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.
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