Friday Nights at OMCA with Amihan
Live Music by Amihan, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, DJ Set by Jenset, and Gallery Chats
August 15 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Friday Night at OMCA brings you an evening of rhythm, resistance, and creative expression! Experience a powerful live set from Frisco Pinay rapper, singer, and musician Amihan, whose unique blend of folk, hip-hop, and revolutionary chants channels stories of migration and solidarity. Performing alongside her band Diwa, a collective of Bay Area artists and organizers, Amihan’s music honors her Filipino roots and the collective fight for justice.
In the Gallery of California Art, Sketchboard Co. invites you to dive into your creativity with uninstructed live figure drawing! All are welcome to sketch, reflect, and connect in this open studio-style session celebrating the beauty and diversity of the human form.
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.
As the evening heats up, join us for a dynamic DJ set from Jenset, bringing high-energy mixes that span hip-hop, R&B, and original remixes. A nurse and DJ, Jenset brings healing and hype in equal parts, turning the dance floor into a space of joy, release, and connection.
Friday Nights at OMCA also offer a well-rounded gallery experience with Gallery Chats. Unlike traditional museum tours, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators, who combine deep content knowledge with lived experience to encourage fresh interpretations of the museum’s exhibitions.
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
6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art
6:45–8 pm Live Music by Amihan | OMCA Garden
6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by Jenset | 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
Amihan [harvest wind] is a self-taught musician, emcee, and vocalist born and bred in San Francisco–reppin’ the Excelsior neighborhood. She was named after the peasant women’s alliance AMIHAN, based in the countryside of her homeland, and raised through community organizing in the city. Amihan is the guitarist and vocalist of the band Diwa, a cultural group of activists and instrumentalists whose work spans across the Bay Area. Using their live performances to support grassroots fundraisers and campaigns, their music also amplifies the calls of the Filipino people for national democracy and all other oppressed peoples fighting for genuine freedom in our homelands.
Jenset is a DJ and a nurse who believes in the healing powers of music and dance. She uses her DJ sets as a tool for stress relief and joy, helping to create a sense of unity and celebration. Jenset has earned opportunities to open for artists such as JID, DJ Paul of Three 6 Mafia, Trapaholics, Breakbot, Dua Saleh, Nef the Pharaoh, Keak da Sneak, and more.
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.
