Press

Oakland Museum of California Announces Events & Programs for July & August

(OAKLAND, CA) June 14, 2018— The Oakland Museum of California announces its events and special programs in July and August, including events to celebrate the final weeks of major exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Inside OMCA’s Great Hall, the Museum comes alive with movement and sound in the Hip-Hop Dojo, a practice, performance, and event space connected to the exhibition. On Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm, don’t miss the new Hip-Hop 101 Tours, including Hip-Hop 101 For Families.

 

In partnership with Noise Pop and Oakhella, OMCA will host its first all-ages Park Jam on Saturday, July 21 from 12–5 pm, including a headlining performance by experimental Hip-Hop group clipping. featuring Oakland’s own Daveed Diggs, mural workshops, and Oakhella DJs. OMCA’s 14th annual Summer Reading Celebration is back on Sunday, August 5 from 11 am–3 pm. For more details, visit museumca.org.

 

CALENDAR EDITOR PLEASE LIST:
FAMILY EVENTS; MUSIC EVENTS; COMMUNITY EVENTS; ART EVENTS; FOOD EVENTS

 

Friday Nights @ OMCA Summer Season

Every Friday, 5–10 pm

July 6, 13, 20 & 27

August 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
The Summer Season of Friday Nights @ OMCA means the galleries are open until 10 pm, gardens are open for picnics, live music outside, and the Off the Grid food truck market expands onto Oak Street. Enjoy half-price admission, hands-on activities for kids, and a lineup of live music and dance from local performers that changes weekly—all alongside your favorite food trucks from Off the Grid. Bring friends and family for a taste of local music, food, and culture at the Oakland Museum of California every Friday Night!

 

Tour | J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life

First and Third Saturdays through September 9
July 7 & 21

August 4 & 18

12–12:45 pm

Experience the exhibition J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life with a Docent as your guide. Discover northern California’s best kept secret in design and craft: J.B. Blunk (1926–2002), a mid-century artist whose connection to nature governed his daily life. Included with Museum admission.

 

First Sundays @ OMCA

July 1 & August 5

10 am–6 pm

Be sure to visit our newest exhibition, J.B. Blunk: Nature, Art & Everyday Life, to discover the northern Californian artist inspired by the region’s natural beauty. Special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom tells the under-recognized story of how Hip-Hop changed the world. Don’t miss Take Root: Oakland Grows Food to unearth what motivates local urban farmers and gardeners, and experience all that our Galleries of California Art, History, and Sciences have to offer. Check out the Architecture Tour at 1 pm, and the California Art Tour at 2 pm. Pick up a treat for yourself or a loved one in the OMCA Store. Enjoy a lunch or snack in Blue Oak café. Spend a day with us and find out why TripAdvisor reviewers call OMCA “a hidden gem.”

 

Suggested donation: $5 per person. There is an additional $4 charge for special exhibition RESPECT. No advance online tickets are available for First Sundays. Your contribution helps us provide access to other visitors in the community.
 

Presented in partnership with the Oakland Public Library, City of Oakland Parks and Recreation, and California Historical Society.

 

Friday Nights @ OMCA Block Party

Friday, July 6

5–10 pm

The Summer Season of Friday Nights @ OMCA means the gardens are open for picnics, live music outside is back, gallery hours are open until 10 pm, and the Off the Grid food truck market expands onto Oak Street. Come celebrate the summer with our Friday Nights @ OMCA Block Party, taking place every first and third Fridays of the month now through July and on August 10. Get down to new themes each month featuring performances and activities in celebration of our special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, on view through August 12. This week’s theme is All Styles Hip-Hop Dance Battle, presented in collaboration with Embodiment Project. Other highlights will include:

 

Bike Tours | Brooklyn and Downtown  

Sunday, July 15

10 am–1 pm
Explore Oakland’s diverse and rich patchwork of neighborhoods by cycling through them with an experienced guide from OMCA. On select Sundays from June through October, OMCA Docents lead bike tours of this eclectic city. The two tours offered this Sunday are Oakland’s historic Brooklyn neighborhood and Downtown. 

 

Brooklyn Tour
This tour leaves the Museum and proceeds through the area just to the south of Lake Merritt. Brooklyn was formed from parts of the Clinton, Lynn, and San Antonio neighborhoods, and is named after the ship that brought the first Mormons to California to escape persecution in the United States, only to find themselves back in the United States. This area features some of the finest examples of 19th century architecture in Oakland. Discover these historic homes, churches, and other structures—as well as Oakland’s oldest building!—built in styles such as Dutch Stepped Gable, Queen Anne, Mission Revival, Colonial Revival, and Gothic Revival.

Downtown Tour
Visit downtown locations that recall important figures from Oakland’s history. Explore colorful characters and infamous murders. We’ll hear the story of Horace Carpentier and how he committed the most lucrative crime in Oakland’s history! Discover architectural gems along the way. This fun adventure will cover about six flat miles over approximately two hours. 

 

Free. Meet in front of the Museum’s Oak Street entrance at 10 am. Bring your own bikes, helmets, repair kits, and water. For more information and to make a reservation, call 510-318-8470 or [email protected].

 

Friday Nights @ OMCA Block Party

Friday, July 20

5–10 pm

The Summer Season of Friday Nights @ OMCA means the gardens are open for picnics, live music outside is back, gallery hours are open until 10 pm, and the Off the Grid food truck market expands onto Oak Street. Come celebrate the summer with our Friday Nights @ OMCA Block Party, taking place every first and third Fridays of the month now through July and on August 10. Get down to new themes each month featuring performances and activities in celebration of our special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, on view through August 12.

 

This week’s theme is Youth Showcase. Talented local teens and young adults take over the Go Local stage, showcasing the developing voices of Bay Area Hip-Hop’s next generation.  

Collaboration with TATU Vision, led by OMCA’s RESPECT Youth Advisory Council member Jada Imani. Other highlights will include:

OMCA Park Jam

Saturday, July 21

12–5 pm

Get ready for OMCA’s first-ever Park Jam, an outdoors special event in partnership with Noise Pop and Oakhella.  Hosted by Oakland’s own Ryan Nicole, enjoy live performances by headlining act clipping. with rapper Daveed Diggs, FR333 feat. Madlines, turntable demonstrations, Oakhella DJ’s, a graffiti-style mural workshop by Refa-1, and more! Celebrate the spirit of Oakland in our backyard. All ages welcome! Museum hours on Saturday, July 21 are 10 am–6 pm.

 

Summer Reading Celebration: Explore, Connect & Grow!

Sunday, August 5

11 am–3 pm

Don’t miss the 14th annual Summer Reading Celebration at the Oakland Museum of California with the Oakland Public Library. Join hands-on activities and workshops for kids. Enjoy Hip-Hop dance performances and demonstrations by TURFinc. turf dancers in celebration of special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Enjoy our bounce house, giant chess board and other games, as well as face painting by Oakland Parks & Recreation and storytime by the Oakland Public Library.

Suggested donation for general admission: $5 per person. There is an additional $4 charge for special exhibition RESPECT. No advance online tickets are available for First Sundays. Your contribution helps us provide access to other visitors in the community.

Presented in partnership with the Oakland Public Library, City of Oakland Parks and Recreation, and California Historical Society.


Friday Nights @ OMCA: Closing Happy Birthday Hip-Hop Block Party

Friday, August 10

5–10 pm

The Summer Season of Friday Nights @ OMCA means the gardens are open for picnics, live music outside is back, gallery hours are open until 10 pm, and the Off the Grid food truck market expands onto Oak Street. Come celebrate the 45th anniversary of Hip-Hop’s birthday (attributed to August 11, 1973) in our final Friday Nights @ OMCA Block Party and the last weekend of RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, closing on Sunday, August 12. Other highlights will include:

 

Bike Tours | Bay Bridge and Downtown

Sunday, August 19

10 am–1 pm

Explore Oakland’s diverse and rich patchwork of neighborhoods by cycling through them with an experienced guide from OMCA. On select Sundays from May through October, OMCA Docents lead bike tours of this eclectic city. The two tours offered on this date include the Bay Bridge Tour (meets off-site) and Downtown tour.

 

Bay Bridge Tour

The starting location of the Bay Bridge tour will be the Bay Trail entrance on Shellmound Street in Emeryville across from the IKEA entrance at 10 am. The tour will delve into the history of the old and new Bay Bridges with interesting stories and colorful historical personalities. The ride will be a little more challenging than usual at about nine miles with a 150-foot climb onto the bridge.

 

Downtown Tour
Visit downtown locations that recall important figures from Oakland’s history. Explore colorful characters and infamous murders. We’ll hear the story of Horace Carpentier and how he committed the most lucrative crime in Oakland’s history! Discover architectural gems along the way. This fun adventure will cover about six flat miles over approximately two hours. Meet in front of the Museum’s Oak Street entrance at 10 am. 

 

Free. Bring your own bikes, helmets, repair kits, and water. For more information and to make a reservation, call 510-318-8470 or [email protected].

 

*NEW Tours | RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom

Hip-Hop 101 For Families

Saturdays and Sundays through August 12

11 am

The entire family can have its Hip-Hop moment at RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom! Experience the power of Hip-Hop through movement, stories, and music. Celebrate Hip-Hop’s diverse roots, rhythms, and history during this hands-on tour. Included with Museum special exhibition admission. There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions. If you’re interested in attending a tour, please select a timed ticket entry for 11 am.

 

Hip-Hop 101

Saturdays and Sundays through August 12

1 pm

Learn about the evolution of Hip-Hop and dive into its rich history of innovation, art, music, activism, and more inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Tours will cover one of four topics: Pioneers, Technology, Style, or Wisdom. Included with Museum special exhibition admission. There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions. If you’re interested in attending a tour, please select a timed ticket entry for 1 pm.

 

Hip-Hop Dojo Programs

Part of special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, the Hip-Hop Dojo is a practice, performance, and event space connected to the exhibition. More than 80 participants will lead programs in the Dojo that include music, dance, yoga, trivia, chess, and more. Details included below and at museumca.org/dojo. 

 

Cypher Sunday

First and third Sundays of the month, April­–August

July 1, 15

August 12

1–3:30 pm

In Hip-Hop, free styling is the art of lyrical improvisation and a cypher is a circle with no visible beginning or ending. Test out your freestyling skills–rapping, dancing, or beatboxing—and come watch and support others in this participatory event series taking place inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom.  

 

Participants take turns offering thoughts off the top of their heads in the form of rhyme while a guest DJ spins, and guest hosts will facilitate the experience based on a specific topic each time. Come share your lyrics, ideas, and sounds.

 

Sign-up onsite to join the cypher. All ages, all skill-levels encouraged. Spectators are welcome (no sign-up needed). Included with Museum special exhibition admission, aside from First Sundays @ OMCA.

 

Plug ‘n’ Play
Every Friday from April 6–August 10
July 6, 13, 20, & 27
August 3 & 10
6–8 pm
Every Friday during Friday Nights @ OMCA, a rotating list of guest DJs take over the Hip-Hop Dojo inside RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom to demonstrate live sets. This weekly event series created in collaboration with San Francisco’s The DJ Project features local DJs to give visitors a taste of the vast musical genre of Hip-Hop. Get down to Bay Area classics, international crossover hits, and underground unsung legends, among other topics. Inspired to try it out yourself? Build up your own skills inside the Sound Lab inside the exhibition space. Included with Museum special exhibition admission (half-price on Fridays after 5 pm, free for 18 and under). Advance online tickets are available; choose your date and desired hour of entry.

 

Flow: Hip-Hop Yoga
Every First Friday of the month from April–August

July 6 & August 3

5:30–6:45 pm
Want to bring together your love of Hip-Hop and mindful movement—or better breath control on the mic and greater endurance on stage? Come practice your core strength on every first Friday of the month inside the special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Relax and build your skills with “Your Local Yoga Dealer” Shakira while you discover the shared principles between the grounding of the mind and body. All levels welcome. Included with Museum special exhibition admission (half-price on Fridays after 5 pm, free for 18 and under). There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions.

 

Mic Check/Checkmate
Second Wednesday of the month, April­–July, 2018
July 19
2–5 pm
“Make your next move your best move.” Check out the strong ties between Hip-Hop and chess communities in this event series inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom. Refine your own skills of discipline, precision, and mastery by joining chess games open to all. Included with Museum special exhibition admission.

 

Hip-Hop Trivia
Select Fridays April–July, 2018
July 20
6:30–8 pm
Think you know Hip-Hop? Test and expand your knowledge of the culture every third Friday in the Hip-Hop Dojo inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom during Friday Nights @ OMCA. Topics will include fashion, politics, history, and more. Bring a friend to round out your answers—and don’t forget to study up with the exhibition’s Reading Room on your next visit. Drop-ins welcome. Included with Museum special exhibition admission (half-price on Fridays after 5 pm, free for 18 and under).

 

Chop It Up

Saturday, July 28

3–5 pm

In Hip-Hop culture, the barbershop is known as a community hub for news and debate. Inside special exhibition RESPECT: Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom, gather around the Barbershop space inside the gallery to learn from guest speakers focusing on new topics each month. Explore unexpected aspects of Hip-Hop culture. This month’s theme is Next Generation & the Future of Hip-Hop. Included with Museum special exhibition admission. There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions.

 

ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHTS @ OMCA

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) presents Friday Nights @ OMCA, a regular evening series every Friday from 5 to 10 pm, in partnership with Off the Grid: Lake Merritt @ OMCA—the first major food truck market in the East Bay. Friday Nights @ OMCA features extended Museum hours, in-gallery programming, a beer garden from Blue Oak café, live music, dancing, hands-on family activities, and more. Gallery admission is half-off for adults, free for ages 18 and under. Event parking in the Museum garage is $7. Presented in partnership with Off the Grid: Lake Merritt @ OMCA. Friday Nights @ OMCA is made possible in part by generous support from the Koret Foundation, Bank of America, the Oakland Museum Women’s Board, and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. museumca.org/friday-nights-omca

 

ABOUT OMCA FAMILY

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to being a welcoming and lively place for multi-generational Bay Area families to visit, learn, and engage through OMCA Family, with art activities, storytelling, and hands-on, drop-in projects throughout the Museum. OMCA’s other family-friendly offerings include free Family Guides to the Galleries available at ticketing desks, free activity Books & Blankets available for check-out anytime the Museum is open, and three large annual festivals: Lunar New Year in February, the Summer Reading Celebration in August with the Oakland Public Library, and the Days of the Dead Celebration in October. OMCA Festivals are made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and the Koret Foundation. museumca.org/family

 

ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the many stories that comprise California, creating the space and context for greater connection, trust, and understanding between people. Through its inclusive exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and cultural events, OMCA brings Californians together and inspires greater understanding about what our state’s art, history, and natural surroundings teach us about ourselves and each other. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA brings together its multi-disciplinary collections of art, history, and natural science with the first-person accounts and often untold narratives of California, all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage for visitors from the region, the state, and around the world.

 

VISITOR INFORMATION

Museum admission is $15.95 general; $10.95 seniors and students with valid ID, $6.95 youth ages 9 to 17, and free for children 8 and under and Members. There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions. OMCA offers onsite underground parking, with validation for Museum visitors, and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. The accessibility ramp is located at the new 1000 Oak Street main entrance. Regular hours are 11 am to 5 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, 11 am to 9 pm Fridays. museumca.org

 

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