Making Community is a grassroots collective-making initiative celebrating the vibrant creative spirit of the California College of the Arts (CCA). Through storytelling, mark-making, and communal experiences, the project invites all members of the CCA community to reflect on what makes this institution truly special—not just as a place of learning, but as a web of personal connections and shared values.

Throughout the academic year, the project explores three central themes: making together, being in community, and sharing our stories. It has engaged participants through collage-making workshops across campus, including the recent "Craft, Snack, and Gather" event, where community members came together to create and connect. In addition, a digital library has been launched to document and share the meaningful stories and objects contributed by students, faculty, staff, alumni, and trustees.

The goal is ambitious yet deeply personal: to collect 117 stories that reflect the heart of CCA’s creative community. These submissions—comprising photos, objects, and the narratives behind them—will serve as the foundation for a transformative commemorative artwork. Under the guidance of CCA Printmedia faculty Luz Marina Ruiz, these items will be woven into a collective piece symbolizing the spirit of collaboration and creativity.

The exhibition will debut in March at PLAySPACE Gallery, with the commemorative artwork finding its permanent home on campus. By merging physical and digital spaces, Making Community honors both the tangible and intangible threads that bind us together, providing a timeless testament to the creative energy and shared values of CCA.

Please join us for an opening reception on Wednesday, March 12, from 3 to 4pm.