Executive Director Amana Harris has been a professor at California College of the Arts (CCA) since 2008. By joining the Critical Ethnic Studies department, Amana sought to share her expertise in socially responsive art practice to CCA’s budding artists. Through her course “Your Art, Your Impact: Education and Community Development,” students learn how art can spark civic engagement in social justice movements, and work in classrooms alongside ArtEsteem staff and youth to experience first-hand how arts education is a robust tool for community empowerment and racial equity.
This spring, her students Adounis Mustafa and Lily Chinn led a field trip to introduce ArtEsteem youth to the various disciplines of art and design offered at CCA. Students of West Oakland Middle School (WOMS), Street Academy, and ArtEsteem’s after-school leadership program the Oakland Legacy Project were invited to visit the CCA campus and learn about pursuing art in higher education.
Lily began with an overview of the diverse undergraduate programs and studio amenities offered at CCA. She further explained how each discipline, such as design, can be applied to a plethora of careers outside of the field of study.
Next, guest speaker Ajax gave a presentation about his start-up Pulpi, a sustainable alternative to dishware. Using everyday appliances and recyclable materials, he designed a line of functional household containers that aims to redirect waste away from landfills. Ajax emphasized how he used his design expertise as a tool to pursue his passion in building a more sustainable future. The WOMS students noted ideas for incorporating eco-friendly practices into their own entrepreneurial adventures, as they experienced product design processes while creating their own merchandise collection (WOMS Living) this school year.
Finally, Adounis led the ArtEsteem students in a hands-on activity building their own speakers. He explained how technology is its own form of art, and invited the students to expand their interpretations of where they see art in their world. Upon completion, students used their visual arts skills to create their own designs on their speakers.