The Oxbow School | Oxbow Time

Inside Oxbow

Oxbow Time

02/22/19

This week at Oxbow was jam packed, just as every other has been. The time goes by so quickly that everyday feels like a whole week, and every week like a month. On Tuesday, we went to the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco. There are 7 floors of the museum, filled with so many different types of art. There were all different types of paintings from abstract to realistic portraits, film, sculptural pieces, and even architecture. We all chose a piece to write about and really take a good long look at in the museum. Seeing the artwork with Oxbow was particularly inspiring because I got a lot of ideas I would like to incorporate here in the studios. After spending hours in the museum and feeling overwhelmed with inspiration, we went to the Golden Gate Bridge and walked across. It was really fun to take corny pictures in front of the bridge and the cold ocean air felt so good to walk in. It was absolutely beautiful and it felt like home to me and a few of the other students who live near the ocean back home. We saw some porpoises hanging out in the greenish water below the bridge too. Then we came back and most of us took naps and we all had dinner, what a day!

Emma

I have learned so many skills and habits that have made me a better person throughout my time here. To name a few: I have learned how to be a good roommate, how to communicate, and how to trust myself. I have learned the importance of staying hydrated, getting good sleep, and having a clean work space. I have learned how to share space both in the studios and dorms. Lastly, I have learned that it’s okay to advocate for what you need and that there is no harm in asking for help or support.

— Grace Reynolds, Fall 2023

I learned to drop all previous assumptions I had about people because I had never met anyone like the other students at Oxbow. For the first time, my peers and their insightful thinking inspired me. For example, during the ‘Einstein’s Dreams’ presentations, I kept looking around the room thinking, I can’t believe all of these students are talking the way I think.

— Sara DeLong, Spring 2010

It's been a whirlwind week, but also a time when I sang the praises of Oxbow to my colleagues. I've been thinking much about how Oxbow is an exemplar of true education. That art centers the curriculum is hardly surprising, and for those of us who work within the traditional educational mold Oxbow offers a gold standard of focused project based learning. Beyond the school's approach to immersive experience are the intangibles which make Oxbow different. The sense of community and of working together, even as each student retained their strong individual presence is palpable. The feeling of warmth and trust between the adults and the nearly adults in the Oxbow community could be felt throughout the campus. The openness of the architecture and interconnectedness of the three studios in themselves speak of the Oxbow philosophy and identity. More than form follows function, the physical attributes of Oxbow have a distinct warmth and invite exploration.

I'm sure that the ongoing challenges of leading and reinventing your school might sometimes keep you from having the time to see Oxbow with the fresh eyes of a visitor, but your steady presence and vision are really visible in every detail. Thank you for inviting me to one of the most profound experiences in my career.

— Ken Rush, Visual Arts Department, Packer Collegiate Institute

A School Like No Other