The Oxbow School | Oxbow Summer Camp Session 2!

Inside Oxbow

Oxbow Summer Camp Session 2!

07/30/19

Campers spent week one rotating through fundamentals classes in the four studios where they learned skills from darkroom developing to Suminagashi, a Japanese paper marbling process. In the painting studio, students discussed the politics of “good” and “bad” art in a project rehabilitating found paintings with their own sensibility and style. Staff have brought some of our favorite media to co-curricular workshops this session in zine-making, indigo dying, and 16mm film animation. After studio hours, campers have shown us their creative drive and competitive spirit in activities ranging from Project Runway-inspired EcoFashion to a campus-wide scavenger hunt.

We have also ventured outside of Oxbow and Napa on many occasions, hiking in Bothe State Park and The Presidio, visiting exhibitions at di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, SFMOMA, and the Oakland Museum, and cooling off with a swim at the local pool.

Stay tuned for our next blog post featuring the amazing final projects of the Oxbow Session 2 campers!

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

Advice I would give to future students is to just do it and come to Oxbow and not overthink it because it will most likely (99.9%) be the best decision you have made in your life.

— Malachi Snyder, Spring 2018

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

A School Like No Other