It's been awhile since we've headed over to Oakland for their first Friday art walk where you find hundreds of people spilling in and out of galleries... The last couple times we checked it out were a bit disappointing and this trip left the same taste in my mouth. We did see some great work but there just wasn't much of it (Granted, there were many more galleries up Telegraph we didn't get to... We ran out of time and they were like 17 blocks away from the Art Corridor area)

Sometimes you can catch some live music either on the street, in one of the spaces or at The Stork Club next door (guess they put on a burlesque show on first Fridays)... On the way back to Bart we passed 3 youngsters playing a wash board, a guitar, and a banjo mandolin that sounded pretty epic. Their music stuck in my head for the Bart ride home as did the glasses of complimentary wine ingested earlier... Below is my photo essay from the night's events.

Get on Bart and head east to downtown Oakland, 19th St. station.

Got some new brain game for the IPhone... addictive.

And just like, you're in Oakland.

Yep. Oakland.

sweet ride

Our first stop... A couple galleries on Grand just a minute ride from Bart. Mercury Gallery

Like these oil paintings

Really nice.

Kathleen King

Julie Alvarado

Next door to a photo studio that had some stuff up.

street scene

Love how the air feels in the east bay... Got a Souther California vibe to it.

Then over to the "Art Corridor" a couple blocks away where we ran into Tara Foley

Kinda like an art flee market outside.

Went for our favorite gallery over there, Ego Park, but found out they closed and some new people have taken over the space... So bummed as Ego Park was my favorite space over there... They had some smart shows.

The questions marks on the windows are there because the new owners aren't sure what to name it or what to show in it.

The staff were taking suggestions... "What kind of art would you like to see here?"... "What should we name the place?"...

Jessica got a poem from the street poem fella... infinity.

Met Cynthia who's a fan of the site... How's it goin'?

Checked out Rock, Paper, Scissors who were hosting a city photo show.

Wasn't too blown away.

Sweet motorcycle out front.

To Johanson Projects for a three person show- RADIALVEDIC Featuring: Kristina Lewis, Jill Gallenstein & Kana Tanaka.

Liked the work from Jill Gallenstein- "Jill Gallenstein constructs complex pen and ink creations that address the intricacies of the individual experience through instances of beauty and chaos."

The gallery had a much different vibe than the others- a bit of a 49 Geary vibe. The neighborhood is a changin'.

Next door is our friend Nat Swope's- Bloom Press

Then into Mama Buzz which is a cafe/ gallery.

Where we enjoyed some drinky drinky to end our walk... Like I said, there were some other galleries meant to be around the corner, but we couldn't find them... The others seemed to be like 17 blocks away... We're hungry and got to get back to SF.

For some DeJa Vu Pizza... mmmmmm.

And to check out Needles and Pens new show which also opened Cackle Cackle Rackle new works by Tara Jane Oneil & Vanessa Renwick

That's Bill Daniels with the Bozo Texino!

Some after hours booze time.

Is that a f/s flip, Andrew?

drunkies trying to land some kickflips on the zip zinger.

mine not much better

Mr. Paul Schiek with his step off 360 flips... You catch his photos in Bay Area Now yet?! Best work in the show!

Stumble off to bed...

Check out some of our previous trips to Oakland's Art Murmur:
March 2007
April 2006 {moscomment}