Oakland Art Month 2019

Though it’s just started hitting its stride, and there are a few more days until Oakland Art Month returns to the apartments in the Bay Area, there’s little denying the impact this amazing event has already made among the creative community of Oakland, and residents of the area in general. What makes this event so special to the East Bay? That’s exactly what we’ll be taking a look at today, as we explore the intricacies of spectacular Oakland Art Month.

Oakland Art Month Brings the Community Together

First and foremost, Oakland Art Month helps get the city’s residents out of their comfort zones and interacting at all manner of fun events. There’s a lot on the calendar to digest, but just a few of those events include:

FREE Dance Class at Malonga: May 1, 2, 15
Queer California Film Series: May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Art Route Oakland: May 3-4, May 10-11
Oakland First Friday Street Festival: May 3
VIBration // The Live Experience: May 3
OUSD Student Showcase: May 3
Cinco de Mayo Festival: May 4
Indigenous Red Market: May 5
CAAMFest: May 15-18
West Side Story: May 10
JLS Art & Wine Festival: May 11
Future Culture Summit: May 11
Ziggurat Late Night: May 11
3rd Thursdays at Latham Square: May 16
Oakland Greek Festival: May 17-19
Armenian Food Festival: May 17-18
The Museum of Moving Art: May 18
Temescal Neighborhood Art Walk: May 18
Oakland Ballet presents Jangala: May 30-31, June 1

Bay Area Dance Week, for instance, will get all of Oakland’s dance lovers out in full force for a 10-day festival dedicated to moving our bodies along to a variety of infectious rhythms:

“From established company programs to one-time events, Bay Area Dance Week provides an opportunity for dance-lovers of all ages and experience-levels to take a grand tour of the many movement styles, including Argentine tango, classical Indian, jazz, hip hop, ballet, traditional hula, fire dance, Samba, modern, Chinese classical, belly dance, aerial dance, West African, contact improvisation, and more.”

Then there’s the Queer California Film Series, taking place every Friday in May at 5:00PM. In association with the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA), you’ll be able to enjoy a long list of “untold stories from California’s LGBTQ+ communities,” along with a special exhibition, Queer California: Untold Stories. The exhibit, which is running from April 13th to August 11th, will showcase some lesser-known tales, woven into many LGTBQ+ milestones throughout history, bringing these narratives to you in the form of art, video, music, and more.

And there are many more events that will speak to the unique history and culture of Oakland, its people, their triumphs and struggles, and more importantly, their humanity and contributions to our society as a whole. It’s all part of bringing the community together, and you’ll be all the better for attending some of these stellar Oakland Art Month happenings.

Oakland Art Month Showcases the Best of the East Bay’s Creative Spirit

You may have heard that Oakland was recognized in National Geographic Traveler for its cultural vibrancy. That’s in no small part due to the creative community of the city, who have helped make Oakland “one of only four U.S. destinations included in the list and the only city in California chosen.” And who are some of these artists, you may wonder?

While it’d be impossible for us to mention each individually, we can draw your attention to a few key names from Oakland Art Month’s Artist Spotlight. Names like Leah Tumerman, prominent painter and big figure in Oakland’s thriving mural scene:

“From a studio space in Oakland, California, Leah Tumerman carves out narrative scenes on canvas, taking cues from intuitively applied under-paintings. Working predominantly with highly pigmented acrylics, Leah watches for the emergence of figurative subject matter and then edits, often employing drawing materials, towards an oblique finish.”

Then there are the sounds of music industry veterans like DJ Platum. The founder of the Oakland Faders and rocker of parties across the world has already racked up an impressive list of clientele that includes Red Bull, Toyota, Pandora, Adidas, Pixar, Monster Cable, MTV, Rane, and the Golden State Warriors. His creativity and ability to express through the turntables should not be overlooked, and you’ll want to catch how he’s being featured through the happenings at Oakland Art Month.

Lastly, on the front of dance, performers like Tori Jahn of the Oakland Ballet have long been making their names known. That ballet, by the way, founded back in 1965, has more than half a century of passing the art of dance from generation to generation under its belt. They’re dedicated to helping new students discover the wonders of dance, and putting on fabulous productions for the whole of the city to enjoy.

Oakland Art Month Helps Support Our Artists

Part and parcel of Oakland Art Month is the idea of supporting Oakland based creatives through various means. Groups like CAST, the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, was founded on the belief that strong art builds strong communities, and uses their sway to help out art organizations across the city. Then there are groups like Safer DIY Spaces, who have long endeavored to more vulnerable members of the community in DIY spaces. Even you can help with the greater cause by volunteering or donating resources to these (and the many other) great organizations that are helping Oakland’s communities thrive.

It’s Another Reason the Apartments in the Bay Area Are Such a Special Place to Live

Events like Oakland Art Month enrich and enhance great Bay Area communities like Fourth Street East. Being right in the center of Oakland’s Waterfront Warehouse District makes this the epicenter of all sorts of happenings, and ensures that many others are just moments away. If you’ve ever dreamed of being at the forefront of the action here in the East Bay, then this is where you’ll make that a reality. See the wonders of Fourth Street East, then prepare to make this your new Oakland home. We hope to welcome you soon!

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Events