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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260305T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260305T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T011308
CREATED:20260212T003740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260212T215334Z
UID:10002277-1772730000-1772740800@museumca.org
SUMMARY:ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Drag & Mahjong Game Night
DESCRIPTION:Spotlight Sundays: Earthseed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas\n\n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursDates at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Drag Performances\, Mahjong with The Mahjong Project\, Music Set by DJ Lady Ryan\, and Gallery Chats\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdults 18+\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRelax into the easy\, after-hours pulse of ThursDates at OMCA as the Museum forms an intimate hub of creativity\, culture\, and connection. This Thursday\, Town Fare becomes a gathering point with signature cocktails and mahjong with The Mahjong Project. As you play\, DJ Lady Ryan provides the perfect soundscape for mingling. All the while\, Sketchboard Co. hosts uninstructed live figure drawing in the Gallery of California Art with a twist that’s sure to inspire. Models Nella and Q punctuate the drawing sessions with burlesque and drag performances\, infusing the Museum with movement\, expression\, and a celebratory sense of Bay Area creativity.  \n\n\n\nWe 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. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries 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. \n\n\n\nEvery ThursDates at OMCA\, you can engage more deeply with the Museum’s galleries through Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours\, these conversations invite you to ask questions\, share perspectives\, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProgram Schedule: \n\n\n\n5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Nella & Q | Gallery of California Art \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm The Mahjong Project | Town Fare \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm DJ Lady Ryan | Town Fare \n\n\n\n6:35–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Nella & Q  | Gallery of California Art \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS\n\n\n\nSPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS\n\n\n\nFree Member Tickets\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout ThursDates \n\n\n\nEvery Thursday\, January through March\, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances\, live figure drawing sessions\, game nights\, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen\, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re exploring the Museum with a date\, catching up with friends\, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new\, you’ll find connection\, inspiration\, and creative surprises\, week after week. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccessibility \n\n\n\nOakland 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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerformer BIOS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n		\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Sketchboard\n				\n				                    Sketchboard 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. \n \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Nicole Wong & The Mahjong Project\n				\n				                    Nicole is a writer and audio producer based in Oakland. While cleaning out her parents’ garage\, she rediscovered the mahjong table they’d brought over with them when they immigrated to the US. She started working on The Mahjong Project in 2019—part instructional guide\, part oral history project—to document her family’s house rules for playing and map its style into the broader history and diaspora of the game itself. Today\, Nicole shares and plays the game with others as a means to preserve her Chinese-New Zealand family history and cultural legacy. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About DJ Lady Ryan\n				\n				                    DJ Lady Ryan is a Bay Area favorite—inspiring a sense of safety\, joy\, and belonging through her deep musical intuition and presence as a dedicated professional. Whether she’s serving as the official DJ for the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries\, hosting one of her celebrated Soulovely or Sweetspot community events\, or gracing the airwaves of 91.7 KALW in San Francisco\, DJ Lady Ryan inspires movement. She was voted the Best DJ in the Bay Area in 2023 by the Bay Area Reporter Magazine and was honored by the City of Oakland for her leadership in the LGBTQ music and arts community. Lady Ryan has also shared the stage with legendary artists such as Diana Ross\, George Clinton\, and Erykah Badu! \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsor\n\n\n\nMajor support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Events
URL:https://museumca.org/event/thursdates-at-omca-with-sketchboard-co-live-figure-drawing-ft-burlesque-and-drag-mahjong-game-night/
LOCATION:OMCA campus
CATEGORIES:Gallery Chats at OMCA,Thursday After Hours,Town Fare Cafe,Ticketed
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://museumca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-01-29-OMCA-ThursDates-Formally-Thursday-After-Hours-©-Christine-Cueto-DSCF3621-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260312T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260312T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T011308
CREATED:20260212T003804Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T211223Z
UID:10002279-1773334800-1773345600@museumca.org
SUMMARY:ThursDates at OMCA with Jessa Calderon & Good Fire Pop-Up Talks and Demos
DESCRIPTION:Spotlight Sundays: Earthseed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas\n\n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursDates at OMCA | Good Fire: Tending Native Lands In-Gallery Pop-Up Series ft. Jessa Calderon\, Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker\, Saif Azzuz\, Alice Lincoln-Cook\, and Dr. Brittani Orona; Music from WELIVEINPARADISE; Pop-Up Market ft. Ihoo Taloowa Beads; and Gallery Chats\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdults 18+\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis Thursday\, experience the latest exhibition Good Fire: Tending Native Lands through a series of intimate\, in-gallery pop-up talks\, performances\, and demonstrations. The evening opens with a musical set by Tongva\, Chumash\, and Yoeme artist Jessa Calderon\, whose songs and poetry channel Indigenous resilience and community healing. Interwoven between performances\, experience pop-up talks and demos with regalia maker Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker\, artist Saif Azzuz\, and basketry and cultural fire specialists Alice Lincoln-Cook and Dr. Brittani Orona\, each offering hands-on insights into art\, land stewardship\, and ancestral practices. \n\n\n\nOutside the gallery\, Town Fare becomes a hub for immersive sound with WELIVEINPARADISE\, blending live electronics and ambient textures\, while Ihoo Taloowa Beads offers handcrafted adornments rooted in Chickasaw traditions and the stories of the land. Throughout the evening\, guests can sip cocktails\, enjoy bites\, and let the music guide them through an unhurried exploration of creativity\, culture\, and connection. \n\n\n\nIn addition\, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours\, these conversations invite you to ask questions\, share perspectives\, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Join us for an evening made for learning\, creating\, lingering\, and connecting. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProgram Schedule: \n\n\n\n5–7:30 pm Vendor: Ihoo Taloowa Beads | Great Hall Entrance \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm Live Music + DJ Set w/ WELIVEINPARADISE | Town Fare \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries \n\n\n\n5:40–6 pm Live Music w/ Jessa Calderon | Great Hall—Good Fire \n\n\n\n6–6:15 pm Pop-Up Talk w/ Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker | Great Hall—Good Fire \n\n\n\n6:15–6:30 pm Pop-Up Talk w/ Saif Azzuz | Great Hall—Good Fire \n\n\n\n7–7:30 pm Pop-Up Talk + Demo w/ Alice Lincoln-Cook + Dr. Brittani Orona  | Great Hall—Good Fire \n\n\n\n7:30–7:50 pm Live Music w/ Jessa Calderon | Great Hall—Good Fire \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS\n\n\n\nSPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS\n\n\n\nFree Member Tickets\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout ThursDates \n\n\n\nEvery Thursday\, January through March\, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances\, live figure drawing sessions\, game nights\, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen\, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re exploring the Museum with a date\, catching up with friends\, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new\, you’ll find connection\, inspiration\, and creative surprises\, week after week. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccessibility \n\n\n\nOakland 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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerformer BIOS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n		\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker\n				\n				                    Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker is a California Indigenous [cis] fem\, traditional regalia maker\, fire keeper\, textile designer\, and community cultural art activist. Tiśina’s people are Yosemite Southern Sierra Miwuk/Kutzadika’a Mono Lake Paiute\, from her grandfather’s lineage\, and Kashia Pomo & Coast Miwuk\, from her grandmother’s lineage. Tiśina was born and raised in her sacred tribal homeland of Yosemite/Mariposa. Born into a strong Indigenous lineage\, Tiśina has practiced ceremony with her Yosemite/Mariposa tribal community since birth. She descends from a powerful matriarchy of notable California basketmakers\, including her great-great-grandmother\, Lucy Telles\, and her grandmother\, Julia Parker. Tiśina currently serves on tribal council with the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation\, is active in cultural fire work with the Little Fires cultural burn program in Yosemite National Park. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Saif Azzuz\n				\n				                    Saif Azzuz is a Libyan-Yurok artist who resides in Pacifica\, CA. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Painting and Drawing from the California College of the Arts in 2013. Azzuz has had solo presentations at the Blaffer Art Museum and the ICA San Francisco\, and his work is in selected public collections including the Rennie Museum\, de Young Museum—Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco\, Gochman Family Collection\, Facebook\, North Carolina Museum of Art\, Kadist\, University of St. Thomas\, Stanford Health Care Art Collection\, and UBS Art Collection. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Alice Lincoln-Cook\n				\n				                    Alice Lincoln-Cook (Karuk) draws on a lifetime of work as an independent artist\, traditional basket weaver\, culture bearer\, and cultural fire expert. She is passionate about teaching the practices she grew up with to help others manage ancestral lands and waters in a good way—that is healthy for her people and her culture. Prior to serving as the President and Board Member with the California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA)\, Alice taught basket weaving to California Native tribal members and worked with local schools\, non-profits\, and state and federal agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Since obtaining her Basic 32 Red Card firefighting certification\, Alice has become a sought-after speaker at universities\, conferences\, and Basic 32 fire training programs both in California and nationally. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Brittani Orona\n				\n				                    Dr. Brittani R. Orona is a Hupa environmental public humanities scholar and an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at University of California\, Davis. Her academic focus is on environmental studies and humanities\, California Indian Studies\, and abolition ecology in California and the American West. Orona has worked in the museum and cultural resources management fields as a curator and consultant for 18 years. She is Hupa\, and an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. Orona is guest curator of OMCA’s latest exhibition Good Fire: Tending Native Lands. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Paradise Maquetaurie\n				\n				                    Paradise Maquetaurie is a two-spirit artist based in San Francisco whose work merges live electronics\, improvisational music\, and projection-mapped visuals into immersive storytelling environments. Performing as WELIVEINPARADISE\, she blends club and ambient soundscapes with field recordings\, video art\, graffiti\, emerging technologies\, pop influences\, and Taíno/Yoeme histories to create deeply engaging performances. A vital force in the Bay Area’s underground queer and trans electronic music community for over six years\, her work has appeared at Outside Lands\, Oaklash\, Gays Hate Techno\, Weaving Spirits Pride 2025\, and countless clubs\, renegades\, and underground spaces. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Ellissa Thompson and Ihoo Taloowa Beads\n				\n				                    Ellissa Thompson is a Chickasaw artist\, cultural practitioner\, and land steward whose beadwork reflects the teachings of her heritage and the landscapes that shaped her. An enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation with family ties to Ada\, Oklahoma\, she was born and raised in the East Bay. Her business\, Ihoo Taloowa Beads\, is grounded in cultural continuance. Bringing together tradition\, contemporary expression\, and the stories of the plants\, waters\, and lands that inspire her work. Each piece is created with intention and the understanding of adornment as medicine\, identity\, and connection. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Jessa Calderon\n				\n				                    Jessa Calderon (Tongva\, Chumash Yoeme) is a songwriter\, published author\, poet\, hip-hop artist\, basket weaver\, paddler\, hypnotherapist\, massage therapist\, energy worker\, and offers guided meditations. Jessa is also part of the Dream Warriors society and encourages her community and youth to find physical\, mental\, and spiritual healing by sharing her words\, music\, and practices. She has the honor to work with community and youth from many Nations\, helping them unleash their creative potential and passion for authentic representation and diverse narratives within the film industry.  \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsor\n\n\n\nMajor support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Events
URL:https://museumca.org/event/thursdates-at-omca-with-jessa-calderon-good-fire-pop-up-talks-and-demos/
LOCATION:OMCA campus
CATEGORIES:Gallery Chats at OMCA,Thursday After Hours,Town Fare Cafe,Ticketed
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://museumca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/6U4A6490-Enhanced-NR-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260319T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T011308
CREATED:20260212T003746Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260312T200330Z
UID:10002278-1773939600-1773950400@museumca.org
SUMMARY:ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance & Trivia Night
DESCRIPTION:Spotlight Sundays: Earthseed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas\n\n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursDates at OMCA |  Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance Performances\, Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience\, DJ Set by Mark DiVita\, and Gallery Chats\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdults 18+\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStep into ThursDates at OMCA and let the evening unfold at the pace of connection. In Town Fare\, DJ Mark DiVita sets the atmosphere with incredible grooves perfect for cocktails and conversation. Guests are invited to test their wits with Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience\, celebrating creativity\, community\, and unexpected insights. \n\n\n\nMeanwhile\, the Gallery of California History comes alive with Sketchboard Co.’s uninstructed live figure drawing sessions\, where models Andy Rose and Rachel Sanders will interweave spellbinding burlesque and belly dance performances between poses.  \n\n\n\nWe 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. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries 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. \n\n\n\nIn addition\, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours\, these conversations invite you to ask questions\, share perspectives\, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. With music\, drinks\, and a relaxed after-hours atmosphere\, it’s an evening designed for learning\, laughter\, and basking in good company. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProgram Schedule: \n\n\n\n5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Andy Rose + Rachel Sanders | Gallery of California History \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare \n\n\n\n6:15–7:15 pm Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience | Town Fare \n\n\n\n6:35–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing  & Art Viewing | Gallery of California History \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS\n\n\n\nSPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS\n\n\n\nFree Member Tickets\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout ThursDates \n\n\n\nEvery Thursday\, January through March\, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances\, live figure drawing sessions\, game nights\, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen\, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re exploring the Museum with a date\, catching up with friends\, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new\, you’ll find connection\, inspiration\, and creative surprises\, week after week. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccessibility \n\n\n\nOakland 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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerformer BIOS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n		\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Sketchboard\n				\n				                    Sketchboard 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. \n \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About DJ Mark DiVita\n				\n				                    Renowned across the Bay Area\, DJ Mark DiVita has carved a niche as the go-to DJ for events that radiate soulful\, sexy\, and vibrant energy. With roots in Hip-Hop culture dating back to 1986\, when he first discovered its magic as a grade schooler\, Mark embodies the essence of a True Skool Hip-Hop edutainer. His eclectic sounds and captivating sets draw in music lovers from all walks of life\, making each event a celebration of unity and rhythm. When he’s not behind the decks\, you can find Mark embracing his roles as a devoted father\, husband\, and creative force in his design studio. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsor\n\n\n\nMajor support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Events
URL:https://museumca.org/event/thursdates-at-omca-with-sketchboard-co-live-figure-drawing-ft-burlesque-trivia-night/
LOCATION:OMCA campus
CATEGORIES:Gallery Chats at OMCA,Thursday After Hours,Town Fare Cafe,Ticketed
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://museumca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-02-05-OMCA-ThursDates-Formally-Thursday-After-Hours-©-Christine-Cueto-DSCF4156-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260326T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260326T200000
DTSTAMP:20260426T011308
CREATED:20260212T003801Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260218T203447Z
UID:10002280-1774544400-1774555200@museumca.org
SUMMARY:ThursDates at OMCA with The Bay Area Book Festival
DESCRIPTION:Spotlight Sundays: Earthseed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas\n\n        \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThursDates at OMCA |  OMCA and The Bay Area Book Festival Present: Maw Shein Win ft. Live Music Performance by SPRINGTWIN\, Free-Writing Workshop\, and Open Mic Storytelling\, Plus DJ Set by La Femme Papi\, and Gallery Chats\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdults 18+\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUnwind into a reflective and creative ThursDates evening at OMCA\, where storytelling\, art-making\, and music unfold at an easy\, welcoming pace. OMCA and the Bay Area Book Festival team up this Thursday to present Maw Shein Win\, Burmese American poet and inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito\, for a collaborative program that moves through the Museum. The evening begins with a performance by SPRINGTWIN (Win and guitarist Danny Allen)\, followed by a drop-in writing workshop in the Gallery of California History\, inviting guests to reflect on personal and collective histories through free-writing exercises. The program culminates in Town Fare with an open mic\, where participants can share their writings while enjoying cocktails and bites. All the while\, DJ La Femme Papi provides soulful\, expansive music throughout the evening\, creating a warm and immersive soundtrack for the night.In addition\, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours\, these conversations invite you to ask questions\, share perspectives\, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. This is a night made for celebrating creativity\, community\, and culture in every form. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProgram Schedule: \n\n\n\n5:30–5:45 pm Live Music Performance w/ SPRINGTWIN | Gallery of California History \n\n\n\n5:45–6:45 pm Free Writing Workshop w/ Maw Shein Win | Gallery of California History \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm DJ Set w/ La Femme Papi | Town Fare \n\n\n\n5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries \n\n\n\n7–7:30 pm Open Mic w/ The Bay Area Book Festival  | Town Fare \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS\n\n\n\nSPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS\n\n\n\nFree Member Tickets\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout ThursDates \n\n\n\nEvery Thursday\, January through March\, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances\, live figure drawing sessions\, game nights\, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen\, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs. \n\n\n\nWhether you’re exploring the Museum with a date\, catching up with friends\, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new\, you’ll find connection\, inspiration\, and creative surprises\, week after week. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAccessibility \n\n\n\nOakland 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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPerformer BIOS\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n		\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About The Bay Area Book Festival\n				\n				                    The Bay Area Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of literature\, diversity\, and progressive ideas\, drawing over 20\,000 people to its flagship weekend event in Downtown Berkeley each year. In addition to this major festival\, the Bay Area Book Festival hosts monthly events and year-round programming in venues throughout the region\, making it a dynamic\, community-driven hub for authors\, readers\, and literary advocates across the Bay Area. Their mission is to uplift and honor the full spectrum of literary voices\, with particular care for those who have been historically excluded or marginalized\, while encouraging reading\, creative expression\, and critical thinking across all ages and backgrounds\, fostering understanding\, resilience\, and collective action. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Maw Shein Win\n				\n				                    Maw Shein Win’s latest full-length poetry collection\, Percussing the Thinking Jar (Omnidawn\, 2024)\, was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. Her previous full-length collection\, Storage Unit for the Spirit House (Omnidawn\, 2020)\, was longlisted for the PEN America 2021 Open Book Award\, shortlisted for the Golden Poppy Award for Poetry\, and nominated for the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. She is the inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito\, CA\, the 2025 Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Awardee\, and a 2025 Recipient of the Nomadic/San Francisco Foundation Literary Award. Win’s previous collections include Invisible Gifts and two chapbooks\, Score and Bone and Ruins of a Glittering Palace. She teaches poetry in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco and in the Low Residency MFA Program at Dominican University. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About Danny Allen\n				\n				                    Danny Allen is a singer\, songwriter\, guitarist\, and producer living in Oakland\, California. He’s played all over the US and Europe both as a solo performer and as a touring guitarist. Danny isn’t tied to one genre—he simply loves songs\, and sonics that move and inspire him. He has a deep love for the American songbook and loves to perform standards. He also has a deep appreciation of punk rock\, and early country music. He hopes you’re doing well! \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n        \n            \n\n			\n            \n				\n				                    About La Femme Papi\n				\n				                    La Femme Papi is a non-binary\, first-generation Salvadoran American DJ\, youth worker\, and community healer. They were born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District (Yelamu)\, the unceded ancestral land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. Their work centers joy and healing for immigrants\, as well as queer and trans people of color dedicated to collective liberation. They’re the current resident DJ at Clutch the Pearls\, a QTBIPOC drag cabaret in the Mission\, and have held residencies with iconic Bay Area parties including Soulovely\, Puti Club\, and Queer Qumbia. \n\n				\n				\n            \n\n        \n\n    \n	\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsor\n\n\n\nMajor support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nReturn to Events
URL:https://museumca.org/event/thursdates-at-omca-with-the-bay-area-book-festival/
LOCATION:OMCA campus
CATEGORIES:Gallery Chats at OMCA,Thursday After Hours,Town Fare Cafe,Ticketed
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