6/6 O-Scene Weekend
Posted by PS on June 6, 2008
Image Courtesy of Traci Bartlow
Featured Event: Oakland Art
Y’know that often repeated “fact” that Oakland has the most artists per capita of any city in the country? While I like the idea, I’ve always met the statement with just a slightly snarky hint of “Oh, really? Is that a fact?”
It’s not that I don’t love the Town’s art scene-I really, really do-it’s just that I’ve always found the statement a little hard to swallow. Well this weekend I’m eating crow, big brightly colored bowls of artistically arranged crow. As the sunshine from the first weekend of June beams down on the timely convergence of Art Murmur and East Bay Open Studios, there’s truly a ridiculous amount of art happenings happening-from photography to fresco, installations to open studios. It’s enough to turn even a skeptic like me into an ardent Oakland Art Cheerleader.
Tonight kick things off on 14th and Broadway at Joyce Gordon Gallery’s annual “Insight” emerging photographers exhibit. The six Bay Area and two London based photographers, including Traci Bartlow, Rameen Gasey and Judy Seidel vary in styles from black and white photojournalism to abstract imagery but all eight have proven that they have bright futures behind the lens.
Afterwards head next door to Awaken Cafe for “Superimpositions,” Julie Oppermann’s exhibit of small watercolors and large mounted canvases centered around the idea of layering, collaging, and juxtaposing patterns, shapes, lines and colors.
Next there’s “Myths and Dreams,” showing at the Front Gallery on Grand Ave., featuring frescos, video and prints by Calixto Robles, Alexandra Blum and Ana Hurk respectively. Each artist uses the various mediums to explore ideas “inspired from memories, images, fables and myths that bridges concerns of the modern world and that of the traditions of ancient Meso-America.”
After a bit of Meso art head over to 21 Grand for their 8th annual Benefit Art Sale, featuring the work of over 70 local artists, all priced to make sure you leave the spot with your own personal masterpiece tucked neatly under your arm…
As you make your way up to Well Boutique, one of the newer Murmur additions, located on Telegraph and 43rd. Shop owner Riquelle Small is on a mission to create a little spiritual oasis in the Temescal with her combination of healing products, local art designs and jewelry in addition to the art openings she hosts in the back room. Illustrator Johnny Siu’s work fits right into the aesthetic, with colored pencil sketches of wide eyed little girls and fantasy figures.
Then if you’re still thirsty for art but want something a bit less “artsy,” make the trek over to Compound Gallery on San Pablo for “Water, Oxygen, Light” a collaboration between Emery Secondary School Biology Instructor Cassandra Neaves and Kala Arts Instructor Eric Sanchez that explores the process of seed germination and vegetative rooting. Science and art all in one place? Hmm, (slow, thoughtful chin stroking) very fascinating…
And this is all just tonight! We haven’t even begun to talk about the weekend’s East Bay Open Studios or Oakbook’s resident art critic Theo Konrad Auer’s handpicked faves. I mean, not to get all zealot on you dudes but I’m just saying: Oakland is where all the real artists kick it. And that’s a stone cold fact.
Insight
7-10pm
Joyce Gordon Photography Gallery
406 14th St, Oakland
510.465.8928
www.joycegordonphotographygallery.com
414 14th St., Oakland
www.awakencafe.com
Myths and Dreams
7-10pm
35 Grand Ave, Oakland
Benefit Art Sale
7-10pm
21 Grand
416 25th St., Oakland
510.444.7263
www.21grand.org
New work by Johnny Siu
7pm -10pm
WELL
4233 Telegraph Ave, Oakland
510.653.4308
www.wellspacegallery.com
“Water, Oxygen, Light”
7-10pm
Compound Gallery
6604 San Pablo Ave
Oakland, CA 94608
510-665-9019
www.thecompoundgallery.com
Friday, June 6
The Big Pick Funkfest 2008
It’s a tribute to the town’s famous funk legacy tonight at the Malonga Center with performances by Mark Wright & Eargasmic, Matrix/Penthouse Sweet, The Fullhouse Band featuring Blayze, and Moogstar (Baby Cameo) & Friends! Proceeds from the event benefit the Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts.
Big Pick Funkfest
$15 in advance, $20 at the door
Doors @ 6pm; show @ 7pm
Malonga Casquelord Center for the Arts
1428 Alice St., Oakland
510.238.7219
Fishbone w/The Uptones & Sunhouse
Combining equal parts of deep funk, high-energy punk, and frantic ska, the Los Angeles-based Fishbone rocked the ska world with the 1987 debut EP and have been throwing down the skanking good tunes ever since. The legendary group is joined tonight by joined tonight by Berkeley’s Ska originators the Uptones and soul rockers Sunhouse.
Fishbone w/The Uptones & Sunhouse
$20
9:30pm
Shattuck Down Low
2284 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
510.548.1159
www.shattuckdownlow.com
Saturday, June 7
Temescal Street Fair
The 5th Annual celebration goes down today with music, dancing and fun for the whole family along Telegraph Ave from 47th to 51st. The festival includes musical performances by La Familia, Chelle and Friends, NEw Style Motherlode and Nightfever along witha kids stage, a “Green Zone,” food from area restuarants like Lanesplitters, Bakesale Betty and Loca Taqueria.
Temescal Street Fair
Free
12-6pm
Telegraph between 47th and 51st, Oakland
www.temescalmerchants.com
Berkeley World Music Festival
Amoeba Music presents this annual celebration in People’s Park Dance complete with music, food and a crafts Bazaar. Featuring performers include Andrew Carriere & the Creole Belle, Sukhawat Ali Khan and Stephen Kent, SambaDá and Sila and the AfroFunk Experience! At 2pm Cambodian psych rockers Dengue Fever play a free all ages show at Amoeba on Telegraph.
Berkeley World Music Festival
Free
12-9pm
Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
www.berkeleyworldmusic.org
2008 JLAC Summer Splash
Since 2002, the Jack London Aquatic Association has been working to make water sports on the Oakland Estuary accessible. To further that goal the JLAC ishosting a day of free rowing, kayaking, and/or dragon boating throughout the day. The kid friendly event will also feature sea shanties by the Roving Tars.
Summer Splash
Free
10am-2pm
Jack London Aquatic Center
115 Embarcadero, Oakland
510.208.6067
www.jlac.org/special.shtml
O-Scene 
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