“Why Dr. Seuss got away with anti-Asian racism for so long”

“My mom, Karen Ishizuka, is quoted in this piece about Dr. Seuss for NBC news."

Based on my activity book, The Gift of Gravity, I led a small group on Zoom in the summer of 2020 to work through the Gift of Gravity, which is a collection of quotes, facts, and writing and drawing prompts. It was a way to connect during the pandemic and talk about what was annoying us and what we were grateful for. In the process, we created The Gift of Being Human. The Gift of Being Human is the product of seven students, ages 11 - 13 and is appropriate for anyone at any time (pandemic or otherwise). Enjoy both books!

Particularly relevant in the face of our current stay-at-home orders, here is my newest book on Amazon: The Gift of Gravity. This is a thought-provoking workbook I started many months ago, but was inspired to finish for this time. It is part gratitude journal, part creative outlet. Made for kids and adults alike, it makes a great way to get your kids off of screens and draw/doodle/write.

“I am one of the opinion editors for my school’s newspaper and despite the challenges of distance learning have had a lot of fun working with my peers to digitalize our paper. I've learned to use cool tools like Indesign and Photoshop and am excited to continue improving these new skills!"
- Rhea, 11th grade, Santa Monica High School

“Effects of Overfishing”

By Izumi Murase, 19 (currently applying to art schools)

Living in Northern California, I have been well-educated in the global issue of climate change. Surrounded by the ocean in San Francisco, ocean life and ecosystems are a focal point, both in school and in public spaces such as museums and aquariums. I grew up studying the kelp forests that reside along the coast of my home, and have watched those environments change over the past ten years.

The main effects of global warming are invisible to most people because they happen beneath the surface of our oceans. Through this piece, I wanted to create a window into the reality of what is actually happening under the water.  Fish populations are decreasing rapidly due to overfishing and ocean acidification. Jellyfish populations are exploding because their competition is dying out, and they can survive in reduced oxygen levels in the water. 

In my piece, I painted jellyfish traveling from left to right across the paper with small fish pulled by their tentacles. The direction of the piece is dictated by the jellyfish, symbolizing the power that jellyfish have in our oceans. The fish hanging on the end of the jellyfish tentacles mimic a fishing line to epitomize overfishing, as the fish is pulled against its will towards extinction. Unless we change our fishing habits, jellyfish will take over our oceans. 

Overall, I am satisfied with the end result of this piece. Early in my process, I struggled to render the sardines. There wasn’t enough contrast because their bodies were similar colors to the ocean background. By adding warmer tones to reflect the jellyfishes’ vibrant colors, I was able to render them to my satisfaction. I like the change in colors I did for the jellyfish in the foreground and the jellyfish in the background. By dulling the colors of the jellyfish in the background, I wanted to create depth to the piece. I also appreciate the vignette effect I created in order to move the eye to the focal points. If I were to revisit this piece, I would elongate it to create room for movement around the subjects. I would also try to experiment with the transparency in the bell of the jellyfish. This piece satisfies me because I feel it is not only visually appealing but also environmentally relevant.

“Throughout the pandemic, learning how to use Procreate has provided a valuable source of stress relief for me. I have loved bringing my art to life through a new medium and exploring something that I knew nothing about previously.”

- Makena lei, 11th grade, Crossroads School

—-Gus Checel, 6th grade

Dr. Allison Kawa is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the evaluation of children, adolescents, and emerging adults. Dr. Kawa’s approach to assessment is informed by decades of work with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, formal training in object-relations theory, and cutting edge research in the field of interpersonal neurobiology. Here a link to a webinar Dr. Kawa recently held on the topic of screen time and the adolescent mind.

— Cade, 8th grade.

I originally started my ebay business because I was bored during quarrintine. I started finding old shirts in my house and putting my old clothing up for sale. It soon escalated to me going to thrift shops to find more things to sell. I started to make a lot of money quickly and started to spend it but now I’m starting to save my money. 

-Sunny Brody, 8th grade

After reading the “Truths We Hold, An American Journey” by Kamala Harris, I have been inspired by how she stands up for others and fights hard in what is right. She tries her hardest to make America a more just place and is often victorious. Being the first woman, person of color to be the Vice President, I made this picture on a graphic design app. I am making stickers of this design and selling them on my Etsy shop, MinaLoyDesign (soon to be created). Kamala inspired me to help others in need, so I am donating 15% of my earnings toward charities like Tsuru for Solidarity, which helps immigrants in our country fight for their human rights.

— Mina Loy, 8th grade

These photos are based on the idea of “off the grid of reality”. I wanted to create an unrealistic world full color.

— Claire Factor, 10th grade.

Over the summer I had the fantastic opportunity of working as a fellow for Michelle Obama’s non-partisan organization When We All Vote, which is dedicated to closing the race and age voting gap. As a fellow, I led the west coast (6 states and 200+ ambassadors) in voter registration work. I also got to be in the Conan show as pictured above, which was for sure a highlight of my summer!

—Addison Lee, 12th grade.

One of the many things I’ve focused on since March 2020 is cultivating my education on houseplants and expanding my own collection that has conveniently taken over the waiting area in our new office, since waiting areas are no longer a thing. As a way of focusing my nervous energy, I’ve also self-medicated by taking posting photos of my plants along with quotes or poetry on my Instagram feed.