Sneak Peeks

In the secretive spirit of Project X, it's time for the "sneak peek" post: abstracted close ups of OS32's works in progress. Keeping the mystery, sharing the creativity. Enjoy! 

From the Studios With Love

OS32 is now deep into Project X and the studios are humming with activity. Each student is far along their own path of inquiry and artistic exploration and with that comes some pretty singular scenes in the studios. Though it's a project based off extensive and serious research and frequently exhausting work, there's plenty of room for art-themed fun and shenanigans.

Here are just a few moments from the sculpture studio as captured by Annie, whose toilet this is:

Patrick and Jess casually strike their best "thinking artist" pose as Sam works in the background. 

Jess and Will during the casting process (with an appearance by Jackson)
Body casting seems to be a teen-favorite and who can blame them? This simple technique allows for countless variations on a theme (the self) and isn't that what Oxbow's all about? Visit Instagram for a fantastic timelapsed video of Jess having her face cast.

Zoe shaping her high density foam sculpture, Jocelyn working on her plaster coated wire armatures, and Tati preparing a suitcase for art renovation. 

Project X: Research Mode

OS32 has begun Project X (which is Top Secret, even though I know some alumni have definitely leaked information) and with it, a period of self directed research that has already proven to be far-reaching. True to our nature of constantly developing and reworking our curriculum, students are now writing investigative reports in conjunction with their art projects. Happily, we have a new relationship with the Napa Valley Community College who has graciously welcomed us into their beautiful McCarthy Library for online research workshops and to access their collections - a big thank you to them! Oxbow students now have the opportunity to broaden their research horizons and experience a collegiate atmosphere just a bike's ride away!

Check back for more secretive updates on Project X during the next few weeks.

books selected from faculty members' personal libraries... / ...a pack of bikers set out for Napa Valley College.

Emma E spends some time in the stacks while Stella and Wheeler explore the college's online databases. 

And then a REAL sneak peek into our lives: how we deal with a flat tire, 7 students, and 1 car. 

photos by Grace M.

Rorschach 2.0

For the past week, OS32 has been working closely with Visiting Artist Leslie Shows.What started as a free for all with what seems like an endless supply of ink has now morphed into a real consideration of composition, texture, context, tone and value. Students are editing and altering their work into new compositions that have texture and negative/positive space at the forefront. With such limited materials, their creativity and problem solving are on full display: it really seems as if everyone has adopted a radically different approach. Here are some studio snapshots for you to see the whole experiment and variety of splatters, blots, puddles, lines, washes all coming together in different ways.

di Rosa Ramblings

Friday marked OS32's first fieldtrip, which we spent at The di Rosa in Napa.  Students had the unique opportunity to see a private collection of gargantuan proportions and varied styles. Not only does the di Rosa maintain a historic farmhouse and warehouse gallery overflowing with paintings, sculptures and installations, there is also an expansive (think: "acres") sculpture meadow, as well as a separate gallery currently showcasing work from a new artist residency partnership with Stags' Leap Winery.  

To the left is a shot of Richard T. Walker's show, the fallibility of intent in the Gatehouse Gallery. Walker is the first artist in residence through Stags' Leap Winery and his mesmerizing show was an aural and visual journey through the deep connections and transcendent awe one may feel in a sublime natural setting. Perfect companion to the students' reading and investigation of "Walden"!

Below are some shots of us touring the residence and interacting with pieces by Gordon Huether, David Ireland, and Mildred Howard. 

photos by: Pattiann Koury and Megan Broughton

Check our Instagram for more di Rosa pics. 

***special Instannouncement***

The Oxbow School is on Instagram! 

  --  follow @theoxbowschool --

for snapshots of daily life, works in progress, fieldtrip pics, #tbt and #fbf

This is a great way to visit campus, if only on your phonescreens.

http://instagram.com/theoxbowschool/

photos provided by current students, faculty, and staff. 

Administered by Residential Life Advisor Megan Broughton 

Co-Curriculars Showcase

Twice a week, Oxbowhemians cycle through faculty guided co-curriculars such as hiking, running, walking, biking, and "Surf n Turf" (a gardening/kayaking supercombo). The hikers and walkers go on adventures all over the Napa Valley, the runners enjoy the local riverside trails, bikers scale the surrounding mountains, and the gardeners harvest fruits and vegetables planted from previous semesters and propagate for the future ones. This week's blogging team (Zoë and Wheeler) gathered snapshots from each and quotes from participants so you can hear about it all firsthand.

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"Hiking reconnected me to a natural state of mind. I walked through the redwoods and thought about how old they must be. It was beautiful and relieving to get away from the town. The ambience changed from cars to birds." Stefan

 Skyline Park. photos: Wheeler. 

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"I love the running program here because it's a really good way to exercise with friends. I really like the river trail." Izzy L

pre-run smiles. selfie by: Tati

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"It's a hard work out. We go all through Napa - on the outskirts of the town and in the hills. We biked twenty miles last time. We biked up into this winery and it was very beautiful. It's a group thing I would say. I would say that it has made us all closer." Will

photo: Dirk

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"Gardening is beautiful and makes me feel connected to the earth. My favorite thing to do is plant lettuce." Bonnie

"I didn't expect to enjoy gardening nearly as much as I do. It's interesting because everyone does something different every time. We weed, plant seeds, and create new, more fertile dirt for the ground. Getting your hands dirty is oddly relaxing and meditative. I'm really glad I decided to join." Zoë 

A rock, paper, scissors tournament determines the gardeners and the kayakers, and some small spoils from clearing out the garden beds. photos: Megan Broughton

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members of Walkabout crossing a local river. photo: Pattiann Khoury