Oakland Museum of California Announces Public Programs and Events for September 2022

(Oakland, CA)  August 18, 2022 — A variety of lively and generative public programs and events will engage visitors at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) throughout the month of September. The popular Friday Nights at OMCA continues to bring the community together with activities, music, programs, and Off the Grid food trucks every Friday evening from 5 to 9 pm.

September’s programming theme is “Regeneration,” kicking off with a hands-on gardening activity led by East Bay Wilds on September 2. In conjunction with OMCA’s latest exhibition Hella Feminist and in partnership with BlackGold Movement and Miss Behave Records, performances by the Bay Area’s premiere Black feminist hip hop artists celebrating the release of Coco Peila’s latest EP, Confessions of A Black Feminist Rapper, Part 3 are not to be missed on September 9. 

Visitors are also invited to engage with regenerative practices in nature through an exploration of “good fire” teachings on September 16, led by Indigenous naturalists Danny Manning (Mountain Maidu), and Edward Redbird Willie (Pomo,Wailaki, Wintu & Northern Paiute). Following this, enjoy a performance by folk singer John Paul Hodge (Tsalagi Muscogee). Back-to-back Fridays of salsa and Latin dance classes led by Juliana Mendonca and Ahí Nama encourage visitors to explore regeneration through movement, music, and dance. Oakland Public Library’s Bike Library will make an appearance at Friday Nights at OMCA on September 23 with free books, library card applications, and information on upcoming library events.

OMCA’s latest exhibitions on view include the timely Hella Feminist, OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace, and Edith Heath: A Life in Clay in the OMCA Gallery of California Art. Town Fare by Michele McQueen includes a 45-seat Sundeck with food and drink to enjoy Thursday through Sunday from  5 to 9 pm. A complete schedule of September events at OMCA may be found below. For more information, visit museumca.org. 

SEPTEMBER PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS AT OMCA

Friday Nights at OMCA
Reconnect with family, friends, and community every week during Friday Nights at OMCA. These free, family-friendly events provide a gathering place each week, including live music, hands-on activities, Off the Grid (OTG) food trucks, and the newly-launched Town Fare Sundeck, featuring an outdoor bar and select bar bites from the cafe menu. Take advantage of late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions with a Museum ticket, or bring a blanket and lounge in our garden, now open with direct access to Lake Merritt.

Friday, September 2, 5—9 pm
DJ Black; Grow & Glow with East Bay Wilds

Get your hands dirty with East Bay Wilds, a local nursery specializing in California native plants. East Bay Wilds will lead visitors in a hands-on gardening activity: making a paper cup planter and planting native California wildflower seeds for your home or garden. Your compostable paper planter can be planted directly into the ground, or kept on a windowsill. Afterwards, take a walk in the OMCA Garden to see native California flora planted by East Bay Wilds. 

Start off your Oakland Pride celebration early with a Pride DJ Dance Party in the Amphitheater by DJ Black from 6 to 8 pm.

Friday, September 9, 5—9 pm
DJ Zita; BlackGold Movement & Miss Behave Records Present: Coco Peila’s Confessions Of A Black Feminist Rapper – EP Release Party 

OMCA’s Hella Feminist exhibition and BlackGold Movement team up with Miss Behave Records to celebrate the release of Coco Peila’s latest EP, Confessions of A Black Feminist Rapper, Part 3. Don’t miss performances by the Bay’s premiere Black feminist hip hop artists taking place in the OMCA Garden, including heavy hitters DJ LadyRyan, Aïma The Dreamer, RyanNicole, Coco Peila & special guests. Keep the dance party going in the Amphitheater with DJ Zita from 6 to 8 pm.

Friday, September 16, 5—9 pm
DJ Monk Earl; Indigenous Teachings of “Good Fire” as Regeneration

Join Indigenous fire and native plant naturalists Danny Manning (Mountain Maidu), Indigenous Fire Keeper & Greenville Assistant Fire Chief, and Edward Redbird Willie (Pomo,Wailaki, Wintu & Northern Paiute), Land Manager at Heron Shadow Land Project, for an exploration of “good fire.” 

Fire is a natural part of California’s landscape. As natural as the wind or the rain, California’s ecosystems depend on fire. Plants and animals have evolved with fire and many need fire in order to survive and thrive. More than one hundred years of fire suppression practices, coupled now with increased dryness due to climate change, have put much of the state at risk of catastrophic high-intensity “bad fire.” However, “good fire”— through cultural burning by indigenous California tribes — can help to restore healthy ecosystems, revitalize native cultures and ways of life, and reduce the risk of destructive mega-fires. 

Join Edward Redbird Willie on a tour of the OMCA Garden or listen in on a curator-led pop up talk with Danny Manning in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences. Closing the program will be a performance by singer John Paul Hodge (Tsalagi Muscogee) on the OMCA Garden Stage. DJ Monk Earl will be playing in the Amphitheater from 6 to 8 pm.

Friday, September 23, 5—9 pm
DJ Ron Reeser; Oakland Public Library’s Bike Library; Juliana Mendonca – Contemporary Latin and Water Dancer

Choreographer Juliana Mendonca brings to Friday Nights at OMCA a vibrant Latin dance class, where visitors can  learn the basic steps of merengue, bachata, and salsa. Afterwards, the public will be guided through a ritual of liberation and connection with water, ending with a special performance by guitarist Carlos Caminos and Gary Muszynski on percussion. This performance comprises a powerful combination of styles that encourage personal and authentic expression through Latin, Hispanic, Venezuelan, and contemporary dance and music. 

Enjoy music in the Amphitheater by DJ Ron Reeser from 6 to 8 pm. Make sure to stop by Oakland Public Library’s Bike Library to grab a free book, sign up for a library card, and find out about upcoming library events.

Friday, September 30, 5—9 pm
DJ Father Taj; Salsa Friday Nights at OMCA with Ahí Nama

Bring your dancing shoes for a night of salsa at OMCA, led by Ahí Nama. Ahí Nama is a community based rueda salsa class in Oakland that welcomes all. Weaving together traditional salsa rueda calls with an Oakland urban flare, prepare to learn exciting Cuban salsa patterns and dance in the OMCA Garden to the calls of el cantante (the singer). DJ Father Taj will keep you dancing in the Amphitheater from 6 to 8 pm.

On View at OMCA in September

Hella Feminist
Great Hall 
On View until January 8, 2023

Feminism. It’s a loaded word; as empowering to some as it is challenging for others. OMCA takes on this complex and timely topic with Hella Feminist, celebrating the lesser-known stories of feminism here in Oakland and the Bay Area. Bringing together historic objects from the Museum’s collection such as posters, pins, and photographs, alongside newly commissioned works by artists, Hella Feminist is rooted in the idea that discrimination against all elements of identity (gender, class, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, education, age, etc.) is interlinked and that no element can be addressed in isolation. The exhibition aims to challenge, provoke, and inspire visitors to reconsider and expand their understanding of feminism and its complicated history.

OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace
Gallery of California Natural Sciences
Ongoing

Little learners can unleash their curiosity and imagination in the newly-created OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace. Located in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, the playroom is focused on the unique needs of children ages 2 to 5, along with their families and caregivers. Play is critical to every child’s healthy development and the playroom offers something for everyone, from building materials and nature-themed puzzles to hands-on activities that spark creativity, wonder, and joy. Our youngest museum visitors can also discover the animals that make their homes in Oakland’s streams, hills, and backyards. The playroom gives families a fun, safe place to play and to build community with other families. Admission to OMCA is free for kids 12 and under. 

Edith Heath: A Life in Clay
Gallery of California Art
On View until October 30, 2022

Trailblazer. Rebel. Revolutionary. Discover the story of Edith Heath, founder and designer of Heath Ceramics. Heath transformed the ceramics industry, creating dinnerware from California clay for “Sunday best” and everyday use. Driven by the power of good design, and a commitment to her craft, Heath’s vision continues to live on through her stoneware and tile over 70 years later. Durable, not delicate, simple, yet stylish, Heath Ceramics is an icon of American design.

Town Fare by Michele McQueen
Town Fare, the cafe at OMCA, is now open and led by chef and manager Michele McQueen, formerly of Gussie’s Chicken and Waffles. Featuring a new menu and beverage program, Town Fare is open during regular museum hours, Wednesday–Sunday, 11–5 pm.

Town Fare’s Sundeck, a new addition located directly outside of the cafe, is open for service every Thursday–Saturday, 5–9 pm. Surrounded by OMCA’s terraced gardens, the 45-seat Sundeck features an outdoor bar as well as patio couches and dining furniture for guests to enjoy year-round. Select items from McQueen’s cafe menu will be served along with craft cocktails, wine and beer.

McQueen’s menu for Town Fare pays homage to her family roots and Oakland upbringing and aims to bring together flavors from the diverse cultures within the local community. The menu is made up of shared plates, salads and sandwiches, and entrées, including vegan options, for on-site dining only. A smaller kids menu is also available.

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 multidisciplinary collections of art, history, and natural science with first-person accounts and often untold narratives of California, all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. The Museum 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

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. For details and admission, visit museumca.org  For current COVID information and requirements, visit museumca.org/covid-health-safety.

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