“Please do not touch the artwork,” third-grader Jaksen Wilson announced triumphantly Friday, a paper badge dangling from his neck with the word “docent” scribbled across it in marker.

Wilson, a student at Blue Oak School, marched with purpose down the halls of his school, stopping along the way to point out artwork on display.

The Go Girl Gallery, a celebration of women, is a two-day event featuring student-led tours of an art exhibit by third-graders from Blue Oak School, Vichy Elementary, Pueblo Vista Alternative School and grape leaves studios, as well as works by Southern California artist Carol Towler.

The exhibit is the culmination of months of work by students who created ceramic plates honoring women they admire, and a nod to artist Judy Chicago’s installation “The Dinner Party.”

Blue Oak Lower School art teacher Leslie Gevurtz noting that the best way to judge what a student has learned is by asking them to teach, and said the subject matter is ripe for exploration.

“I feel it is important to introduce the concept of equal rights for men and women to young boys and girls so they can learn at an early age how to respect and treat one another,” she said. “Learning about influential women from the past reminds us of what we are all capable of achieving in the future.”

“We take for granted that we can vote,” she said, adding that the right came “only a minute ago in our history.”

Students, she said, learned the importance of studying female historical figures.

“If women weren’t here, it would just be boys,” said Vichy third-grader Jaci Crow.

“If you only study about boys, then you have no idea why women are important,” said Wilson.

Starr Taylor, a Blue Oak third-grader and docent, stopped to explain her own original work of art representing Harriet Tubman.

“She was a conductor on the underground railroad,” she said, “but not literally a railroad.”

Napa County Office of Education Barbara Nemko told students that the artwork “took my breath away.” She also took a moment to acknowledge the boys in the room, explaining that “we should celebrate our boys and men for the same reason that we celebrate our women.”

Napa Mayor Jill Techel and City Councilwoman Juliana Inman were also on hand to view the exhibit.

On Saturday, Blue Oak School opens its doors to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Blue Oak third-graders will lead tours of the Go Girl Gallery. Towler and local artists Orna Pascal, Kim Northrup and Blue Oak’s middle school art teacher, Mona Lea, will be available to talk with visitors about displays of their art. An area will be designated for hands-on arts activities for children.

Blue Oak’s lower campus is at 1436 Polk Street in Napa.