Eighth-grader Alegra Figeroid was one of almost 70 visual art students featured at Oakland School for the Arts Visual Arts Spring Exhibition over the weekend. She showed several works, including a self-portrait based on her sonogram picture and a Roy Lichtenstein-influenced pop painting, “I Can See You.” Alegra said she has seen her work improve since coming to the school two years ago and that she’s excited about an upcoming course in comic book art.

Oakland School for the Arts, behind the Fox Theater on 19th Street in Oakland, is a public charter and college preparatory school that trains art students in arts management, dance, instrumental music, literary arts, theater, visual arts and vocal music.

Friday night’s Oakland Art Murmur helped coax art lovers to the Spring Exhibition, which was held in the school’s theatre tucked behind the Fox. They mingled with proud friends and family members of the students.

Carmen Guerra, the art show coordinator, said more than 230 pieces were sold.

Visual art students had to maintain at least a C average to be eligible to show at the exhibit. They priced their own work and keep 60 percent of each sale; the remainder helps support the program.

Students in the arts management department designed and ran the exhibition.

“We couldn’t have this type of professional show without the Arts Management program,” said Andrew Junge, department chair for visual arts. 

The concept behind the Spring Exhibition was “a sense of magic and legitimacy,” explained Junge, adding that the show was a collaboration between the arts management and visual arts departments.

Arts management students hung plyboard panels displaying the art from the ceiling. The layout formed a labyrinth with a display of small sculptural pieces in the center. Under the direction of Jean-Francois Revon, arts management chair, students, teachers and volunteers transformed the performance space into an atmospheric art gallery.

“We plan about two-thirds of it, the rest is improvised. You can feel the buzz as it starts taking shape,” said Junge.

Oakland School for the Arts opened its doors in 2002 from an empty lot at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and 18th Street. The program, which started in a compound of trailers, moved to its impressive home in the Fox Theater building in 2008. Currently 502 children are enrolled.

Future students must audition in their particular discipline and are assessed, by the faculty of working artists, on talent and potential. Once accepted, they’re academically placed based on previous grades. Michaela Peters, director of admissions, said the school has an 85 percent graduation rate. Graduates have been accepted at more than 100 colleges and universities, including Berklee College of Music, Pratt Institute, Stanford University and Vassar College.

Applications for next school year are being accepted. Applications for grades six through 12 must be mailed by Apr. 12. Auditions will be held Apr. 24. E-mail info@oakarts.org for more information.

To learn more about Oakland School for the Arts, visit here.