Friday Nights at OMCA with ASTU
Live Music by ASTU, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, DJ Set by Mani Draper, and Gallery Chats
June 20 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
This Friday Nights at OMCA continues the spirit of Juneteenth with an unforgettable evening of soul-stirring sound and immersive vibes that bring the community together! Don’t miss a live performance by ASTU, whose captivating voice and raw emotional presence take center stage alongside a genre-defying live band. With a sound that blends soulful vocals, magnetic vulnerability, and powerful instrumentation, ASTU delivers a performance that’s as intimate as it is electrifying.
In the Gallery of California Art, Sketchboard Co. invites you to dive into your creativity with uninstructed Live Figure Drawing! It’s a perfect opportunity to create something personal and unique while soaking in the Museum’s atmosphere.
We welcome all skill levels, including those who have never drawn before and want to try drawing. Art supplies and clipboards will be available for use, and your artwork will be yours to take home or exchange with others. A costumed model representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the Gallery of California Art for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.
Mani Draper rounds out the night with a cinematic DJ set that weaves together soulful beats and carefully curated tracks from across decades and genres. With a storyteller’s touch, he blends underground treasures with nostalgic anthems to craft a soundscape that feels timeless yet fresh—perfect for letting loose.
Friday Nights at OMCA also offer guests a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invites visitors to chat, ask questions, and connect with our OMCA facilitators, who combine content knowledge with lived experience to encourage meaningful dialogue and fresh interpretations of our exhibitions. Join us at OMCA for a meaningful evening of culture, creativity, and celebration.
Program Schedule:
5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket
5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art
5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries
6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by ASTU | OMCA Garden
6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art
6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by Mani Draper | Amphitheater
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About Friday Nights:
Join us for Friday Nights at OMCA, where Oakland comes together! Every Friday from April to October, bring your crew for an unforgettable night of free live music and activities for the whole family. Bring a blanket and settle down on the lawn, or take advantage of exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions (Museum ticket needed for gallery access).
Hungry? Grab a bite from any of the ten Off the Grid food trucks lining 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, offering a delicious mix of rotating flavors. Beer, wine, mixed drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase. Once you’ve fueled up, head to the OMCA Garden, where picnic tables and blankets await you to enjoy your meal. With lawn games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories at one of Oakland’s most iconic spots.
OMCA also offers a $10 flat-rate parking in the OMCA Garage until 10 pm. Please note that outside alcohol is not permitted, and event details and performances are subject to change.
Accessibility
Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is committed to providing programs that are accessible, welcoming, and inclusive of our community. Wheelchairs, sensory inclusive devices, and additional amenities are available for checkout on a first come, first served basis at the Ticketing Desk. To request other accommodations, like American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, Spanish or another language interpreter, please email [email protected] at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.
Performers
Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup
Performer BIOS
If Frank Ocean and Sade had a baby, ASTU would be it. Part retro soul, part nineties R&B pastiche, part New Wave-inspired synth-pop, ASTU’s music refuses to pledge allegiance to a single vibe. The vocalist, songwriter, and producer has the ability to find an easy, irresistible groove and turn it into an unhurried banger. A queer and gender expansive artist, ASTU left life as a minister and found themself in R&B, expressing their sexuality, identity and life experience in their music. From silky, slow jams to 80’s inspired R&B anthems, ASTU keeps us wanting more.
Mani Draper is a rapper, producer, and storyteller from the Bay Area known for his sharp lyricism and cinematic soundscapes. A former athlete turned creative architect, his work bridges introspection and social commentary with an undeniable edge. He’s the founder of the Grand Nationxl collective and a frequent collaborator across music, film, and branded content. Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the camera, Mani builds worlds that challenge, inspire, and move culture forward.
Sketchboard Co. is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.
