"Girl to Girl was fun and I know my friends would love this program!"
--G2G Summer 2006 participant
 
   
Arts and Arts Education
 





















 

Oasis For Girls' Studio Oasis is a week long arts program offered during SFUSD’s Spring Break for middle school girls. Studio Oasis workshops have included jewelry and clothing making, community mapping, field trips to the Exploratorium and Aquarium by the Bay, and cooking classes. Workshops are led by the Arts/Life Skills Program Coordinator as well as volunteers representing various artistic fields.

The Oasis For Girls Arts Apprenticeship is a 10 week paid program offered in the summer for up to 20 high school young women ages 14-20 led by the Arts/Life Skills Program Coordinator and a local community based arts organization. The Arts Apprenticeship offers young women the opportunity to explore interest in visual or performing arts, create their own piece with the support of staff, and perform for their friends, family, and community members.

The 2008 Summer Arts Apprenticeship was a second collaboration with Jo Kreiter and Flyaway Dance Productions in an aerial dance and political education program. The program centered around the theme of truth telling in the media and the effect of national policy on the human body. Fourteen young women choreographed dance sections and explored the expressive potential of their bodies while advocating for democracy and an end to the war in Iraq. The young women met once weekly at Oasis, and twice weekly at counterPULSE for dance instruction. Throughout the summer, participants examined how the war has come into their high schools, via military recruitment and ROTC classes, and learned about the connection between the federal government’s depletion of school resources and exorbitant military spending. They participated in a march against the war in Iraq across Golden Gate Bridge and created a Youtube video documenting the experience. The program culminated in two successful performances to audiences of over 50 people at the counterPULSE Theater. Participants received a $400 award for successful completion of the program.

The 2007 Summer Arts Apprenticeship program brought together diverse young women for eight weeks to receive hands-on introductory training in a range of visual art forms such as stenciling, painting, graffiti and mural making alongside interactive workshops exploring identity, sexism, culture and media representation of women of color. Throughout the summer, participants gained exposure to the work and profession of community artist, Ana Fernandez. The apprenticeship culminated in the creation of individual final projects that examine “sacred” elements of their own cultures and lives. These original works were debuted at an opening art reception at the Bayanihan Community Center for friends and family and featured in a month-long exhibition planned by participants and Oasis staff. Artists received a $300 award for their full participation, completion and success.

In 2006 Summer Arts Apprenticeships thirteen girls participated in "The Seed Project.” The project was a collaboration with Jo Kreiter and Flyaway Productions. Girls examined the strength of the female body, guided by company members and informed by Flyaway's creative process and researched on genetically modified foods. Girls learned Flyaway's performance repertory, created their own dances, and performed. Students also designed and carried out an advocacy project informed by the Organic Consumers Association.