Freedom —Future of Hope Exhibition at SSF Library and Parks and Rec Gallery

Freedom The Future of Hope was on exhibition at SSF library and Parks Recreation Center Gallery, at 901 Civic Campus Way from June 27 to July 25, 2025.

The invitational poster of the Cultural Commission states , “June 19th , in 1865, honors the last enslaved African American in the United States were finally informed of their freedom -more than. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a moment rooted in resilience, freedom and hope.

Explore exceptional artworks that reflect the Spirit of Juneteenth through uniquely personal expressions that echo the power of perseverance and importance of embracing self-determination.”

The exhibition was supposed to be focused only for Juneteenth celebrating the last vestiges of slavery but it overflowed to July which also celebrates the Fourth of July, USA Independence Day, so the subject is really relevant reminder on the fragile state of democracy especially nowadays.

Usually the submitted pieces were only displayed inside the gallery but this exhibition caught artists attention so the subject brought a lot of submissions , so the pieces were displayed outside the walls and glass cases because gallery space was full.

Bianca “BB” Brown , musician, vocalist composer , a graduate of Oakland School of Arts provided the entertainment during reception. She listed songs and the audience voted which song they’d like to hear. BB will have a good future in her singing career.

I only met two artist in person. Stephen Von Mason three sculptural pieces touched the Freedom’s theme - Codifying Jim Crow Deconstruction Reconstruction (Cultural Arts Commission Award), Heritage Unbound, 761st Tank Battalion: : 183days of courage; I met him as he was bringing his big pieces for submission. I also met Maria Reyes, her piece was Beauty and Resilence of the Black Woman. Her piece was in the encased glass outside the gallery together with my piece. I noticed Alexia Huerta piece Cesar Chavez chant for farm workers “Si Se Puede”, translates to “Yes We Can”. It reminded me for a piece I’d done for the final class in Christine Colasurdo italic class, I created a bold poster with SI SE PUEDE.

I’d always submitted I pieces on paper and canvas, for the first time I used stones( courtesy of my neighbors Jay and Susan who sold the house and had to remove plants and rocks for new landscaping). My piece was titled “Freedom Rocks” spelling freedom letters on seven stones on a circle, with a middle stone with flowering plant that says Let Freedom Grow.

There were paintings of different styles from portrait, landscape, abstracts, wearable coat, sculptures, pottery, etc. One overlooked painting I like was Barbara Scholtz’s Pulling Out for Each Other , two arms interlocked with each other, arranged with multicoloured little cylinders, an original setting I’d not seen before. To me, its message is very current in America , where we pull and help each other instead of attacking each other, being divided, her message was to be communal instead of being divisive we work together to save freedom in democracy, the future of democracy.

As for me , some pieces are worth noticing but they can be not obvious to the viewers unless you go deep into symbolism and meaning of freedom: Tracy Cui, a large abstract painting “Half is Sea, Half is Flame” of blues and red delve on dualism of water that can drown freedom or make something come alive by watering plants to grow freedom ; flame or fire can burn freedom by bringing chaos or a flame can ignite freedom in human hearts. Adlai Jew “Freedom Wave” in circle of blue and white waves depict the transitory nature of waves, ever changing, fragile and ephemeral like freedom. We must be always vigilant of our democratic freedom. Jitendra Tandrel piece “Turkey in my Backyard” was first a puzzlement as to how this turkey is related to freedom. But then I recalled the label on eggs “cage free” chickens. The turkey is indeed related to freedom, since turkey was not caged and it’s free to roam the painter’s background.

The next Art Exhibition in the Gallery will be in October.

Check out the link below for free fun activities in our town you can enjoy like free movie, free concerts, holiday events and gatherings.

https://www.ssf.net/Departments/Parks-Recreation/Events