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
Fine Art - Made in Oakland
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
Out and About in Oakland
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
Historic Warehouse For Sale in West Oakland
Location: Oakland, CA Once stables for Wells Fargo Bank, then a Cigar Factory, this 2 story masonry warehouse w/wood floors is currently divided into nonconforming spaces that have been used as artist studios for the last 30 years. Retrofit to minimum voluntary standards in 1994; 1 gas & electric meter for entire bldg, easement for 5 off street parking spaces in adjacent lot. Probate/requires court confirmation, needs work.
The Old Rossi Cigar Warehouse
This 12000 square foot commercial building has 2 floors, 5 parking spaces and is listing with Sara @ Red Oak Realty for $799,000. This gorgeous brick structure was purchased a few years back for over a $1million by a recording artist, who had dreams of building a sound studio, teaching children music, as well as living in this space. Unfortunately, the previous owner passed away prematurely of cancer. What can you make of her big dream?
East Bay Adventures
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.
HerringboneCard
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
My Bay Area Weekend!
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.
There Are Artists Among Us
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
Field Trip Time! San Francisco Decorator Showcase House 2009
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.)
