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we/customize

February 9–June 2, 2013

From rat rods and lowrider bikes to Kinect and Ikea hacks, people are customizing mass-produced objects as part of artistic and personal expression more today than ever before. Inspired by maker culture, the experimental, participatory, process-oriented outreach project and exhibition we/customize includes multiple phases from taking OMCA outside its walls and inviting the public to participate in creative activities and demonstrations, to engaging visitors in the gallery installation process. The project culminates in an exhibition exploring the many ways people customize objects in their daily lives and the communities that participate in the culture of modification. Participants upload and view their own creations on the we/customize Tumblr and flickr sites, and provide valuable feedback which helps shape the next phase of the project.

PHASE I: The Oakland Rover Missions
September 26-December 22, 2012
Using the Oakland Rover-an electric vehicle altered by designers Martin Sprouse and Dan Rosenfeld, in collaboration with Museum curators, OMCA travels throughout California, engaging communities in creative projects that explore how people modify objects to serve their own needs. The Oakland Rover opens up into a mobile museum experience that supports engaging, hands-on activities, which take place in a series of ‘missions’ to different locations-from the East Bay Mini Maker Faire to the Oakland Art Murmur.

PHASE II: Great Hall Rove-in
December 22, 2012-January 28, 2013
The Oakland Rover’s journey culminates in OMCA’s Great Hall on December 22, when it arrives in the gallery. The exploration of customization continues, this time with the transformation of the gallery itself! With paint still on the walls from the previous exhibit, OMCA will gradually fill in the space with findings from the Oakland Rover missions as well as visitor input. Visitors can view the exhibition-in-progress both at the Museum and online, and participate in co-creating and developing we/customize through hands-on projects and social media. Starting January 4, guest customizers will be on-site demonstrating their work and inviting visitors to join their projects, from scraper bike-making to toy hacking to clothing customization. Visitors can drop in, roll up their sleeves, meet customizers, and participate in the customization of their own objects, many of which may make their way into the exhibition.

PHASE III: Exhibition
February 9, 2013-June 2, 2013
The next phase of the we/customize project is the exhibition, exploring the many expressions and forms of personal customization. Engaging programs continue with weekly Customizers-in-Residence Open Studios, where visitors of all ages will be invited to meet customizers and participate in workshops with a variety of hands-on activities.

PHASE IV: Roving on
When the exhibition closes, the Oakland Rover’s journey continues, with on and off-site projects that continue the discussion about California and other OMCA projects in the Bay Area and beyond. Stay tuned to wecustomize.org for more updates on the Rover’s post-exhibition life.

What do you customize? Share your work
What do you customize, hack, remix, tailor, or trick out? Contribute to our participatory exhibit by sharing your customized creations. Follow the we/customize team on Tumblr and upload photos to be a part of the action.

we/customize is made possible in part by the generous support of the Oakland Museum Women’s Board. Additional support is provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Company. 

Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: The Scraper Bike Demonstration, Tyrone “Baybe Champ Da Scraper Bike King” Stevenson Jr. and Nick Bravo member of The Original Scraper Bike Team January 4, 2013 through January 6, 2012.  Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Engage at CCA. A class put together by Engage at California College of the Arts.  Students in the class designed and built prototypes for the we/customize exhibition. Over the weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; representatives of the different projects came to the museum and talked with audiences about their projects, and let visitors try out their prototypes.  All images courtesy: Johnna Arnold.
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Ikea Hack with Russell Baldon and Scott Moulton. January 11, 2013 through January 13, 2012.  Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: The Scraper Bike Demonstration, Tyrone “Baybe Champ Da Scraper Bike King” Stevenson Jr. and Nick Bravo member of The Original Scraper Bike Team January 4, 2013 through January 6, 2012.  Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Ikea Hack with Russell Baldon and Scott Moulton. January 11, 2013 through January 13, 2012.  Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Friday Nights @ OMCA with Customizer-in-Residence: Jaz Davis. On February 1, 2013 Jaz Davis demonstrated the use of an airbrush across multiple platforms as a Customizer-in-Residence during Friday Nights at Oakland Museum of California featuring Off the Grid. Images courtesy: Johnna Arnold
Oakland Rover at Art Murmur/First Fridays. OMCA's Oakland Rover traveled to the Art Murmur/First Fridays on October 5th and customized children's toys with Annabel and Elsa to make mutants. Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Ikea Hack with Russell Baldon and Scott Moulton. January 11, 2013 through January 13, 2012.  Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Engage at CCA. A class put together by Engage at California College of the Arts.  Students in the class designed and built prototypes for the we/customize exhibition. Over the weekend on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; representatives of the different projects came to the museum and talked with audiences about their projects, and let visitors try out their prototypes.  All images courtesy: Johnna Arnold.
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Lexa Walsh. Image from program at OMCA on Sunday, January 20, 2013. Lexa Walsh developed a sound mixing board in collaboration with OMCA’s Associate Preparator Leo Knapp.  All images courtesy: Johnna Arnold.
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Lexa Walsh. Image from program at OMCA on Sunday, January 20, 2013. Lexa Walsh developed a sound mixing board in collaboration with OMCA’s Associate Preparator Leo Knapp.  All images courtesy: Johnna Arnold.
Customizer-in-Residence @ OMCA: Lexa Walsh. Image from program at OMCA on Sunday, January 20, 2013. Lexa Walsh developed a sound mixing board in collaboration with OMCA’s Associate Preparator Leo Knapp.  All images courtesy: Johnna Arnold.
Customized children's toys with Annabel and Elsa to make Mutants. Courtesy Oakland Museum of California
Oakland Rover at the East Bay Mini-Maker Faire. OMCA's Oakland Rover traveled to the East Bay Mini-Maker Faire on October 14th and customized children's toys with Annabel and Elsa to make mutants. Courtesy Oakland Museum of California