.First Friday Guide

All the events for October's art walk and street fair


STAFF PICK

Nature’s Gift: Humans, Friends & the Unknown
Enter a dreamy world where imagination and reality meet at Oakland Museum of California’s exhibition Nature’s Gift: Humans, Friends & the Unknown. World-renowned art collective FriendsWithYou — Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III — collaborate to create a multisensory experience intended to spark positive and euphoric emotions. The light-filled installation is interactive and designed to promote social connection. Since 2002, FriendsWithYou has promoted Magic, Luck, and Friendship™ all over the world. OMCA will hold an exclusive members-only preview party for Nature’s Gift on Friday, Oct. 6, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., before openings its doors to the public the next day. — Amyra Soriano

Runs Oct. 7 through Jan. 21, 2018, $4 for exhibition in addition to museum admission, 1000 Oak St., Oakland, MuseumCA.org


Art Galleries
A Nice Place to Visit Faced with the possibility of having to move out of the Bay Area, Julie Alvarado creates a loving tribute to San Francisco through a series of paintings focusing on places and things that visitors think of as quintessential. Gathering ideas from old books, postcards and internet images, Alvarado makes narrative paintings that are both humorous and absurd. Thursdays-Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. Continues through Oct. 14, free, Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th St., Oakland, MercuryTwenty.com.

Artisan Series A Bombay Sapphire 21+ event. RSVP online to attend. Fri., Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m., free. Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland, JoyceGordonGallery.com.

Black & White An Anastasia Faiella, Barbara Kolo, and Patricia Thomas collaboration. Through Oct. 28, free. SLATE contemporary, 473 25th St., Oakland, SlateArt.net.

Black Women Over Breathing Imagine a world without Black women: from Edmonia Lewis and Audre Lorde, to Nina Simone and Michelle Obama, these women and those like them—our mothers, aunts, sisters, partners, and friends—are courageous, bold, ambitious, and intelligent. Fri., Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m., free. Betti Ono Gallery and Shop, 1427 Broadway, Oakland, BettiOno.com.

Black Panther Art Show A celebration of the Black Panther’s 50th anniversary. Sat., Oct. 7, 6-9 p.m. free. 310 Gallery, 310 14th St., Oakland, 310Oakland.com.

The Corporation: NewWork by Dan Nelson Nelson focuses on popular themes in everyday American life: corporatism, neo-liberalism, greed, boredom, chaos, futility, plastic, cardboard, dysfunctional hierarchies, and the color beige. Closing reception & artist talk on Sunday, Oct. 15, from 3-6 p.m. (talk starts at 4 p.m.) Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Continues through Oct. 15. free. 1167 65th St., Oakland, TheCompoundGallery.com.

Conversations and Color Visual art venue for Oakland’s First Friday on Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m. Through Nov. 3, free. Athen B Gallery, 1525 Webster St., Oakland.

The Dark Frontier Works of Joel Stephen Ross with images that are lifted from isolated rural Americana filtered through the lens of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. This exhibit both pays homage to and pokes fun at the mythology of Old Western America. Through Oct. 31, free. Art@Archer, 431 13th St., Oakland.

Dark Matter Work by artists Jerry McLaughlin (coldwax painging) & Gina Telcocci (sculpture). The works of both of these artists reflect a deep engagement with the raw materials they are comprised of and the power of pure abstraction. Opening reception on Friday, Oct. 6, from 6-9 p.m. Through Oct. 21, 12-6 p.m., free. GearBox Gallery, 770 West Grand Ave., Oakland, GearBoxGallery.com.

Dwelling Jill McLennan watches Jingletown, her neighborhood of 14 years, transformed by community and development. As an artist, she records history as her chosen refuge vanishes before her eyes. The uncertain future looms over residents in the form of condos and a growing population. Cranes and birds that once frequented the estuary and wetlands have turned into construction cranes. The original community members—generations of families, implanted activists and artists—reside within their dwellings, waiting and wondering. McLennan is a participant in this urban displacement and renewal. She is a tenant, landlord, teacher, learner, observer and activist. Thursdays-Saturdays. Continues through Oct. 14, free, mercurytwenty.com. Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th St., Oakland, MercuryTwenty.com.

The Gentle Voice That Talks To You Won’t Talk Forever Through Oct. 22, free. City Limits Gallery, 300 Jefferson St., Oakland, CityLimitsGallery.com.

I Know What It Is to Long for Home Artist Richard Kurtz is a self-taught “outsider” artist. Kurtz’s style is raw and playful; his work is in many international collections. Fri., Oct. 6, 5-8 p.m. free. Belotes Studio 354, 354 West MacArthur Blvd., Oakland.

ir*reality The concept of irreality emphasizes not just the ‘not real’ but some form of estrangement from our generally accepted sense of reality. Opening reception on Friday, Sept. 29, from 6-9 p.m. Through Nov. 18, free. ArtVale Gallery, 3463 Champion St., Oakland, artvalegallery.com.

Kah-meel-E-yun There is always more than what meets the eye. Each exhibiting artist uses a range of mediums and styles to call attention to their various modes of visual production, including photography, graphic design, installation, and participatory work. Opening reception on Friday, Oct. 6, from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 6-27, free. Pro Arts Gallery, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Oakland, ProArtsGallery.org.

Kim Anno & Antonius Bui An exhibition with annotations, paintings, and photography by Kim Anno and mortar, hand-cut paper sculptures by Antonius Bui. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. Continues through Oct. 21, free. Patricia Sweetow Gallery, 480 23rd St., Oakland, PatriciaSweetowGallery.com.
Labor of Love Curator Yukiko Koide brings together six artists for exhibition Labor of Love. Each artist developed their own creative systems and through their intensive and patient labor, each artist has found their personal means of expression. Through Nov. 11, free. Creative Growth Art Center, 355 24th St., Oakland, CreativeGrowth.org.

Lin Fischer A solo collection of landscape and figurative abstract paintings. Through Oct. 28. free. Gray Loft Gallery, 2889 Ford St., Oakland, GrayLoftGallery.com.

Mined Matters An exhibition by David Burke with sculptures by Luke Heimbigne. Burke’s work is an astonishing array of emotional responses to environmental protection deregulations, expressed in immersive abstractions that evoke the natural world and feelings of contemplation. Through Oct. 14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., free, Vessel Gallery, 471 25th St., Oakland, Vessel-Gallery.com.
Monument Eternal An exhibition featuring Claire Colette’s ethereal brand of geometric abstraction inviting deep, meditative viewing. Interested in contemporary and esoteric creation myths and sacred architectures, Colette’s emotive linear paintings contemplate modern relationships with past civilizations and our own place in the universe. Through Oct. 28, 3-5 p.m. free. Johansson Projects, johanssonprojects.com.

Nature’s Gift: Humans, Friends & the Unknown A one-of-a-kind and interactive environment by FriendsWithYou—the LA-based, fine art collaborative featuring Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III—this large-scale, light-filled installation sparks joy and positivity, and sets the stage for friendship, magic, and social connection. Member preview and party on Friday, Oct, 6, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Oct. 7-Jan. 21. free w/ museum admission. 1000 Oak St., Oakland, MuseumCA.org.

Objects of Mutual Affection Art from the homes of Bay Area writers Dodie Bellamy, Bruce Boone, Robert Glück, Kevin Killian, and Jocelyn Saidenberg. Opening reception on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 7-Nov. 19, 6-9 p.m. free. Royal Nonesuch Gallery, 4321 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, RoyalNonesuchGallery.com.

ourselves Works by 8 young Australian women exploring cultural performativity within new media technologies, investigating how we navigate our fractured identities in a time of both increased virtuality and heightened vulnerability of bodies and environments. Opening reception on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 6-9 p.m. Starting Oct. 7. Saturdays, 12-5 p.m. Continues through Nov. 4. free. CTRL+SHFT, 1430 34th St., Oakland, ctrlshftcollective.com.

Pentimento Jo Ann Biagini creates multilayered, collaged artworks inspired by the natural world. Reconfiguring pages from books about nature, and playing with imagery through drawing, painting, image transfer, layering and sanding, she explores connections among elements and patterns, both real and imagined. Thursdays-Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. Continues through Oct. 14, free, mercurytwenty.com. Mercury 20 Gallery, 475 25th St., Oakland, MercuryTwenty.com.

Seredipity Elaine Maute’s new show of abstract encaustics and prints takes advantage of accidents, chance and luck. Her large luminous prints and smaller encaustic paintings are made using a loose, wet into wet technique. Fridays, Saturdays. Continues through Nov. 4, free. Manna Gallery, 473 25th St., Oakland, MannaGallery.com.

The sun shot out from its silver side Works by Bernstein and Kaplowitz, featuring a series of small photographs and photographic pairings and cyanotype-based art. Fridays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Continues through Oct. 15, free, www.interfaceartgallery.com. Interface Gallery, 486 49th St., Oakland, InterfaceArtGallery.com.

Totem noun | to·tem | \ˈtō-təm\ A Natural Installation Artist Vincent Pacheco creates narratives from excavated dead and broken trees, tree stumps, and other found objects from the Sierra mountain forest. Combining prose, parable, and fact, he activates the litany of experiences that shape his understanding of his adopted environs. Oct. 6-Nov. 4, 1-5 p.m., free. Aggregate Space, 801 West Grand Ave., Oakland, AggregateSpace.com.

Unearthed Works by artist Elizabeth Harris, a recent recipient of the Berkshire Taconic Foundation’s A.R.T. Fund. Artist’s reception on Friday, Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m. Through Nov. 11, free. The Fourth Wall Art Gallery, 473 25th St., Oakland.
Vibrate Works by Bay Area artists Connie Goldman and Mikey Kelly featuring paintings that explore contemporary abstraction and color as well as motion, in both metaphorical or optical terms. Opening reception on Friday, Oct. 6, from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 6-Nov. 16, free. Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, 480 23rd St., Oakland, ChandraCerritoContemporary.com.

White Linen Nights Through Oct. 15; Fri., Oct. 6, 6-9 p.m., free. Thelma Harris Art Gallery, 5940 College Ave., Oakland, ThelmaHarrisArtGallery.com.


Attractions
A Room for Belonging TAC anniversary weekend celebration, featuring Cave Forms with Margit Galanter, Drawing at Night with Lenny Gonzalez, The New Naturalists, gLITterblack, Voicehandler (Friday); Artists, Talking, Cookies with Tawil & Dena Beard, History Happy Hour with MC Isabelle Sjahsam, Thomas Carnacki / Jordan Glenn Quartet, Lord Tang with live painting by Kelly Porter (Saturday); Oaktown Improv Jam + free class, Shapeshifters Cinema featuring Synthestesia (Sunday) Oct. 6-8, $20 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds). Temescal Art Center, 511 48th St., Oakland, TemescalArtCenter.org.

Asian Cultural Center First Fridays Oakland Asian Cultural Center hosts First Fridays, showcasing Asian and Pacific Islander art, cultural performance, informative workshops and exciting games every first Friday of the month. OACC is located in the Pacific Renaissance Plaza. First Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m., Free. Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 9th St. #290, Oakland, OACC.cc.


Fairs, Festivals, & Fiestas
Korean Culture Fest with traditional dancers from Korea, a Kuen Don martial arts demonstration, traditional Korean drummers, and Korean food and arts and craft vendors. Fri., Oct. 6, 6-8 p.m., free. 27th St. and Telegraph Ave., 27th Street at Telegraph Avenue, Oakland.

Oakland First Fridays Block Party Oakland First Fridays Festival is an art and culture street festival happening every first Friday of the month. Artists, food vendors, street performers and locals gather for a night of fun. The event parties through Telegraph Avenue from W. Grand to 27th Avenue. First Friday of every month, 5-9:30 p.m., Free. Telegraph Avenue, Telegraph Avenue, Oakland.


Culinary & Wine
Oktoberfest at BatchMade Market Taste what’s cooking in Forage Kitchen. This month will feature ezquites, tacos, and empanadas from Al Chile Kitchen; Persian meatballs from Azars Catering; fried chicken from Bragging Ryt’s/Montperi Catering; gelato sandwiches, sweet and savory hand pies, and soft Bavarian pretzels from Oak and Fig Baking; sandwiches from Pal’s Take Away; Egyptian street food from red cart; fat girl sliders from Samara Southern Creations; beef links, ribs, and tri-tip sandwiches from Smokin’ Woods BBQ, and ceylon cinnamon pecan ice cream from Sweetness SF. Fri., Oct. 6, 6-10 p.m., free. Forage Kitchen, 478 25th St, Oakland.


Dance-Performance
Flyaway Productions’ The Right to Be Believed Inspired by an essay in Harper’s Magazine by Bay Area author and critic Rebecca Solnit, Flyaway Productions’ The Right To Be Believed is an exploration of the credibility of women’s voices in the public realm. Company artistic director Jo Kreiter has created a work that uses the gravity-defying art form of aerial dance to elevate female voices and call attention to the legal, social, and professional constraints that disempower women. The piece will be danced entirely by women and feature an original soundscore by Oakland-based female hip hop artists FR333. Fri., Oct. 6, 8 & 9 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 7, 8 & 9 p.m., free. 1100 Broadway, Oakland, 1100 Broadway, Oakland.


Live Variety
First Friday Follies Burlesque performances, with MC JUICY D.Light and music by, Elegant Trash First Friday of every month, free. Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, StorkClubOakland.com.

Hoodslam Monthly underground wrestling event for the 21+ crowd First Friday of every month, 9 p.m., $20. Oakland Metro Operahouse, 522 2nd St., Oakland, OaklandMetro.org.


Music
Bang Data Album Release Party for Loco The New Parish, 579 18th St., Oakland, 8 p.m.-2 a.m., $15-$20

First Fridays at the Winery with Dirty Cello! The 1st Friday of each month from 6-9 pm, we host rotating acts of local music, have a local food vendor set up a pop-up casual restaurant, display a beautiful art gallery from a local artist, stay open late, and offer wines by the glass and the bottle. A Donkey and Goat Winery, 1340 Fifth St., Berkeley, 6-9 p.m., free

First Fridays w/ Built for the Sea, Catchlight, RS2 Solid Sound, and Quiet Domino, plus DJ Debauchery, The Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph Ave., Oakland, 9 p.m., free

Jensen Engineering Part of 1st Friday Jazz., The Sound Room, 2147 Broadway, Oakland, 9 p.m., $10

Nathan Corder with Daniel Meyer & Sam Clark McHale, The Octopus Literary Salon, 2101 Webster St., Oakland, 9:30 p.m., free
Oakland Future Trio The Sound Room, 2147 Broadway, Oakland, 6:30 p.m., $5

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