Oakland Transformed: Getting in on the Art Scene

Oakland Experiments with the Up and Coming...

In the past, Oakland was perceived as depicting certain stereotypes. If anything, crime and baseball were the first images that echoed the city’s characteristics. Art by no means was a mainstream associated with the city. Since 2006, art galleries of the area created a community called Murmur with the intentions of collaborating on the common ideology of establishing Oakland as the new Bay Area art hub, competing with San Francisco’s position as the principal center. In a certain sense, the booming tech industry of San Francisco provided grounds for the expanding and increasing art community of the East Bay; essentially due to the rapid rent increase brought by the newcomers. It is feasible to perceive the art community was not initially content with their relocation, where the digital market dictated their venues. But now, one can gaze across the bay and see that the grass is truly greener on the other side. Galleries are located in Oakland’s Uptown, Downtown, Old, North and West Oakland, and Jingletown.


Along with their change of address came a change in mentality, recognizing that for the community to thrive requires a network and a leading platform beyond simply being relative neighbors. The First Fridays was established; founding a street festival where galleries and centers open their doors to literally produce a new art culture where it has even been rumored that an evening could bring 20,000 visitors. Art goers, tourists, dilettantes, and curious spectators fill the streets and venues bringing business, by default, to the neighborhood bars, restaurants, and shops. The event prides itself on promoting the new up and coming artists, offering them the opportunity to be seen and contribute the the market itself.


While the festivities are entertaining and does bring people from all walks of life to experience art, there are some shortcomings. While the platform launches new faces to the scene, their medium is not avant-garde and not at the level of being the future forerunners of the art market. The so-called thinking outside the box is still a long term journey that could easily demoralize prominent art collectors. Furthermore, the cost of the works are pricey. The casualness of the street scene does not mirror the type of clientele the galleries desire based on the price tags. It is by no doubt difficult to asses art values and it is often a big challenge for those in the market to target their potential or intended buyers. However emerging artists by default are accompanied by young buyers. The standard has to be equivalent. The perceived amateur work is further hindered by rudimentary display. Venues are not required to spend a lot of money on display, but their role is to bring out the best in the works, a curated environment. With these factors, investments in expression is diverted and the visitor are visual tourists entertained by walking around the closed roads, entering free open venues, watching street artists, and filling the eateries and bars.



It is clear that the potential is there and the future is bright. As more artists move to the East Bay and more centers and galleries welcome them, the scene can only grow and develop into a an avant garde movement, reflecting future expressions and echoing cultural progressions. Oakopolis Creativity Center Gallery and Impact Hub are two locations with the intention of establishing dialogue between artists and theorists, a form of communication that could help guide Oakland’s positioning as innovators, leaders of expression that could potentially transform the city at the level of international recognition, a sort of global art pioneers.


Bibliography:

1. Hiss, Mark. ‘OAKLAND: Crafting a New California Art Scene
2. ‘ in Watermelon (online). 10 Jan. 2010. http://wandermelon.com/2014/01/10/oakland-crafting-a-new-california-art-scene/ (date accessed 11 Apr. 2015).
3. Hiss, Mark. ‘OAKLAND: Crafting a New California Art Scene
4. ‘ in Watermelon (online). 10 Jan. 2010. http://wandermelon.com/2014/01/10/oakland-crafting-a-new-california-art-scene/ (date accessed 11 Apr. 2015).
5. 'Gallery District Walking Tours' in Oakland Art Murmur Organization. http://oaklandartmurmur.org/walking-tours/
6. 'Exhibitions' in Oakland Art Murmur Organization. http://oaklandartmurmur.org/exhibitions/ 
7. 'Our Story' in Impact Hub. http://oakland.impacthub.net/coworking-space-oakland-our-story-2/
8. 'Oakopolis Gallery' in Oakopolis Creativity Center Gallery. http://www.oakopolis.org/about-oakopolis-gallery/