Category: Stories

By guest writer Valerie Win Liu  In the onslaught of current horrors, genocide, the complicit American administration, Trump, rising conservatism, and attacks on immigrants, the working class, healthcare, and LGBTQ+ rights, I find myself wracked with grief, anger, and rage. I find myself asking: what does it mean to make art in the face of chaos and destruction? My relationship with art and activism began in college but deepened after transferring to art school in

In September, ARTogether facilitated the creation of a new mural, featured on the entry wall of the Clinton Community Center building. This community art project celebrates the rich history of the park while envisioning a hopeful future for the neighborhood. Bridging the Past and Future At the heart of the mural is a storytelling circle under a heritage oak tree, symbolizing the exchange of knowledge between elders and youth. The mural also features a community

Written by Bushra Gill A professor in art school taught that an artist’s role in society was to show their work. Created in solitude, the work gains new meaning when it is shared with the world–lending images to ideas so they are understood intuitively.  When I finally returned to making art 20 years later, one of my first shows was at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, in an exhibition called Reflections of Home. At the

Highlights from World Refugee and Immigrant Day Festival in Oakland, CA  On June 15, 2024, Clinton Park in Oakland was transformed into a vibrant tapestry of cultures and stories as it hosted World Refugee and Immigrant Day Festival. This event, the largest gathering ever held at the park, brought together 38 organizations, each committed to sharing resources and support for refugees and immigrants. In addition – diverse performances, delicious food, and local art highlighted the