready to join JCAS and artist Kelly DeFayette for a festive and unconventional holiday crafting workshop with a twist! 

This is not your grandma’s crafting class; we’re taking holiday decor to a whole new level. Embrace your inner artist and explore unique and modern ways to create with paper, found objects, and even lights!

Saturday, Dec 7th 6pm – 9pm
$50 – $75 Sliding scale


Financial aid available. Email us at [email protected] for details

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What’s Included:
  • Inspirational ideas and templates
  • All necessary crafting materials and tools
  • Expert guidance and demonstrations

Refreshments will be available for suggested donation

Who Can Attend:

This workshop is open to adults of all levels, whether you’re a beginner or experienced crafter. It’s a great opportunity to socialize, learn new skills, and have fun.

There will be FIVE crafting stations!

  • Ornaments
  • Luminaries
  • Paper bag snowflakes
  • Holiday card printing
  • Book centerpieces

All proceeds go directly to supporting youth arts and science education in Oakland through the Junior Center of Art and Science.

Don’t miss this enchanting opportunity to catch up with friends and get a jump on your holiday preparations! Buy tickets today!

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Kelly DeFayette is a Bay Area colorist who works on wood panels in shapes that vary from the traditional, to circles, and then irregular and tessellating polygons. Very process driven, the shape of the panel informs the palette and the decisions of application. Exploring color is the focus, and the intersection of the craft of the object, the painting materials, and the palette chosen, result in the final piece. Moving from smaller tessellating works towards larger installations and groups of irregular shapes, she continues to push towards a more sculptural finish and to remove evidence of the maker’s hand from the finished work.

Kelly graduated from Munson-Williams-Proctor School of Art and moved to the West Coast to attend SFAI. She has lived in San Francisco since 1997 and has worked professionally in the Bay since 2003.

OUSD Winter Artist Market

Friday, December 6th 2024
11am – 2pm

at the Junior Center of Art and Science
558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA

Oakland Unified School District and the Junior Center for Art and Science are thrilled to present the third annual OUSD Winter Artist Market! This one-day-only event will showcase the incredible talent of student artists from Oakland High, Oakland Tech, Skyline, Madison Park Academy, and United for Success Academy.

Explore a diverse array of unique and affordable handmade gifts created by our youth, including ceramics, soft sculptures, prints, greeting cards, original artworks, and more. This is the perfect opportunity to support emerging young artists while finding something special for yourself or loved ones this holiday season.

For many students, this will be their first experience marketing and selling their artwork, making your support especially meaningful. Stop by on your lunch hour to celebrate their creativity, shop local, and help support OUSD FAME Program!

This event is hosted by the Junior Center for Art and Science and presented by OUSD Fashion, Arts, Media and Entertainment (FAME) CTE Programs. OUSD offers six high school Linked Learning Pathways that provide college and career preparatory experiences in the media arts, studio arts, and design fields. For more information or questions, contact James Treacy at [email protected].

YOU’RE INVITED From Ashes to Art: Reopening Fundraiser

Saturday, Sept. 28 6pm
at The Junior Center 558 Bellevue Ave

The Junior Center has finally reopened after three years of extensive repairs from two fires. Join us on Saturday, September 28th at 6pm to celebrate our legacy and support our future programming.

From Ashes to Art features a curated selection of art from local contemporary artists, all graciously donated and priced under $500. Proceeds support scholarship opportunities for youth to attend our popular camps, after-school programs, and workshops. Each year our programs reach over 5,000 young people and their families and throughout the East Bay. Sliding scale is available for all our offerings, and 60% of families take advantage of the scholarships we provide.

Experience our beautifully renovated space on Lake Merritt. At From Ashes to Art, you can enjoy drinks and dancing under the twinkling lights of our lakeview decks, participate in a Virtual World Building experience with our talented Teaching Artist Judit Navratil, explore the gallery for your next work of art, and visit the Trash Falcon exhibit in the Bellevue Room.

Your support makes a huge difference for East Bay youth and will help us expand opportunities for our community. We hope to see you there!

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DRAG STORY TIME + CRAFTING

Happy Pride! Come celebrate with the Junior Center of Art and Science!

Junior Center Teaching Artist Marco Garcia AKA Kico Le Strange, and friend Cy Berspace, will be reading 3 LGBTQIIA+ children books, one of which will be Julian The Mermaid. After story time, Kico will guide the young creatives through an oceanic craftmaking excursion; making sea crowns!

Let’s learn, express, and celebrate together!!!

Story time: 10-10:45am

Crafting time: 11am-12pm

All ages welcome!

Please RSVP on Eventbrite to attend.

RISING FROM THE ASHES: THE ROUGH EDGES LIVE FOR JCAS

RISING FROM THE ASHES:
THE ROUGH EDGES LIVE FOR JCAS

Join us for Rising From The Ashes; a benefit concert for the Junior Center of Art and Science (JCAS) Building Repair Fund. As many know, our treasured home on Lake Merritt has suffered damage from two fires. Your attendance and contributions will directly support the final stages of our reconstruction efforts.

With your generous support, we will reach our goal of not only rebuilding but revitalizing our beloved venue, infusing it with a renewed sense of purpose and vibrancy for the whole community. ‘Rising from The Ashes’ is more than just a concert; it is a testament to the unwavering spirit of resilience that unites us all.

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HOW YOUR SUPPORT HELPS:

  • Contributes to the creation of specialized areas within our facility, such as dedicated labs, studios, or interactive exhibits, to ensure that the space remains relevant and equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community. 
  • Ensures the continuation of affordable access to arts and science integrated classes such as Carpentry, Creative Coding and Fashion Design through our sliding scale and scholarship funds.
  • Supports the restoration of a space that serves as a platform for fostering creativity and innovation among youth and adults alike.

You won’t want to miss this exciting night! The Rough Edges are a Classic Rock cover band specializing in high energy, deep-cut gems from the 1970s. The band features Juliana Birnbaum (vocals), Fausto DeSousa (percussion), Frank Gilbert (guitar), Harry Gray (guitar, vocals), Michael Hannah (bass, vocals), Fred Riley III (vocals) and Neil Sachs (drums, vocals).

Let the power of music and community uplift us as we embark on the next chapter of our shared story, revitalizing our home and reaffirming our commitment to fostering creativity and connection within our community.
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Old Oakland Celebrates – The Holidays!

We had such a blast at the last Oakland Celebrates Event, that we are doing it again!

We will be doing art activities for families in the courtyard of Swan’s Market. Stop by, say hi, make some cool art, and check out the other fabulous vendors!

Old Oakland Celebrates!

Be sure to join us, don’t miss out on having fun with art making activities and community sculpture!

Fairyland Fun!

For inquiries, email us at [email protected] or call 510.839.5777.