When you enter 1224 Harrison Street in downtown Oakland, it feels less like a studios and more like a shared living room for creativity. Workstations line the walls, easels and art supplies are scattered throughout, and shelves hold everything from paints and brushes to odd objects and plants. In the center, couches and benches create a place to sit, talk, or share tea. Depending on the time of day, you might find artists painting, practicing
Guest blog written by Roger Kim, Interdisciplinary Artist and Artist in resident at ARTogether Studios In 2022, I invited a few people to meet me at Lake Merritt on Thursday mornings so I could teach them samulnori, a traditional Korean percussion practice. At the time I didn’t even have a complete set of instruments, the threat of rain often cancelled our meetings, and my experience with teaching private music lessons to busy adults had led
Image from our Afghan Women’s Art Based Gathering – Arts and Wellness Program Eight years ago, on June 25, 2017, ARTogether held its very first public event. It was a simple gathering in a borrowed space at CERI’s old building on International Boulevard — a day filled with art-making, community dialogue, and shared stories between newcomers and long-time residents. What brought us together then — and still brings us together now — is the deep,
Written by Polina Marso, Arts and Wellness Program Manager Imagine arriving in a new country, where the sounds, sights, and language are all unfamiliar. For refugee and immigrant children, this experience can be overwhelming. The challenges of adapting to a new culture, making friends, and finding a sense of belonging can feel insurmountable. This understanding is what inspired us to create our Summer Art Camp program. We saw the need for a safe, welcoming space
Written by Sarah Dawson McClean, Communications and Public Affairs Director for ARTogether In today’s world, where migration is often driven by conflict and the search for safety, immigrants and refugees face unique challenges as they try to settle into new societies. Leaving behind one’s homeland, resources, careers, culture, and language is incredibly heartbreaking and challenging, and rife with setbacks and loss. Building a new life for their families from nothing, along with combating the isolation
