Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia
Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, DJ Set by Digital KitKat, and Gallery Chats
September 19 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Experience an electrifying live set from Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, bringing the vibrant sounds of Cuba to life through a high-energy mix of timba, salsa, son, and tropical fusion. Led by the powerhouse vocals of Yeny Valdés—former lead singer of the legendary Los Van Van—the group lights up the stage with soul, rhythm, and irresistible joy. Rooted in tradition and reimagined through a modern lens, their performance invites everyone to dance, celebrate, and feel the heartbeat of the Caribbean.
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.
Turn up the energy on the night with a bumping DJ set from Digital KitKat, whose groove-heavy selections blend colorful textures, funky edits, smooth house, and global beats.
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
6:30–7:45 pm Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia | OMCA Garden
6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by Digital KitKat | 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
Yeny Valdés is a renowned Cuban singer with five Latin Grammy nominations and was the lead vocalist of Los Van Van—one of Cuba’s most iconic bands—for 16 years. Now based in the Bay Area, she leads as the principal singer of TeamBahia, a powerful orchestra directed by her husband, musician, percussionist, and vocalist Erick Barberia. Together, they fuse Cuba’s rich musical heritage with a modern, vibrant sound that lights up the stage with soul and tropical flavor.
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.
Digital KitKat is a Bay Area-based Queer DJ/producer with roots in Chula Vista, CA. Their sound is a bold fusion of Miami bass, freestyle, Latin beats, and Euro influences. As the curator of *Planeta Pisces*, a vibrant party they host, Digital KitKat creates an electrifying space to share the music that has shaped and inspired them, inviting the community to move, feel, and connect.
Sponsors
Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.
