Oakland Museum Of California Special Exhibitions Temporarily Closed Due To Water Damage Impacts Caused By Extraordinary Weather Conditions On October 24
(OAKLAND, CA) November 10, 2021—Due to extraordinary weather conditions on October 24, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) announces a temporary closure of its Great Hall exhibition space, where the recently-opened exhibition Mothership: Voyage Into Afrofuturism is on view and the anticipated exhibition Edith Heath: A Life in Clay will reside. Edith Heath was originally scheduled to open to the public on November 13, 2021.
During the storm, leaking from the Museum’s upper level into the Great Hall gallery below caused damage to the floor, ceilings, and walls. There has been no damage to any of the artifacts or artworks in the galleries. In order to conduct repairs, the exhibitions will remain temporarily closed until further notice. All ticket holders who have pre-purchased a timed ticket to either of the Special Exhibitions will be contacted for a rebooking or a refund. OMCA’s new cafe, Town Fare by Tanya Holland, is currently operating with a streamlined menu and hours
Collection Galleries Remain Open; Upcoming Garden Programming Scheduled
OMCA’s galleries of California Art, California History, and California Natural Sciences were not impacted by the storm and remain open to visitors. A newly-installed dedication to artist Hung Liu, who recently passed away, is on view in the Gallery of California Art, featuring four of her pivotal works from the Museum’s collection in a quiet setting of reflection. Also on view in the Gallery of California Art, Dorothea Lange: Photography as Activism showcases some of the most powerful photographs of the 20th century, drawn from Lange’s personal archive gifted to OMCA over 50 years ago.
In the Gallery of California History, two of OMCA’s most popular installations include Black Power, drawing from OMCA’s groundbreaking 2016 exhibition All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50. The installation illustrates the creative ways Black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and challenged the U.S. government. Visitors to the gallery can also immerse themselves in the multimedia video installation Question Bridge: Black Males, presenting nuanced portraits of past, present, and future of Black men in American society through intimate videos woven together.
On the Museum’s lower level near the Gallery of California Natural Sciences, don’t miss the newly-installed ofrenda in honor of El Día de los Muertos. Created by OMCA’s El Día de los Muertos Volunteer Community Committee in remembrance of COVID-19 victims, the ofrenda (altar) provides an opportunity to honor those whom we mourn in the community and to create personal offerings to add to the ofrenda. Also on the lower level inside of the Gallery of California Natural Sciences is the compelling exhibition You Are Here: California Stories on the Map, showcasing a diverse range of maps from Oakland, the Bay Area, and California that highlight everything from environmental surroundings and health conditions to community perspectives and creative artworks.
Bring your lunch and favorite picnic blanket to OMCA’s recently-launched garden program, Lunchtime Sessions: Music, Dance, and Storytelling in the Garden. Held for free every Thursday and Saturday starting at noon, visitors are invited to come together and enjoy a range of live performances in the newly-renovated picturesque garden setting.
As visitors prepare for the holiday season, the OMCA Store also provides an opportunity for shoppers to bring a piece of their Museum experience home to share with a loved one, featuring locally-made items such as books, artwork, jewelry, prints, and apparel. The store is open during the Museum’s visitor hours, Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.
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. Museum admission is $16 general; $11 seniors and students with valid ID, $7 youth ages 13 to 17, and free for Members and children 12 and under. There is a $5 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. An accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance to the Museum. museumca.org
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