You may have noticed art from Alameda’s public school classrooms decorating the walls of your favorite library or store on the Island. That’s because Alameda Education Foundation (AEF) outgoing Art Program Coordinator, Pam Riley Chang, has been focused on highlighting student art in Alameda for more than a decade. AEF is recognizing Pam’s efforts and celebrating this program milestone with a reception on September 30 [1], hosted by Books Inc. at 1344 Park Street.
[2]Art Across the Island (AATI) started in 2016, when Chang reached out to West End librarian Karin Lundstrom and Lilac Dress Boutique owner Pilar Burlingame to see if student art could be placed in their venues—and they agreed. The program quickly expanded to additional Alameda library locations plus small businesses, including Alameda Grocery Outlet, Aphrodite’s Closet, Books Inc, Lilac, The Local, and See Spot Run. Then Rhythmix Cultural Works’ K Gallery came on board and exhibited student work each spring from 2022 through 2025.
Close to 8,000 works have been shown over the past decade. Students from Transitional Kindergarten to graduating high school seniors got to see their art expertly displayed in beautiful locations. None of this would have been possible without the support of teachers—both art and classroom instructors—inspiring their students to showcase their creativity in their community.
View a decade of selected student art at these Alameda venues:
- See Spot Run, 1320 Park Street, July 15 – September 14.
- Books Inc., 1344 Park Street, July 21 – September 20.
- West End Library, 788 Santa Clara Avenue, August 1 – September 30.
- Alameda Main Library – Teen Section, 1550 Oak Street, August 11 – October 10.
- Alameda Main Library – Children’s Section, 1550 Oak Street, September 1 – October 31.
- Bay Farm Branch Library, 3221 Mecartney Road, September 1 – October 31.
For more information, visit AEF’s We’re Celebrating 10 Years of Art Across the Island [3] webpage.