MAKING COMMUNITY : a commemorative CCA experience
At this remarkable moment in our college's story, the completion of Double Ground signifies more than just physical consolidation; it symbolizes our shared commitment to our creative community. This marks the first time in 39 years that CCA will be united in one location and on one campus. This unity reflects our institution's history of resilience, starting from its founding after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. As we stand at this watershed moment, we are called to build upon the fortitude and resilience shown by our community throughout the years.
Making Community is sponsored by the Transition, Trust and Transformation (TTT) Community and Culture Working Group, in partnership with Libraries, Academic Affairs, and Campus Life, with support from the former Oakland Campus Legacy Committee (OCLC) leadership. Aligned with the Marketing & Communications "CCA Expanding for..." strategic plan, this project seizes this historic occasion to amplify the voices of our creative community. Throughout the academic year, it provides a hands-on collective mark-making experience that encourages us to pause, engage, and share our connections to CCA. We aim to recognize our collective progress and officially mark our unified presence in San Francisco.
"We've been couch surfing for the last two years, and now we finally have a home." - Nathan Lynch, Chair of Ceramics
Our community-building journey starts by highlighting individual stories in the fall, leading to a collective celebration of creativity in the spring. "Making Community" calls us to honor our past, embrace the present, and shape a future founded on our unity. This initiative is part of a range of curricular efforts across the college to commemorate the upcoming year, and we are excited to reknit the social fabric of our creative community.
TIMELINE
FALL 2024 - Individual Storytelling
- October
- Submit a photo of you, an image of an object that connects you to CCA, and a short blurb about why the object is important to you and your relationship to CCA. Items will be used for a Simpson Library physical and digital exhibition.
- November
- Participants will be invited to share their story in a Community Storytelling Event at Simpson Library.
Events
Collage Making with Luz Marina Ruiz
- Thursday, October 3 from 3-6pm @ RayKo
- Thursday, October 9 from 11-1pm @ Hooper Atrium
- Wednesday, October 23 from 11-1pm @ Nave (Production Stage)
Community Storytelling
- Wednesday, November 13 from 3-5pm @ Simpson Library
SPRING 2025 - Collective Making
- February
- A faculty member will facilitate the creation of a commemorative piece using the provided objects.
- March
- The commemorative piece and community members' stories will be exhibited at PLAySPACE Gallery with a reception. The exhibition space will host site activations, some ideas being explored are a photo booth, a CCA altar, and a mark-making area for the community.
FACULTY COORDINATOR
We're excited to announce that CCA Printmedia faculty Luz Marina Ruiz has been invited to craft a unique commemorative from submitted objects from the community and curate an exhibition at PLAySPACE gallery in spring 2025.
Drawing inspiration from the whimsical worlds of dreams and nature, Luz transforms her creations into sculptural books and installations. She exhibits nationally and internationally, with her work held in private, corporate, and library collections across the U.S., including the Cynthia Sears Artist's Book Collection (Bainbridge Art Museum), UC Berkeley's Environmental Design Library, and special collections at Mills College and University of Southern California (USC). Born in Cali, Colombia, raised in Queens, New York, and residing in Oakland.
We are honored to have her bring her imaginative energy to this special project.
CALL FOR SUBMISSION
We are looking for 117 stories (or more!) from our CCA community members in commemoration of this historic moment.
Story
- Share a story of why your object is important to you and your relationship to CCA (limit 100 words)
Photos
- Please submit two (2) photos:
- one photo of yourself (preferably a half body headshot - from your waist to the top of your head)
- one photo of your object
- . Images should meet the following requirements:
- Preferred file formats are JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.
- Max size: 25 MB
Object
- Submitted objects will be used as material in the creation of the commemorative piece and will not be returned. Objects should meet the following requirements:
- Object can be no bigger than 6" x 6" (small enough to fit in a standard ziploc bag)
We invite you to participate in our Open Call for Submission!
Simpson Library Digital Exhibition Example
Here is an example of how your story will be shared on the Simpson Library physical and digital exhibition (fall) and for the Making Community Exhibition in PLAySPACE Gallery (spring).
Participate!
What do I get for participating?
- Your individual story will be part of the Library's commemorative digital exhibition and archive.
- Your object will be used to create a commemorative art piece.
- Participants will receive a limited edition pin in the spring semester.
Okay! I'm in, what do I need to do?
- Complete this form
- Drop or mail your object (attn: Simpson Library, CCA, 145 Hooper St, San Francisco, CA 94107)
What's my deadline?
- Friday, October 25, 2024
*Note: Physical objects will be used to create the collective piece and will not be returned to you.
Open Call for Submission!
Deadline: Friday, October 25, 2024