Celebrating Community and Pride: “Wham! Bam! Queer!” is Officially Open!
Last Friday night was a busy one at the Junior’s Center, with a large crowd on hand for the highly anticipated opening reception of our newest exhibition, Wham! Bam! Queer! Curated by Marco Garcia, the gallery space has been beautifully transformed into a vibrant, immersive showcase of local artistic talent. We want to extend a massive, heartfelt thank you to everyone from across the East Bay who came out to celebrate with us, as well as the participating artists whose powerful work brought the gallery to life.
The overarching theme of the exhibition centers on celebrating powerful portrayals of queer identities, historical resilience, and local community livelihood. It was incredibly moving to see families, neighbors, and creators gather together along the shores of Lake Merritt to honor these vital stories and artistic expressions. If you weren’t able to make it to the opening party, don’t worry—the celebration of queer identity and history continues all summer long. Our doors are open, and we invite you to step into the gallery to experience this incredible collection firsthand and support the next generation of creators.
Mark Your Calendars: Zine Fair Coming July 11th!
The celebration doesn’t stop with the gallery walls! We have even more incredible community events on the horizon to keep the momentum going. We are absolutely thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our upcoming Zine Fair on Saturday, July 11th, right here at the Center.
It’s going to be a fantastic day dedicated to independent publishing, creative exchange, and grassroots community connection. Whether you’re a lifelong zine collector, a curious creator, or a neighbor looking to support local artists, it’s the perfect opportunity to experience the unique, inclusive intersection of art and community that makes the Junior Center so special.
Gather your friends, mark your calendars, and come make some memories with us at the lake this July!
Artist Spotlights
To give you a deeper look into the creative minds driving this incredible exhibition, we are thrilled to introduce three new videos featuring our brilliant resident artists: Marco Garcia, Zoey Grey, and Cecily Morales. In these short spotlights, each artist shares an intimate look into their studio practice, the personal inspiration behind their pieces, and what it means to showcase their work right here at the Center. From exploring chosen family and history to experimenting with vibrant multimedia, their stories offer a beautiful window into the diverse talent thriving in the East Bay. It’s a fantastic way to connect with the creators who make our community space so unique.