Young Artists Portrait Show
April 25th – May 22nd 2026
Opening reception: Saturday April 25th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
An exhibit of portraits created by young artists including students from Skyline International HS and Madison Park Academy HS.
Category: Events
Saturday, April 18th 11 AM – 2 PM
A Hands-On Family Celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math 🔬⚙️🎨
Join us for a day of curiosity, creativity, and discovery at the Junior Center of Art and Science / East Bay Creative Lab! This hands-on community event invites children ages 5–13 and their families to explore the exciting intersections of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) through playful experimentation and creative problem-solving.
Throughout the day, families can roam between interactive stations led by local scientists, naturalists, artists, and makers, each offering a chance to tinker, test, build, and create.
Whether your child loves messy experiments, inventive building challenges, or artistic exploration, there will be something to spark every imagination.
Hands-On STEAM Stations
Young innovators can explore a variety of engaging activities, including:
- Slime Chemistry Lab – Mix, measure, and experiment with the science of polymers.
- Light-Up Circuits – Learn the basics of electricity by creating glowing creations.
- Strawberry DNA Extraction – Discover the building blocks of life by isolating real DNA.
- Robotics Challenges – Test problem-solving skills with hands-on robotics activities.
- Cyanotype Sun Prints – Use sunlight and natural materials to create beautiful blueprints.
- Water Filtration Engineering – Design and build your own water purification system.
- More surprise stations led by local STEAM experts!
Each station invites kids to experiment, ask questions, and learn by doing.
STEAM Passport Adventure
When you arrive, each child will receive a STEAM Passport.
Visit stations, collect stamps, and complete your passport to earn a small prize at the end of your adventure!
Who Should Attend
This event is perfect for:
- Curious kids ages 5–13
- Families looking for hands-on learning experiences
- Young creators, scientists, engineers, and artists
- Anyone who loves making, experimenting, and discovering
No prior experience required—just bring your curiosity!
Event Details
Location: Junior Center of Art and Science / East Bay Creative Lab
558 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA
Ages: 5–13 (families welcome)
Cost: Free
Format: Drop-in, explore at your own pace
Come Invent the Future With Us
At Junior Center, we believe that curiosity, creativity, and experimentation help young people imagine new possibilities for our world. Join us for a joyful day of learning, making, and community.
Bring the whole family and get ready to explore STEAM together!
Are you a Scientist? Volunteer at the STEAM FAIR!
We are looking for professional scientists, engineers, naturalist and tech experts to help spark that same curiosity and support children engage in fun science activities to celebrate Earth Day at the Junior Center of Art and Science STEAM Fair!
ASK: We are looking to recruit volunteers who are professionals and experts in the STEM field to help us facilitate a STEAM station. We would offer an orientation on how to lead your respective STEAM station.
Our goal is to pair your expertise with hands-on discovery to show students (ages 6 – 13) that science isn’t just in a textbook—it’s in the real world. Deadline to sign up is Monday, March 23
- DATE: Saturday, April 18
- TIME: 11 AM – 2 PM
- WHERE: Junior Center of Art and Science, 558 Bellevue Ave at Lake Merritt (Oakland, CA)
- GOAL: Lead a “Discovery Station” featuring a simple experiment or demonstration related to your field.
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
Saturday, April 11th from 10:30 AM – 12 PM
Get to know your wild neighbors — the winged ones!
In this hands-on class, we’ll explore the fascinating birds of Lake Merritt and Oakland, from elegant egrets to bold black cormorants and busy little songbirds. A local naturalist will introduce us to who’s who in our local ecosystem — how they move, what makes their feathers unique, the patterns they wear, and the quirky behaviors that make each species special.
Then we’ll bring them to life on paper.
Using pencil, pen and ink, watercolor, and charcoal, students will experiment with different techniques to capture gesture, texture, pattern, and personality. We’ll practice quick observational sketches, study feather details, and create finished illustrations inspired by what we learn.
This class is all about sharpening your eye, loosening up your hand, and deepening your connection to the natural world right outside your door. Perfect for curious teens and adults who love art, nature, or both.
All skill levels welcome — just bring your curiosity!
$20 – $40 sliding scale
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
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.
Friday, Feb 13th from 6:30-8:30pm
Opening reception of What We Sow—in collaboration with Lake Merritt’s very own Trash Falcons!
One person’s trash isn’t just treasure—it’s a masterpiece. What We Sow invites viewers into a reimagined landscape composed of the forgotten remnants of Adams Point, Lakeside Park, and Lake Merritt. Through a lens of radical optimism, the Trash Falcons transform the discarded debris of urban life into works that are at once whimsical, provocative, and profoundly beautiful. By elevating found objects to the realm of fine art, this exhibition challenges us to confront our own hand in the ecological narrative and asks: What do we leave behind, and what beauty can we grow from the wreckage?
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
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.
We are very excited to be chosen as The New Parkway Theater’s Karma Cinema partner for the month of January!
Every Wednesday in January, 20% of all movie ticket sales at the The New Parkway Theater (474 24th St, Oakland) will be donated to the Junior Center of Art and Science! Folks can chose the amount they would like to pay and 20% goes directly to supporting our mission. This is great opportunity to not only support our cause, but support this awesome, local, indie theater!
The New Parkway Theater is a community-centered cinema and pub located in Oakland’s Uptown district. Patrons can sit back and relax on cozy couches while watching new releases, cult classics, and fabulous special programming. Plus, enjoy yummy food and local beer and wine at the café or delivered right to your theater seat, all at affordable prices!
Visit www.thenewparkway.com for movie times and advance tickets!
Friday, Jan 9th from 7-8pm
In this artist talk, Gericault De la Rose delves into her ongoing CTRL + F series, a body of work that transforms the bureaucratic tools of identity into intimate, large-scale meditations on survival. Created during a moment when trans people in America cannot update the gender markers on their passports, these tapestries confront how state documentation becomes both a gatekeeper and a locus of vulnerability—heightening exposure to violence, policing, and social scrutiny.
Situating the work within the current socio-economic climate, Gericault explores how class, migration, and access to institutional recognition shape whose identities are validated and whose are contested. The talk will also examine the cultural construction of “passing” and the paradoxes embedded within it: visibility as both protection and risk, assimilation as both safety strategy and erasure. Through this artist talk, Gericault considers what it means to craft a self in a society where legitimacy is often measured by paperwork, perception, and power.
This artist talk is part of our The Holy T gallery exhibit. Learn more about The Holy T.
Meet the Artist
Gericault De La Rose is a queer trans Filipinx, multidisciplinary artist, and educator.
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
You can indicate any accommodation needs or concerns when registering your child under the “Special Instructions about my child” section. You can also reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
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.
Join us for the opening reception of our latest gallery exhibit, The Holy T. This exhibition focuses on transgenderism through the lens of painting and tapestry, featuring artists Gericault De La Rose and Angel Anjos. De La Rose and Anjos’ artwork depicts the presence, growth, and empowerment of trans bodies, trans identity, and trans people.
On view Nov 10 – Jan 23
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorcenter.org
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.
Friday, December 5th 2025
11am – 2pm
Oakland Unified School District Visual and Performing Arts and the Junior Center for Art and Science are proud to present the fourth annual OUSD Winter Artist Market! Featuring student work from Oakland’s Arts, Entertainment, and Design high school and middle school pathways. Youth will be selling their unique and affordable gifts at this one-day artist market. Ceramics, soft sculpture, printmaking, greeting cards, original artworks, and so much more!
Deeply connected to the learning in their arts classes, this year, students will design their artist market collection around the guiding question, “How can I create art and design that centers my creative voice but is also marketable and a source of income?” For many students, this will be their first time marketing and selling their artwork. Please support and share this information widely!
OUSD offers six high school Linked Learning Pathways that provide college and career preparatory experiences in the media arts, studio arts, and design fields. At the middle school level, OUSD offers visual and performing arts programs that center on creative joy and student voice.
We have a new animal friend—a bearded dragon! Stop by to meet her and help us choose her name.
Saturdays, Sept 6 – Oct 4 10am – 4pm
This will also kick off a standing lunch with our reptiles. Stop by at noon for a live feeding!
The winning name will be displayed on a special plaque next to her enclosure, and the winner will also receive a special STEAM prize!
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorenter.org
We are happy to announce that the Junior Center of Art and Science will be participating in Creek to Bay Day this year!
Creek to Bay Day is a day of watershed cleanups, education, and commitment to practices to keep our city and water clean, from creek, to bay, and beyond! Be part of a citywide day of action as we roll up our sleeves to clean and green Oakland’s creeks, shorelines, parks, and neighborhoods.
We’ll gather at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Sept 20th at our center (558 Bellevue Ave.). We’ll work alongside our neighbors at the Rotary Nature Center to restore our shared outdoor spaces and Lake Merritt’s shoreline. Projects include trash removal, habitat restoration, and beautification.
The 30th annual Oakland Creek to Bay Day is part of California and International Coastal Cleanup Day. By participating, you’ll not only make a positive impact on our community but also help protect our creeks, bay, ocean, and beaches.
Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.
ACCESSIBILITY & INCLUSION
We’re committed to making all programs at the Junior Center of Art and Science accessible and inclusive. Our spaces are wheelchair-friendly, and we welcome learners of all abilities and learning styles. If you or your child need accommodations, please let us know—we’re happy to help! Read our Accessibility Statement here.
If you have any accommodation needs or concerns, reach out directly at contact@juniorenter.org