News and Notes from the Oakland Art Scene
The Oakland Art Murmur continues its momentum and has added three new galleries to its roster. Recent developments include broadening its parameters to include a larger geographic area. West Oakland galleries that wish to have First Friday openings welcome.
One of the newest galleries in the "uptown" area has its grand opening last week replete with high wattage searchlights, a significant contrast to the primarily low-key self-effacing "indie" sensibility of most of its neighbors. Reactions ranged from shoulder shrugging to polite refusal to comment to blatant disgust.
Another newish "uptown" gallery is closing at the end of this month due to rent issues. 33 Grand, which opened last summer, made (in hindsight) not the most politically astute decision in naming itself after its address, which was very similar to that of an existing arts space, 21 Grand (which I run). Not quite as fate-tempting as naming a luxury cruise ship, Titanic 2, but 21 Grand has had to move twice.
March is the month of reckoning for Oakland artists and organizations applying for funding from the City of Oakland. Not nearly as glamorous as reality television, but the grant hearings are free and open to the public, and you can watch panelists determine the fate of various projects and organizations at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 3. This marks the first year the applicants are not allowed their 5 minutes of Q&A time with the panel.
A recent show at one of Oakland's more reliable warehouse venues ended up being the "party you wished you'd never had," and has resulted in the venue putting a three month moratorium on shows. Besides the usual annoyances of bands showing up late, parking disputes, and noise complaints, the show purportedly included a guest throwing a warehouse resident's dinner on the floor, other guests damaging the washer and dryer in the laundry room, at least one fist fight, extensive graffiti, a window broken on purpose, and show attendees calling the cops on the venue.
One of the newest galleries in the "uptown" area has its grand opening last week replete with high wattage searchlights, a significant contrast to the primarily low-key self-effacing "indie" sensibility of most of its neighbors. Reactions ranged from shoulder shrugging to polite refusal to comment to blatant disgust.
Another newish "uptown" gallery is closing at the end of this month due to rent issues. 33 Grand, which opened last summer, made (in hindsight) not the most politically astute decision in naming itself after its address, which was very similar to that of an existing arts space, 21 Grand (which I run). Not quite as fate-tempting as naming a luxury cruise ship, Titanic 2, but 21 Grand has had to move twice.
March is the month of reckoning for Oakland artists and organizations applying for funding from the City of Oakland. Not nearly as glamorous as reality television, but the grant hearings are free and open to the public, and you can watch panelists determine the fate of various projects and organizations at Oakland City Hall, Hearing Room 3. This marks the first year the applicants are not allowed their 5 minutes of Q&A time with the panel.
A recent show at one of Oakland's more reliable warehouse venues ended up being the "party you wished you'd never had," and has resulted in the venue putting a three month moratorium on shows. Besides the usual annoyances of bands showing up late, parking disputes, and noise complaints, the show purportedly included a guest throwing a warehouse resident's dinner on the floor, other guests damaging the washer and dryer in the laundry room, at least one fist fight, extensive graffiti, a window broken on purpose, and show attendees calling the cops on the venue.