Your Custom Text Here
I was happy to make a small donation and even more happy to hear it is now fully funded! Stephen Texeira's The Oakland Neighborhood Project is a very cool photographic story telling about Oakland and its vast array of people. Please click on the links below to find out more! [embed]https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2056607570/the-oakland-neighborhood-project?ref=checkout_share[/embed]
Lakeshore Avenue sidewalk
Oakland is full of public art and artist. Enjoy First Friday and Art Murmur tonight! Click here to learn more about Art Murmur.
I absolutely love what Joyce did during her kitchen remodel. After renovating the kitchen and restoring the walls, she decided to create a "picture" of the history of her 1910 home. In the photo below you can see various wallpapers and plaster layered under the paint. A nice rectangle was evenly measured to create a custom work of art. Genius!
Today we honor all of the fathers. The photo above is by Oakland artist Sara Haba of my husband and children.
Oakland is full of life, savor what this city has to offer. Below are just a few events in the coming weeks.
O Zone at OMCA: Incredible! | Friday October 8th, 5:00 - 9:00 pm. Learn about the making of the film with behind-the-scenes stories from Pixar artists who helped make it! For more information click here.
Oaktoberfest! Saturday October 9th, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Come enjoy beer, music and food in the Dimond district of Oakland. Red Oak Realty is a proud sponsor and will have a booth! I will be there from 12:00-2:30 pm to answer any real estate questions you might have. Come and say hello! For more information click here!
Sundays in the Redwoods, Sunday October 10th, 2 pm at the Woodminister Amphitheatre. George Duke, Stabe Wilson and Ray McCoy will close out this annual 4 Sunday series. For more information click here!
15th Annual Dia de los Muertos Festival on Sunday October 24, 2010 from 10:00 am to 5:00 am. The festival will be held between 33rd Ave. and 37th Ave. on East 12th St., as well as in the Fruitvale Village. For more information click here!
Celebrate Redwood Heights and the art work of Pam Consear! Wednesday October 25th from 6-8 pm at 3595 Monterey Blvd in Redwood Heights. (art gala, open house and refreshments.)
Boo at the Zoo! Saturday October 30th from 10 am - 3 pm. Come celebrate halloween with the children in your life at Oakland's zoo. Click here for more information.
Bay Area Dine Out! Tuesday November 9th dine out for Meals on Wheels. 80 local restaurants are participating in this event. For more information click here!
Have you driven or walked by the corners of 11th and Broadway and 41st and Piedmont in Oakland and remarked about the murals that depict the Key System Stations that operated streetcars and bus lines throughout the East Bay (and a commuter rail and ferry to San Francisco) from 1903 until 1948 and wondered who this talented artist is in our midst? His name is Rocky Rische-Baird and this native of Northern California who splits his time between the Bay Area and the village of Putney, Vermont. Rische-Baird self describes his art as representative of the unity between nature, self and the idea that the human mind retains past memories. However it is interpreted, his art has an other-worldly quality that is mesmerizing and gives us a peek into Oakland’s unique history. Love them!
Oakland is the home of amazing people, both past and present, and James and Henrietta Latham were no exception. James, a Wells Fargo representative and his wife Henrietta, had three children, Charles, Milton and Edith and were dedicated to the value of all living things, including the way children were educated. His brother Milton, a prominent California senator, was the 6th governor of California. James died in 1876 and Henrietta remarried a Mr. Dwight, continuing her passion for “the speechless ones” through watercolor painting, and by writing one of the first vegetarian cookbooks, published in 1898, called The Golden Age Cook-Book. The gorgeous bronze sculpture located at Telegraph and Broadway in Oakland was a gift from their children as a tribute to their humanity. Created by Raphael Charles Peyre, a French sculptor, it depicts several scenes including a cherub restraining a man from beating a donkey, and the bowls surrounding the base were intended as horse water troughs. Henrietta Latham Dwight died in Paris in 1909 and was buried in Oakland in 1910.
Every first Friday of the month, with the next screening on June 4th, the Great Wall of Oakland presents a curated screening of video art and films from artists in Europe, Canada and the United States. A series of 100-foot by 100-foot moving images are projected onto the back wall of 2201 Broadway. The Wall faces West Grand Avenue between Broadway and Valley Street, next door to Luka’s Taproom and Lounge in Oakland’s Uptown district. Don’t miss this dramatic cutting edge motion art! Click here for more information.
Save the date! On April 29 The Oakland Zoo will host a screening of the movie “Return to the Wild, a Modern Tale of Wolf and Man.” The reception begins at 6:30 in the Marian Zimmer Auditorium at the Oakland Zoo with the screening beginning at 7pm. The film is appropriate for children 12 and older and the cost is a sliding scale of $10-$20. Get the details at www.oaklandzoo.org. Pack a lawn chair, dress warm and head on up to Redwood Heights Recreation Center this Friday, April 30 to see the Pixar movie “Up.” Snacks are available from 6:30 to 8:30 for $4.00 with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund for summer day camp and after school Rockets. The movie begins at dusk, approx. 8pm. Call 510.482.7827 for a list of all the Friday night movies through July.
Oakland Museum of California is newly remodeled! Saturday, May 1, celebrate the transformed museum with 31 hours of continuous free programs and events. Festivities begin at 11am with a Native American Ohlone blessing, and of course the continued discovery of the story of California. For more info visit museumca.org.
Stop by L’Amyx Tea Bar, 3437 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, on May 7 from 5-7 pm and enjoy a complimentary beverage and reception launching a solo exhibition of the recent paintings of Lorrie Fink, oils inspired by the organic forms found in nature and the cycles of life. This Washington D.C. raised artist has been the Bay Area since 1974, with her first solo exhibit at EBMUD Gallery in 2008.
For images or further information about this exhibit, please contact: Lorrie Fink, (510) 326-1990; e-mail: lorrie@lorriefink.com, web site: http://www.lorriefink.com.
The East Bay just keeps getting better and better. If you think Oakland and Berkeley are sleepy cities, then you are certainly mistaken! Once Ozzie's Fountain Shoppe amid-century pharmacy and soda fountain is now the Elmwood Cafe. This cafe was thoughtfully renovated and the owners did their best to savage the essence of its former space. Located on the corner of College andRussell, Elmwood Cafe is open from 7 am - 10 pm daily.
Curator, Lonnie Lee is hard at work renovating her new art gallery in the Uptown area of Oakland. This space will feature local art in an historic old building. This space was a former stable, auto garage, furniture repair shop and then home of United Glass. Lonnie Lee was the proprietor of Vessel on Ashby Avenue in Berkeleya boutique that I loved a few years back. Vessel Gallery in Oakland's revived art district will surely be special. Look for Vessel Gallery to open May 15th, 2010.
Kakui will come to Montclair Village, bringing a handsome sushi spot. This space housed Jamba Juice and is next door to Noah's Bagels. When I walk by I get glimpses of the owners vision and I am super excited.
New from Saint George Spirits in Alameda is Firelit Spirits from distiller Dave Smith. This yummy liqueur is made with Blue Bottle Coffee and distilled brandy. The coffee is roasted at Blue Bottle Coffee in Oakland and this liqueur is distilled in small batches in Alameda.
Coming soon to the corner of Adeline and Alcatraz in Berkeley, Addie's pizza. The owners of Sweet Adeline Bakeshop are renovating the old Spud's Pizza spot. If you have tasted the baked goods that chef, Jennifer produces at out Sweet Adeline's Bakeshop, then you are as excited as I am about her upcoming pizzeria.
Wildly popular Labels Consignment Shop in Walnut Creek will open up a sister store on Ashby Avenue near College. This place was voted the best place to buy a designer handbag by Diablo Magazine!
Matthew Kowalski is showcasing his art at my office. Red Oak Realty, 2099 Pleasant Valley Avenue in Oakland. I love the bright colors!
Matthew Kowalski: Artist Statement
“I create my Radical Relief art using found objects as a printing medium. Finding the objects I use is random and up to fate. I am driven by curiosity in my search for and discovery of these tools, society's discards. I get a great sense of satisfaction knowing that I am turning someone’s garbage into gold and making my small contribution to stopping the waste running amok in our world. It makes me feel good knowing that everything we need is here, all around us; we don’t need to make more."
Finding a Voice by Marissa Anderson, (age 14!!) will be showing at Red Oak Realty Solano Avenue location February 8- April 3rd Artist reception February 5th, 6-8 pm
This past summer my husband turned 40. I wanted to give him something special and lasting, so I hired Oakland artist, Sarah HaBa of Rockridge to paint a picture from a photograph. Sarah capture the essence of my family on a wood board and I love it! Check Sarah out online, http://sarahhaba.com
TomorrowOakland Unwrapped will host, Full Moon Buy Night at Jack London square. Support local business and artisans as they fill the square and sell their wares. Oakland Unwrapped is an Online Marketplace where shoppers can find and buy directly from Oakland-owned independent businesses and artists. In 2008, Oakland Unwrapped became a program of OneCalifornia Foundation, a nonprofit economic development organization in downtown Oakland. Click here for more about Full Moon Buy Night. Artist's such as Scott Courtnay-Smith who creates fine art as well as wearable art. (see his fedora above.)
Enjoy the Bay Area's hot Fall nights with the fourth annual Sunday in the Redwood's Concert Series. There are two weekends left, for more information, click here.
October 4 - Amazing Jazz
October 11 - Neo Soul Experience with Ledisi
Upcoming events in the Oakland-Berkeley area.Charles Chocolates in Emeryville, (6529 Hollis Street) is hosting FREE summer movies. Tonight's film is Soul Food and in honor of this movie, barbecue ribs, fried catfish and mac n' cheese will be on sale, (along with Charles Chocolates' Blue Bottle coffee services, hot chocolate and sweets). Food and snacks service will start at 6:30 and the movie starts at 9:00 pm. To order ticket click here.
Future film line up:
July 10 - Soul Food.
July 24 - Tortilla Soup.
August 14th - Babette's Feast
August 28th - Ratatouille.
September 11th - Pizza
September 25th - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
July 24 - Tortilla Soup.
August 14th - Babette's Feast
August 28th - Ratatouille.
September 11th - Pizza
September 25th - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Sheila Metcalf Tobin, (SheilaMetcalfTobin.com) will have her art on display at Herribone in Berkeley.
Pretty Penny, (Rockridge - prettypennyclothing.com.) will be hosting their first Craft Bazaar, highlighting a group of local crafters.
Mark Schroeder's latest sculptures will be on display at the Autobody Fine Art Gallery in Alameda from July 10 to August 16. The opening reception is Friday, July 10, from 7:00 -10:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 1517 Park St. across the street from the Havana restaurant. MarkSchroeder.com
Last weekend I made a point of getting out and enjoying my community. Friday morning I headed to Brown Sugar restaurant, a cute soul food eatery on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland operated by chef proprietor, Tanya Holland. I had a "screaming", (that means unbelievable, over the top) piece of brown sugar peach coffee cake, a fantastic latte and I loved the corn waffles with brown sugar butter. (I suggest you upgrade to the real maple syrup.) I absolutely love the upscale diner decor with mounted photography of Oakland. Brown Sugar Kitchen is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday - Sunday. Check out Brown Sugar Kitchen online, brownsugarkitchen.com.
Saturday, St. George Spirits in Alameda had their bi-annual open house. Here fans of fine spirits were able to learn how this boutique distillery handcrafts their small batches of the best Eau de Vie, Hangar One fruit infused vodka, absinthe, whiskey and more. With live music, snacks and bartenders everywhere mixing up fresh liquid concoctions, this was the best party along the Bay. Visit St. George Spirits online, St.GeorgeSpirits.com.
Folks hang out in front of St. George Spirits and enjoy the sun and the Bay view.
Sunday afternoon, I visited Linda Joseph's gorgeous Crocker Highland home for a casual art show featuring the work of Oakland artist Jess Wainer. Jess's medium is glass, clay and watercolors. I really love that Jess embraces vivid color! Splashes of color really make a wall pop. Jess's work ranges in price, but I was able to score a handle blown glass paper weight and a set of beetle notecards for $60. Check out Jess online at www.jesswainer.com.
Scott Courtnay- Smith is an Oakland based artist who I have featured on The Oakland Berkeley Journal. Being that Pro Arts East Bay Open Studio 2009 starts June 6th, I asked Scott to give me his list of must see artists. For information on ProArt, click here. Thanks Scott!
1.Idan Levin Jingletown (JABC) 2889 Ford Street, #41 Oakland, CA 94601 (415)505-8154 vantage@idanlevin.comwww.idanlevin.com Address for Exhibit Only June 6-7, June 13-14 Photography
Levin's photographs capture a secret urban environment that is around us everyday but goes mostly unnoticed. This is in part because he works at night when most of us are inside, and also because of the vantage points from which he shoots he shoots . His dreamily mysterious images contain an aspect of the clandestine nature of graffiti art-- without the defacement issue. A former soldier trained in reconnaissance, Levin reminds me of a hunter turned nature photographer that I once met while camping-- "This is how I shoot my trophies now", he explained, holding aloft his telephoto rig.
2.James Lovekin Swarm Studios 560 2nd Street, Studio 2 Oakland, CA 94607 (510)847-0530 jameslovekin@gmail.comwww.jameslovekin.com June 6-7, June 13-14 Mixed Media
James expresses his unique world view with paintings and collage that are at the same time visually stunning, thought provoking, and sometimes humorous. He works in collage and paint-- often combining the two. His sense of color is very distinct . Recently he made the switch from acrylic to oil, and the results are exciting, to say the least.
3. Lorrie Fink 3298 Lakeshore Avenue Oakland, CA 94610 (510)326-1990 lorrie@lorriefink.comwww.lorriefink.com Saturday June 6, Sunday June 7 Painting
Gorgeous, visceral and semi- abstract, Lorrie's recent work is loosely based on her observations of tide pools. A beautiful sense of color and form permeates her rich paintings in oil, alkyd and wax.
4. Janine Miller Janine Miller-Fritz "Nimby" 8410 Amelia Street Oakland, CA 94621 j.millerfritz@yahoo.comwww.appliedkineticarts.com Mechanical/Electrical
Industrial. Please see NimbySpace.org for details on event highlights on the evening of June 6th. Saturday June 6, Sunday June 7 Mixed Media Sculpture
I am including this pick because, if you haven't been to NIMBY, now is your chance to have your idea of art stretched out a little-- or a lot, depending on what you've already experienced. You won't be bored, I guarantee. And it's possible that you might have a religious experience.
In parting, I want to say that jpegs are no substitute for viewing live art, and so encourage everyone to get out and see as much as they can. - Scott Courtnay-Smith
Two days left to visit The San Francisco Decorator Showcase House. 2830 Pacific Avenue open this Sunday and Memorial Day: 11:00 am - 4:00 p.m . I love seeing the carefully selected grand home decorated and cleaned to perfection. No legos, books, video games or dirty clothes on the floors; just luxe fabrics, custom made furniture, art, and THE best side tables! (I have attended the Showcase House every year for the past decade and my friend Diana always teases me as I admire the side tables.) I love to surround myself with beautiful things, color, fragrance, sculpture, blown glass and solid handsome furnishings, so for me this is a must see. The following pictures were sent to me by a friend of The Oakland Berkeley Journal. Cheers! (Read the Chronicle article/review of the Showcase House, click here.)
Stage Left Cellars Opening and Wine Tasting
This Saturday, April 4th, from 11:00- 5:00 pm Owners Melinda and Rich Doty of Left Stage Cellars will be having their grand opening in their new space at 2102 Dennison St., in Oakland. (Click here for a map) Come see this new Oakland business and see 13 original works of art by Oakland artist, Scott Courtenay-Smith. (Click here for Scott's website) It's at the 23rd Avenue exit from 880 South, in a cool little industrial park. Support Oaklanders who are making Oakland a great place to work, live and thrive!
Realtor, CA DRE #01451749 – Red Oak Realty
510 693 4253 / deidre@redoakrealty.com / 6450 Moraga Avenue, Oakland CA 94611
©2024