Oakland Museum of California (OMCA)

Friday Nights at OMCA with ROJAI IN THE POCKET
2025-07-25 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music by ROJAI IN THE POCKET, Reggaeton Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton, DJ Set by Yuca Frita, and Gallery Chats

Friday Nights at OMCA is bringing the heat with a night full of raw soul, global rhythms, and nonstop movement! Get ready for an electrifying live performance by ROJAI IN THE POCKET, where funk meets soul and passion meets rhythm. Led by powerhouse vocalist Jairo Vargas, aka Rojai, this genre-blending band brings a sound as unique as the San Francisco streets that shaped it.

Kick things off with a Reggaetón Dance Lesson led by the dynamic Sara Templeton! This high-energy class blends the rhythmic influence of Hip-Hop, dancehall, and salsa for a sensual, urban style that’s all about confidence and fun. From warmup to choreography, Sara’s routine breaks it all down so dancers of all levels can get in the groove. ¡Bailemos!

As the evening rolls on, Yuca Frita keeps the dancefloor lit with a DJ set packed with bass-heavy beats and global club sounds. Her high-octane mixes span reggaetón, dembow, baile funk, and dancehall, creating a percussive soundscape that pays homage to the Global South while keeping the energy sky-high. Expect a sonic journey that’s loud, proud, and made for movement.

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

5:30–6:30 pm Reggaeton Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Music Set by Yuca Frita | Amphitheater

7–8:15 pm Live Music by ROJAI IN THE POCKET | OMCA Garden

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

ROJAI IN THE POCKET

Sara Templeton

Yuca Frita

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Rojai

Rojai is the leader and vocalist for the widely recognized and highly acclaimed San Francisco bands Bayonics, The Pocket (formerly Hot Pocket), and Starship Connection. Rojai, a seasoned artist, does what he does best by channeling a sixth sense that only he holds, to move crowds with consistent passion, energy, and emotion. Teaming up with some of the best producers locally and worldwide, Rojai puts forth melodies, lyrics, and compositions that carry inherent respect for the funk and soul greats that inspired his craft.

About Sara Templeton

Sara is a San Francisco-based choreographer, teacher, and dancer. She started her professional career as a Hip-Hop dancer and later expanded her expertise to include modern, ballet, Dunham technique, and the dance forms associated with her Puerto Rican heritage. Sara has choreographed for both stage and film and currently teaches at studios around the Bay Area.

About Yuca Frita

Yuca Frita is a Bay Area-born Peruvian American DJ whose high-energy and percussive genre-blending sets synthesize Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and club rhythms. Her sound has been described as a “rowdy, leftfield approach to reggaeton and dembow” (Resident Advisor). Mixing rambunctious edits with both well-known and deep cuts, she plays in service to the hype, with the intention to keep dancers moving and pay homage to the club sounds of the Global South. Since the onset of her DJing career in 2021, she has played several notable events including the Outside Lands Music Festival, and has opened for artists such as Tokischa, Ms Nina, MJ Nebreda, Rosa Pistola, Bianca Oblivion, and more.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Gallery Chats at OMCA
2025-07-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-02 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-09 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-23 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-08-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-06 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-09-13 13:00 - 15:00 and 1 more date | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Join us for Gallery Chats, an opportunity to chat with and ask questions of our enthusiastic and knowledgeable OMCA Facilitators. Gallery Chats put a twist on the traditional museum tour by encouraging meaningful conversations and fresh interpretations to connect with the artwork, artifacts, and stories in our galleries.

Gallery Chats take place in our Special Exhibitions every Saturday from 1 to 3 pm and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. No reservation necessary.

GET MUSEUM ADMISSION TICKETS

OMCA Members have access to special Member Tours every second Saturday of the month from noon to 1 pm.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with KULARTS
2025-08-01 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music and Dance by KULARTS, DJ set by Amal, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, Zine Making, and Gallery Chats

Join us for an evening of music, movement, and storytelling that celebrates vibrant community culture across generations.

Experience the vibrant rhythms and cultural traditions of the Pilipino diaspora with live performances by KULARTS, featuring a convergence of ritual dance and movement—from Alleluia Panis Dance Theater’s powerful performances, to Jonathan Mercado’s dynamic Sagayan performance—an Indigenous Maguindanaoan warrior dance—to the joyful folk dance of AGOS Youth. AGOS Rondalla will fill the air with romantic melodies on traditional string instruments, while the Manilatown Ancestral Ensemble transports you to Mindanao through the pulsating rhythms of kulintang percussion. The celebration kicks off with an irresistible set from DJ ET of Astig Sound that welcomes everyone to movement.

Gather in the Garden for Drag Storytime with Per Sia, featuring The World We Can Build by Eliza Hull and Sally Rippin, a warm tale about friendship, accessibility, and creating inclusive spaces for all. And don’t miss a bookmark-making activity inspired by summertime at OMCA—get creative with stickers, colored pencils, and more in this hands-on art session for all ages. Then keep the vibes going with Amal, who’ll be spinning a genre-blending set of funk, house, R&B, global beats, and more—all rooted in joy, culture, and community.

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

5:15 pm Drag Storytime with Per Sia | OMCA Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Bookmark Making | OMCA Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:45–8 pm Live Music and Dance by KULARTS | Garden Stage

6:45-8:50 pm DJ Set by Amal | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

KULARTS

Per Sia

Amal

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About KULARTS

Founded in 1985, KULARTS is the main presenter of contemporary and tribal Pilipino Arts in the United States. The mission of KULARTS is to inform and expand the understanding of American Pilipino culture through works that address contemporary issues in the community. KULARTS objectives are to nurture the artistic development of Pilipino American artists, and preserve the spirit and integrity of ancient Pilipino art forms through research, education and documentation.

About Per Sia

Per Sia comes with a pedigree from weekly performances at the late, iconic Esta Noche. Her trajectory has gone on to include art curation, stand-up, television, and maybe a quinceañera or two, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and México. Per Sia is currently a regular performer in the nationally acclaimed “Drag Story Hour” as well as an educator in residence at an after-school arts program in the San Francisco Unified School District, profiled on KQED Arts, National Public Radio, and CNN.

About Amal

Amal is a DJ, curator, and event producer based in Oakland, California. With music at the center of her work and creations, Amal’s multifaceted sound, inspired by her Egyptian roots and the diversity of her home in the Bay Area, defies genre boundaries. From R&B to future beats, soul to global, house to hip-hop, and everything in between, Amal’s work holds a common thread of building feeling, connection, and community. She is also the creator of Butter, an everything-and-anything dance party based in Oakland and San Francisco.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

First Sundays
2025-08-03 11:00 - 17:00
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

First Sundays

Every first Sunday of the month, General Admission to OMCA’s Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences is free and tickets to Special Exhibitions in our Great Hall are offered at a discounted price of $6.

In between exploring the galleries, pick up some locally-made goods from our shop, or relax outside in our updated garden.

Visitors are encouraged to reserve tickets online in advance to secure your preferred entry time and reduce your wait. Tickets are available at the admissions desk on a first-come, first-served basis.

GET GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

GET SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

Return to Events

Highlights

OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
2025-08-03 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-09-07 13:00 - 14:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Walk through OMCA’s landmark building and gardens with members of the Council on Architecture, and learn about the history, design, and evolution of this award-winning structure with guides who are passionate about OMCA and Oakland.

No reservations or tickets are required. Walk and Talk begins near the Mid Level ticketing desk and lasts approximately one hour.

If you’d like to visit OMCA’s Galleries or Special Exhibitions, please purchase a ticket online in advance or at the ticketing desk on the day of your visit.

GET Museum Admission TICKETS

Return to Events

Semi—Annual Member Shop Sale
2025-08-08 11:00 - 2025-08-10 17:00 | OMCA Great Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

It’s sale time! Join us onsite and online for the semi-annual Member sale at the OMCA Shop. Starting Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10, OMCA Members enjoy double their regular discount on regularly priced items in our Shop–that’s 20% off!

Explore our full range of gifts available at the OMCA Shop and show your Membership card at check-out. The OMCA Shop is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm and Friday Nights until 8:30 pm.

For our online shoppers, be sure to check your Member emails for exclusive coupon codes that unlock your discounts when you shop online.

Oakland PrideShow your Oakland love with locally made art, exclusive branded beanies, hoodies, and tees—rooted in community pride.

Black Spaces: Reclaim & RemainCelebrate our newest exhibition with thoughtfully curated books, prints, and gifts that honor Black stories, spaces, and voices.

Summer VibesAdventure awaits! Discover field guides, birding books, and summer reads perfect for exploring Oakland’s neighborhoods and beyond.

LET’S SHOP

BECOME A MEMBER

*20% off applies to regularly priced items only. A limited number of items are available online. For the full collection of OMCA products, please visit the OMCA Shop onsite during regular Museum hours.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Agua Pura
2025-08-08 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music Performance by Agua Pura, Bachata Dance Lesson by Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy, DJ Dailo Mac Music Set, Pop-up Talk with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night, join us for an evening of music, movement, and a celebration of identity and culture! Don’t miss Agua Pura, a Bay Area-based salsa band composed entirely of femme and queer musicians. Their high-energy set blends salsa classics, cumbia, timba, rumba, and son, paired with Agua Pura originals previewing their upcoming debut album. Rooted in tradition and driven by community, Agua Pura sets the stage with joy and inclusive energy for expression and connection.

Warm up your body and spirit with a lively Bachata dance lesson led by Pamé Ortiz and Kayla Jones with In Lak’ech Dance Academy, a queer and POC-led Afro-Latin studio in Oakland. This beginner-friendly class welcomes everyone to jump in and enjoy the rhythm, whether solo or with a partner.

Then let DJ Dailo Mac take you on a global musical journey through R&B, Latin, K-pop, EDM, hip-hop, and more. With more than 20 years of experience, she’s here to create powerful, high-energy dance floors that get everyone moving.

Plus, in honor of Black August, join us for a Gallery Chats pop-up with special guests Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson in OMCA’s Black Power feature in the Gallery of California History. Following an in-gallery showing of Tyehimba Taylor’s short films, “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising,” these community influencers will explore topics such as Black collective determination, activism, and cultural legacy in Oakland. Their conversation will amplify the themes of OMCA’s latest special exhibition, Black Spaces: Reclaim and Remain, on view in OMCA’s Great Hall. Join us for a meaningful evening of culture, creativity, and celebration.

Program Schedule:

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–6:30 pm Bachata Dance Lesson by Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

5–6 pm Film Screening | Gallery of California History (Black Power)

“Legacy of Love” | Run Time 13:57

“East Oakland Rising” | Run Time 26:49

6–7 pm Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson | Gallery of California History

6:45–7:45 pm Live Music by Agua Pura | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Dailo Mac Music Set | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Agua Pura

Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy

DJ Dailo Mac

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Agua Pura

Agua Pura is a Bay Area-based salsa band composed of all femme/queer musicians playing a mix of traditional Cuban music, cumbia, salsa, timba, and R&B fusion. The band features the bandleader, Rebecca Rodríguez, on conga and vocals, Katharine Headlund on piano, Mireya Leon on bass, Mena Ramos on timbales, Belén Cortes on percussion and vocals, Zahra Rothschild on vocals and hand percussion, Alexis Harnage on trumpet, Mara Fox on trombone, and Nzingah Smith on tenor saxophone and flute. This local salsa band’s mission is to create a safe space for femme/queer musicians to express themselves and connect to their ancestry. ¡Ay que sigue la salsa Mamá!

About Pamé and Kayla with In Lak’ech Dance Academy

Pamé Ortiz and Kayla Jones are instructors at In Lak’ech Dance Academy, a queer and POC-led Afro-Latin dance studio based in Oakland. They’ve been dancing and teaching with In Lak’ech for over three years, bringing joyful energy, inclusivity, and a deep love for Bachata to every space they enter. Their classes invite folks of all backgrounds to move, connect, and have fun.

About DJ Dailo Mac

DJ Dailo Mac (she/her) is a seasoned open-format DJ with over 20 years of experience energizing dance floors and curating unforgettable vibes. Known for her genre-blending style and community-centered approach, she has collaborated with artists like Son of Paper and shared stages with icons such as One Vo1ce. Her work bridges music, identity, and celebration—turning every set into a powerful space for connection.

About Carolyn Johnson

Carolyn Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Cultural Zone. Before that, she was a business instructor at the College of Alameda and Associate Director of Commercial Real Estate at the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). With EBALDC, she leads a nonprofit community development organization building healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the greater East Bay.

About Cheo Tyehimba Taylor

Cheo Tyehimba Taylor is a journalist, author, former educator, and filmmaker. He directed and produced the original docuseries “KingMakers of Oakland” (2016), an Official Selection at the American Black Film Festival. He was the founding director of the Game Changers Project, a national fellowship for indie filmmakers across eight U.S. cities that partnered with The Obama Administration’s My Brother’s Keeper program. His short films “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising” are historic tributes to Oakland and are screening in OMCA’s Gallery of California History.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson
2025-08-08 18:00 - 19:00 | OMCA Gallery of California History, 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Special Guest Gallery Chats with Legacy of Love and East Oakland Rising filmmaker, Cheo Tyehimba and Carolyn Johnson of Black Cultural Zone

In honor of Black August, join filmmaker Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Black Cultural Zone CEO Carolyn Johnson in OMCA’s Black Power feature for a pop-up talk about Taylor’s films “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising”. These films focus on the impact of the collective determination of African American communities on the Bay Area landscape. They explore topics like launching the first Black-led health center, tackling environmental racism, and a 10-year battle against unfair housing policies and gentrification in East Oakland. Johnson, who is featured in the film, will share highlights from her lifelong commitment to the Black Arts and Culture legacy in Oakland. This conversation will leave you inspired and motivated. Not to be missed!

GET TICKETS

MEMBER TICKETS

About Carolyn Johnson

Carolyn Johnson is the Chief Executive Officer of the Black Cultural Zone. Before that, she was a business instructor at the College of Alameda and Associate Director of Commercial Real Estate at the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). With EBALDC, she leads a nonprofit community development organization building healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the greater East Bay.

About Cheo Tyehimba Taylor

Cheo Tyehimba Taylor is a journalist, author, former educator, and filmmaker. He directed and produced the original docuseries “KingMakers of Oakland” (2016), an Official Selection at the American Black Film Festival. He was the founding director of the Game Changers Project, a national fellowship for indie filmmakers across eight U.S. cities that partnered with The Obama Administration’s My Brother’s Keeper program. His short films “Legacy of Love” and “East Oakland Rising” are historic tributes to Oakland and will be screening ongoing in OMCA’s Gallery of California History.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events

Cancelled—Member Tours: Students on Strike Curator Walkthrough
2025-08-09 12:00 - 13:00 | OMCA Great Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Cancelled—Member Tours: Students on Strike Curator Walkthrough

This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. We apologize for the inconvenience and invite you to join our Gallery Chats happening on both Friday and Saturday.

Join us for a walkthrough of the Gallery of California History feature Students on Strike with OMCA Curator Ryder Diaz. This exhibition explores the enduring legacy of student activism at San Francisco State University by highlighting the similarities and differences between the historic 1968-1969 student strike that established the nation’s first Black Studies Department and first College of Ethnic Studies and the contemporary campus protests against the war in Gaza.

BECOME A MEMBER

Please note that spaces are limited. A sign up sheet will be available at the Ticketing Desk when checking in. Arrive early to grab your spot!

Facilitator

Ryder Diaz (he/they) is OMCA’s Natural Sciences Curator. They have helped to develop science-related exhibitions at Bay Area museums for the past decade. Ryder brings an interdisciplinary background and approach to his work: He has degrees in Science Communication, Population Biology, Metropolitan Studies, and Gender and Sexuality Studies. Outside of OMCA, Ryder co-organizes a monthly bird walk for queer and trans people of color, as well as facilitates an all-volunteer, creekside habitat-restoration project in the Fruitvale.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Amihan
2025-08-15 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music by Amihan, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, DJ Set by Jenset, and Gallery Chats

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

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Amihan

Jenset

Sketchboard Co.

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Amihan

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.

About Jenset

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.

About Sketchboard Co.

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.

Return to Events

Spotlight Sundays: Rituals of Care Celebration with Artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong, Cut Fruit Collective, and Teaphile
2025-08-17 13:00 - 14:30 | James Moore Theater
Your browser does not support the video tag.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Spotlight Sundays: Rituals of Care Celebration with Artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong, Cut Fruit Collective, and Teaphile

This month, Spotlight Sundays welcomes guests to join artist Chelsea Ryoko Wong for a free, all-ages celebration in OMCA’s Oak Street Plaza. Wong’s colorful paintings amplify the diversity of her Asian heritage and the vibrant family histories of the AAPI women depicted in them. Under her playful mural, titled Calling Home, this lively event will explore rituals of community care with Wong and OMCA’s community partners Cut Fruit Collective and Teaphile.

Enjoy a traditional Gongfu tea ceremony while choosing from an assortment of fun activities, including ‘make a wish’ origami, handmade elder care cards, and kite decorating. Visitors will be invited to write hopeful messages on beautifully designed cards and paper hearts to be distributed to seniors in Chinatown and Little Saigon.

This event is a part of our feature programming for Ancestral Visions, on view through February 2026, and is made possible by the Harker Fund Artist Residency Program.

About Chelsea Ryoko Wong

Chelsea Ryoko Wong (b. 1986, Seattle, WA) is a painter and muralist known for vibrant, joyful celebrations of community, ritual, and seasonality. Inspired by Northern California and international travels, the scenes in Wong’s paintings are infused with fantasy, humor, and imagination. Translating her printmaking background to the realm of painting, Wong’s paintings are composed through a meticulous layering of form and figure.

Wong attended Parsons School of Design, New York and received her BFA in printmaking from California College of the Arts. She is the first recipient of the Hamaguchi Emerging Artists Fellowship award at Kala Art Institute, Berkeley and was a 2022 finalist for SFMOMA’s esteemed SECA Art Award. She has participated in recent group exhibitions at the de Young, San Francisco; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA; Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA; Chinese Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA; and Bolinas Museum, CA. She has completed large-scale mural projects in San Francisco at Asana; La Cocina; Facebook Artist in Residence Program; and the Asian Art Museum. She was awarded the Harker Fund Residency in 2024 and will present a solo exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California in February 2025. Her work has been acquired by institutional and private collections including the de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA, and Bolinas Museum, CA. Wong lives and works in the Mission District of San Francisco.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with SambaDá
2025-08-22 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music by SambaDá, House Dance Lesson with Terrence Paschal, DJ Set by Gomorrah Dawn, and Gallery Chats

Friday Nights at OMCA presents an evening of rhythm, roots, and movement! Experience the vibrant energy of SambaDá, ready to transform the OMCA Garden with an infectious, high-energy show blending samba, Afro-Brazilian rhythms, funk, cumbia, and reggae. Calling upon deep roots in Brazil and the African diaspora, SambaDá brings 25 years of joyful, Carnival-inspired performance to the stage—guaranteed to get you and your crew dancing!

Jump into a beginner-friendly house dance lesson with Terrence Paschal. Rooted in street styles, this Bay Area dancer will guide guests through grooves and foundational steps in a welcoming, upbeat session focused on self-expression and fun.

Then let Gomorrah Dawn turn up the vibe with a genre-blurring DJ set of soulful house, deep house, disco, and R&B remixes. Known for her bold, ancestral, and high-spirited sound, her sets are pure movement magic—fresh, nostalgic, and totally danceable.

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. It’s a night to explore global traditions, find your flow, and celebrate community through music, dance, and inquiry.

Program Schedule:

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–6:30 pm House Dance Lesson with Terrence Paschal | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:45–8 pm Live Music by SambaDá | Garden Stage

6:45-8:50 pm DJ Set by Gomorrah Dawn | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

SambaDá

Terrence Paschal

Gomorrah Dawn

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About SambaDá

For the past 25 years, SambaDá has been building a musical bridge between traditional and contemporary Brazilian sounds, with roots in Africa and influences from around the U.S. and the Caribbean. Brazilian natives Papiba Godinho and Dandha Da Hora bring their lifelong dedication to Afro-Brazilian song, dance, and percussion to the group. Papiba is a Mestre of the Brazilian art of capoeira, and Dandha has been performing with the world-renowned cultural organization Ilê Aiyê since she was six years old. Together with the other members of SambaDá, they create a joyous blend of Afro-Samba-Reggae-Funk guaranteed to keep feet dancing and open hearts!

About Terrence Paschal

Terrence Paschal is originally from Stockton, California, and has been performing street dance styles for 13 years. Terrence has danced professionally in a street dance company and has performed both domestically and overseas. Terrence’s mission is to share their love for these dance forms so that others may find their own voice through creative expression.

About Gomorrah Dawn

Forged in Philly and minted in the Bay, Gomorrah Dawn is a househead-turned-DJ, spinning fire from the gods. With a sound that is dank, spirited, bold, ancestral, and just a lil spicy, getting lost in a Gomorrah Dawn set is an ecstatic experience.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Member Bonus Reciprocity Week at BAMPFA
2025-08-27 00:00 - 2025-08-31 23:59 | Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St, Berkeley, California, 94720, United States
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Join us in a celebratory partnership between the Oakland Museum of California and the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) with this bonus reciprocity week-long event!

From August 27–31, OMCA Members enjoy free admission for 2 guests per membership and 50% off of current and future film screenings! Use code OMCA25 for film reservations online.

BAMPFA is open 11 am–7 pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

Not a Member yet? Join Today!

Current Exhibitions Include:

Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California

Routed West: Twentieth-Century African American Quilts in California traces the flow and flourishing of quilts in the context of the Second Great Migration through approximately one hundred quilts representing the work of eighty individuals, many of them women. It is the first group show drawn from a transformative bequest of African American quilts that the museum received in 2019.

Guided tours offered on 8/27 and 8/31 are first come, first serve as there are no reservations. Please arrive at least 30 minutes in advance.

Lee ShinJa: Drawing with Thread

Lee ShinJa: Drawing with Thread is the first North American survey of the work of the historically under-recognized Korean artist Lee ShinJa (b. 1930, Uljin, South Korea; lives and works in Seoul). Spanning more than five decades, from the 1950s to the early 2000s, the exhibition showcases the artist’s bold innovations in fiber through forty monumental textile works, woven maquettes, and preparatory sketches.

MATRIX 287 / Berenice Olmedo: To ti ên einai

MATRIX 287 / Berenice Olmedo: To ti ên einai is the first museum exhibition in the United States for artist Berenice Olmedo (b. 1987, Oaxaca, Mexico; lives and works in Mexico City). Olmedo’s intimate yet commanding anthropomorphic assemblages with fused prostheses and orthotics urge a reconsideration of standardized expectations of bodies.

For gallery admission, simply present your OMCA membership card at the Visitor Experience welcome counter and enjoy.

Question or comments? Please contact us at membership@museumca.org or 510-318-8520. Please note that BAMPFA is closed on Labor Day, September 1.

Return to Events

Photo credit: Daria Lugina/BAMPFA

Friday Nights at OMCA with NOODLES
2025-08-29 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

DJ Set by NOODLES, DJ Sucia Music Set, and Gallery Chats

The beat drops at OMCA this Friday with two DJs bringing bold sounds and big energy. Choose your vibe with two live DJ sets that bring intention and serious rhythm to the night. On the Garden Stage, NOODLES delivers a DJ set featuring a genre-bending mix of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and global sounds. Known for her bold style and creative vision, she’s rocked everything from underground clubs to international festivals.

In the Amphitheater, DJ Sucia lights up the space with a high-energy fusion of Latin beats, house, EDM, and today’s hip-hop hits. Rooted in their indigenous Mexican and Spanish heritage, DJ Sucia’s sets transform the dancefloor into a shared celebration of culture 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

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:45–8 pm DJ Set by NOODLES | Garden Stage

6:45-8:50 pm DJ Sucia Music Set | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

NOODLES

DJ Sucia

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About NOODLES

NOODLES is a Bay Area DJ whose eclectic sets seamlessly blend hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and global influences. With roots in both club culture and fashion, she’s built a distinct lane—touring with Kehlani, headlining her own shows, and moving festival crowds worldwide. Her performances radiate confidence, creativity, and real connection. NOODLES curates music with intention and a pulse on what’s next.

About DJ Sucia

DJ SUCIA fuses their indigenous Mexican and Spanish heritage into high-energy sets, seamlessly mixing today’s top hits with house, dance, and EDM while always keeping Latin tracks in heavy rotation. Behind the decks, they thrive on reading the energy of each unique crowd, creating a collaborative experience where connection transforms moments into memories.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with ALPHABET ROCKERS
2025-09-05 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Musical Performance by ALPHABET ROCKERS, Music Set by DJ Broad Strokes, Coloring with Moms 4 Housing, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, and Gallery Chats

Join us this Friday to get into an epic groove with the Grammy-winning ALPHABET ROCKERS. Transforming the stage with powerful rhythms and messages, this electric team creates Hip-Hop that sparks change and encourages belonging. Co-led by Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd, their interactive set invites all ages to move, reflect, and build community together.

Come enjoy the Garden for Drag Storytime with Per Sia as she brings warmth and flair to Jolene and Dakata Gutiérrez’s Mamiachi & Me, a lyrical story about courage, culture, and performing in an all-femme mariachi band. Then use that creative inspiration to participate in a coloring activity led by Moms 4 Housing, who will host a resource table with information on housing justice and ways to get involved.

Seal the evening with a high-energy set from DJ Broad Strokes, whose genre-blending mix of Hip-Hop, R&B, disco, Latin, and more brings people together on the dance floor.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

5:15 pm Drag Storytime with Per Sia | OMCA Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Coloring Activity with Moms 4 Housing | OMCA Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6:30–7:30 pm Live Performance by ALPHABET ROCKERS | Garden Stage

6:45-8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Broad Strokes | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Alphabet Rockers

Per Sia

DJ Broad Strokes

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About ALPHABET ROCKERS

ALPHABET ROCKERS are visionary artists creating music and media that spark change and build a culture of belonging. Co-led by Kaitlin McGaw (she/her) and Tommy Soulati Shepherd (he/him/they), this GRAMMY-winning team centers youth voices to imagine more just, inclusive futures. Their work spans music, books, animation, and live performance—partnering with leading institutions like the Othering & Belonging Institute, Destiny Arts Center, and Oakland Museum of California. With over five million listeners and a legacy rooted in research, artistry, and community, Alphabet Rockers are reshaping what children’s media can be.

About Per Sia

Per Sia comes with a pedigree from weekly performances at the late, iconic Esta Noche. Her trajectory has gone on to include art curation, stand-up, television, and maybe a quinceañera or two, in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and México. Per Sia is currently a regular performer in the nationally acclaimed “Drag Story Hour” as well as an educator in residence at an after-school arts program in the San Francisco Unified School District, profiled on KQED Arts, National Public Radio, and CNN.

About DJ Broad Strokes

An immigrant from the Philippines whose family planted roots in Southern California in the ’80s, Broad Strokes draws inspiration from across eras and around the globe. Raised on the music coming out of her parents’ boombox—‘90s Hip-Hop and R&B, and SoCal’s rave scene—she moved to Seattle during the height of the grunge era, then moved to the Bay with its rich cultural and musical diversity. She then lived in New York for a few years, decided the West Side was the best side, and returned to the Bay. Broad Strokes’ curatorial approach reflects this wide range of influences and genres, from both her past and her open-minded and curious approach to what’s on the horizon. At the heart of her craft is finding sounds that inspire movement and dance—and that deep sense of connection that follows on the dance floor. As part of her mission to foster community on the dance floor, she founded the Bay Area DJ Calendar (bayareadjcalendar.com) as a resource to help people discover music and events all over the Bay Area.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Fall Teacher Night
2025-09-12 16:30 - 19:00
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

TGIF! Here at OMCA, we recognize and want to celebrate the hard work that goes into the start of the school year. Head over to the Museum for our Fall Teacher Night and hang out and enjoy what OMCA has to offer—on us.

While you’re here, take part in an immersive journaling workshop with Meres-Sia Gabriel in OMCA’s newest exhibition, Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain, exploring self-care and reflection through the lens of the exhibition. Space is limited, so be sure to register in advance.

Wander the galleries with late-night access and check out special features such as Ancestral Visions: An Installation by Chelsea Ryoko Wong, speaking to fashion and personal history, and Students on Strike, an installation exploring the legacy of student activism at SF State. Download student and teacher guides for our exhibitions, and then head to the OMCA Garden to unwind with live music by Awesöme Orchestra featuring DIA LUNA, part of Friday Nights at OMCA.

Bring your team! This event is free for teachers—RSVP is only required for those attending the journaling workshop. The first 100 arrivals receive Off The Grid food truck and drink tickets.

REGISTER FOR JOURNALING WORKSHOP

Teacher Night Schedule

4:30–7 pm Teacher Night Check-In Table | Mid-Level

Black Spaces Immersive Journaling Workshops (registration required) | Great Hall

Session 1: 4:30–5 pm

Session 2: 5:30–6 pm

5–8 pm Off the Grid Food Trucks | 10th Street

6–8 pm Live Music by Awesöme Orchestra featuring DIA LUNA | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Karlita Music Set | Amphitheater

9 pm Galleries Close

SUBSCRIBE TO EDUCATOR EMAIL LIST

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Awesöme Orchestra ft. DIA LUNA
2025-09-12 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music by Awesöme Orchestra ft. DIA LUNA, Soul Line Dance with Chocolate Platinum, Music Set by DJ Karlita, Gallery Chats, and Fall Teacher Night

Kick off this Friday Night with an unforgettable blend of music, dance, and community celebration! Experience Awesöme Orchestra on the Garden Stage with special guest DIA LUNA, as they premiere live arrangements from her genre-defying art-pop catalog. Part open rehearsal, part performance, this all-ages experience invites you to witness how orchestral music comes to life with rich vocals and lush arrangements.

Get moving with a Soul Line Dance lesson led by Chocolate Platinum, featuring the energizing “Boots on the Ground” routine. Bring your fans for a quick demo on how to pop them, and then dance along to this fun, easy-to-follow groove. DJ Karlita will give you more space to explore your moves as she spins a vibrant mix of Latin house, Afrohouse, Hip-Hop, disco, and Afrobeats.

This Friday, educators will be flowing from our annual Fall Teacher Night, complete with gallery workshops covering our new special exhibition Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain, and are encouraged to connect, unwind, and explore OMCA during our Friday Nights celebration. 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:

4:30–7 pm Fall Teacher Night | Great Hall

5–9 pm Core Galleries and Special Exhibitions evening hours with Museum ticket

5:30–6:30 pm Soul Line Dance Lesson with Chocolate Platinum | Amphitheater

5:30–7:30 pm Gallery Chats | All Galleries

6–8 pm Live Music by Awesöme Orchestra ft. DIA LUNA | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Karlita Music Set | Amphitheater

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Awesöme Orchestra

DIA LUNA

Chocolate Platinum

DJ Karlita

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Awesöme Orchestra and DIA LUNA

Awesöme Orchestra has been bringing orchestral music to adventurous places throughout the SF Bay Area since 2013.
DIA LUNA is the sly alias of Mexican American artist Andrea Diaz and the name of her art-pop project with her cousin, main producer, and engineer, Tomas Deltoro-Diaz. Often compared to art-rock chameleon St. Vincent, and possessing a voice as seductive and rich as R&B icon Sade, DIA LUNA weaves a collage of sounds and influences to create music that feels both artful and familiar. Her live set pushes the boundaries of performance, utilizing looping as a method of layering her luscious vocals and breathing life into her song arrangements.

About Chocolate Platinum

Patricia Lowe, aka Chocolate Platinum, is the dynamic CEO and founder of The Chocolate Platinum Soul Line Dancers, established in 2012. An award-winning choreographer and a Certified Master Line Dance Instructor, Patricia has made a lasting impact on the world of soul line dancing through her creativity, leadership, and passion for the art. Her contributions have been recognized at the highest level—earning her a place in the U.S. Library of Congress, a testament to her cultural influence and dedication to the dance community.

About DJ Karlita

A dancer, community organizer, and DJ, Karla Flores, aka Karlita, fuses her Bay Area roots and Central American background into her art. Using dance as a portal into other creative outlets, she’s been able to travel and teach internationally and has thrown groundbreaking events such as AfroRooted. She views the art of DJing as a musical love letter to her dance community, blending rhythms of Hip-Hop, funk, disco, and Afrohouse. Karlita has been an active dance battle DJ since 2023 for open styles, breakin’ battles, and has expanded to pop-up events such as OMCA, Days Like This, and more. Her credits include: BADECollective, ReVision, All The Way Foundation, East Bay Get Down, I Need A Break Vol 3, Str8jacket, and BeMovement Collective.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America.

Return to Events

Member Tours: Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain Curator Walkthrough
2025-09-13 12:00 - 13:00 | OMCA Great Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Member Tours: Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain Curator Walkthrough

Join OMCA’s Associate Curator of History, Dania Talley, for a walkthrough of Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain. Talley will share insights and stories behind this exciting must-see exhibition, which documents and honors how Black communities have creatively resisted displacement and continue to shape spaces of belonging in the East Bay.

BECOME A MEMBER

Please note that spaces are limited. A sign-up sheet will be available at the Ticketing Desk when checking in. Arrive early to grab your spot!

Facilitator

Dania Talley is an experienced archaeologist with a Master of Arts in Historical Archaeology from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her professional background includes extensive work in collections management and public history, with a particular emphasis on African American and Native American cultural heritage. As the Associate Curator of History at the Oakland Museum of California, Dania leads the development of exhibition concepts and gallery installations, oversees the stewardship of cultural collections, and engages with community partners, including the Museum’s Native Advisory Council. She plays a central role in research, documentation, and advancing inclusive, community-centered curatorial strategies.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia
2025-09-19 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, DJ Set by Digital KitKat, and Gallery Chats

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

Join our email list to stay in the loop about Friday Nights at OMCA!

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Performers

Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia

Sketchboard Co.

Digital KitKat

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia

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.

About Sketchboard Co.

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.

About Digital KitKat

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.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA Special Members Lounge
2025-09-19 17:30 - 19:30 | OMCA Garden, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Calling all Members! Join us for a special members’ lounge on the Upper Level Terrace, overlooking our Garden in celebration of you! Mingle with fellow OMCA enthusiasts while enjoying light refreshments, games, and bingo, where we’ll be giving away some amazing items from the OMCA Shop. Bring your friends and family and enjoy Friday Nights together!

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid

Friday, September 19 | 5-9 pm

Friday Nights at OMCA are teaming with music, art, and lively conversation. Experience the vibrant sounds of Cuba with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, blending timba, salsa, son, and tropical fusion in an electrifying live set. Known as the former lead singer of the legendary Los Van Van, Yeny’s powerhouse vocals bring soul, rhythm, and joy to the stage. In the Gallery of California Art, Sketchboard Co. hosts open figure drawing sessions where all are welcome to sketch, reflect, and celebrate the beauty of the human form. Later, DJ Digital KitKat keeps the energy high with groove-heavy mixes of funky edits, smooth house, and global beats. Throughout the evening, Gallery Chats invite visitors to join meaningful conversations with OMCA facilitators, offering fresh perspectives on the museum’s exhibitions. It’s not just a Friday night—it’s your Friday night at OMCA.

EVENT DETAILS

Return to Events

Spotlight Sundays: A Conversation on Black Fatherhood
2025-09-21 13:00 - 14:30 | OMCA Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
Your browser does not support the video tag.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Friday Nights at OMCA with The Whoadees and Special Guests

Spotlight Sundays: A Conversation on Black Fatherhood with Siyah Mgoduka, Jordan Thierry of the Black Fatherhood Project, and Chris Johnson, Co-Creator of Question Bridge: Black Males

This month’s Spotlight Sundays invites you to a powerful exploration of Black fatherhood through the lens of three visionary artists, each offering a unique perspective on its complexity and depth. Through film, conversation, and artistic reflection, we’ll engage with some of the most nuanced and resonant realities of Black fatherhood today.

We’ll begin with the short film It’s a Pleasure to Meet You (2016), co-produced by South African filmmaker Sue Williamson and artist Siyah Mgoduka. In this film, Mgoduka grapples with the loss of his father at the hands of Apartheid police and navigates what it means to step into fatherhood himself.

After the screening, the conversation continues with a dynamic panel featuring Mgoduka alongside Jordan Thierry, whose acclaimed documentary The Black Fatherhood Project traces the history and evolution of the Black family, and Chris Johnson, co-creator of Question Bridge: Black Males, a moving video installation where Black men share deeply personal reflections on family, identity, and generational wisdom.

This gathering is a celebration of intergenerational healing and Black father fellowship—an invitation to witness, reflect, and connect.

GET TICKETS

member tickets

Collaborator Bios

Siyah Mgoduka After studying Media Communication and Culture at NMMU, Mgoduka went on to further his studies at City Varsity, Cape Town, in Film and Television Production. He then pursued a career in Fine Arts as an artist, gallery assistant, and museum preparator. His relocation from South Africa to the US has given him an advantageous insight regarding cross cultural discourses within South Africa and the Diaspora. Mgoduka is featured in artist Sue Williamson’s film shorts: Can’t Remember, Can’t Forget (2016), What is This Thing Called Freedom? (2016), and It’s a Pleasure to Meet You (2016) , which examines how Mgoduka grapples with the loss of his father to the Apartheid police. He is currently a museum preparator at The Oakland Museum of California.

Chris Johnson is a photographic and video artist, educator, curator, and writer who studied photography with Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, and Wynn Bullock. He served for 11 years as Chair of the Photography Program at the California College of the Arts, where he is now Professor Emeritus, and in 2025 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts. His work has been widely published and exhibited, with pieces in the collections of the Center for Creative Photography, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. In 2022, his fine art photographic portraiture was featured in a solo exhibition at the Monterey Museum of Art.

Johnson has held leadership roles including President of SF Camerawork Gallery, Chair of Oakland’s Cultural Affairs Commission under Jerry Brown, and Director of the Mother Jones International Fund for Documentary Photography. He currently serves on the Board of the Oakland Museum of California and as Board President of the Alliance for Media Arts and Culture. He is the author of The Practical Zone System: for Film and Digital Photography (now in its 6th edition), and his public art projects are featured in Art as Social Practice: Technologies for Change. Johnson originated the Question Bridge concept in 1996, later co-producing Question Bridge: Black Males—a project that won the International Center of Photography’s 2015 Infinity Award and, in 2016, was inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture.

Jordan Thierry is a filmmaker, writer, and activist. He is the owner and Creative Director of Dream Chase Media LLC, a multimedia production company that uses culture, creativity and community as inspirations for compelling storytelling. His most recent feature film, GRANDMA’S ROSES (2021) is a raw, intimate documentary exploring the labor & love women invest in their families and communities. His first feature film, THE BLACK FATHERHOOD PROJECT (2013) received wide community acclaim for its breakdown of the history of the Black family. His first short film, the regional Emmy-nominated FOOTPRINTS IN THE STRUGGLE (2006) tells the story of Beatrice Cannady.

His book tilted, A Kids Book About Systemic Racism was made to help kids understand what systemic racism is and how it’s built into laws, schools, stories, and other institutions in a way that collectively makes life much harder for people of color.

Sue Williamson is a Cape Town-based artist whose work explores memory, resistance, and social justice. Her recent retrospective, There’s something I must tell you, opened at the Iziko South African National Gallery in February 2025. She has exhibited at major biennales and is held in collections including MoMA, New York, Tate Modern, and Centre Pompidou. Williamson is the author of Resistance Art in South Africa (1989) and founder of ArtThrob online magazine. She is a recipient of the Ellen Kuzwayo Award and a Living Legend honouree by South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture.

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 visitor@museumca.org at least three weeks before the event. Learn more about our accessibility options.

Return to Events
