Gallery Chats at OMCA
2026-03-07 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-04 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-11 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-25 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 3 more dates | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

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.

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Member Bonus Reciprocity Week at BAMPFA
2026-03-11 00:00 - 2026-03-15 23:59 | Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, 2155 Center St, Berkeley, California, 94720, United States
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

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 March 11-15th, enjoy free admission reciprocity to BAMPFA for 2 guests per membership and 50% off of current and future film screenings! Use code OMCA2026 for film reservations online.

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

Not a Member yet? Join Today!

Current Exhibitions Include:

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Multiple Offerings

Theresa Hak Kyung Cha: Multiple Offerings is the first retrospective in twenty-five years dedicated to the groundbreaking work of the artist Theresa Hak Kyung Cha (b. 1951, Busan, South Korea; d. 1982, New York City). Cha produced an expansive range of works across text-based media, video, and performance, including her posthumously published book, Dictée (1982). The artist’s interdisciplinary practice gave shape to the experimental art scenes in San Francisco, New York City, and beyond.

After emigrating from South Korea to the United States, Cha enrolled in 1969 at UC Berkeley, where she studied art practice, comparative literature, and film. Keenly attuned to the active role that audiences play in the creation of meaning, she prioritized nonlinear narratives to allow for more open-ended forms of interpretation—what she termed a method of “Multiple Telling with Multiple Offering.” The retrospective adopts this framework to allow for a range of entry points into Cha’s work, guiding visitors through the themes—memory, displacement, and the mutability of language, among others—that recur in her oeuvre.

Since 1992, owing to a generous gift from the Theresa Hak Kyung Cha Memorial Foundation, BAMPFA has served as the steward of Cha’s art and archives. Gathering over one hundred artworks and archival materials from across her short but prolific career, as well as select loans of works by Cha and other artists, Multiple Offerings highlights the inventive, playful, and meditative methods of Cha’s practice while also situating her work within a constellation of artistic forebearers, peers, and contemporary artists for whom she has long been a lodestar.

The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue—the first museum monograph dedicated to the artist in over twenty years.

Art Wall / Stephanie Syjuco: Present Tense (Roll Call)

Debuting her largest wall installation to date, artist Stephanie Syjuco (b. 1974, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Oakland) presents Present Tense (Roll Call). Referencing the classroom routine of announcing one’s presence, the exhibition explores radical pedagogy in the politics of education. Syjuco’s practice spans from handcrafted textiles to archival excavations, interrogating how photography and archives shape racialized narratives of being and belonging.

For this exhibition, Syjuco, a UC Berkeley professor since 2013, reflected on her role as an educator while drawing from the Bancroft Library and the Ethnic Studies Library, engaging with their extensive holdings on student activism and research by marginalized communities. As part of the artist’s process, she collaborated with multiple participants, inviting educators nationwide to contribute pedagogical materials, thus reinforcing the interconnected nature of knowledge production.

Present Tense (Roll Call) cascades across the wall as a sprawling visual field of text and imagery, which uses documents referencing the first ethnic studies programs in the United States, including UC Berkeley’s program, born in the late 1960s. With this project, Syjuco urgently responds to the broad backlash against and recent legislative attacks on ethnic studies, book bans, and the defunding and removal of diversity programs. She transformed ordinary didactic materials into a layered constellation of fragmented and reassembled information. Her photographic approach reenacts archival parsing, selectively sharpening elements while letting others fade into illegibility, revealing how knowledge is precariously preserved, erased, and fiercely contested. By working through the logic and limits of archives, Syjuco invites viewers to reconsider the tension through which history—and its daily presence—is recalled, constructed, and controlled.

Object Oriented: Abstraction and Design in the BAMPFA Collection

Object Oriented: Abstraction and Design in the BAMPFA Collection explores how artists have represented, reshaped, and reimagined familiar objects, drawing attention to the role of design in our everyday lives. This exhibition encourages acts of close looking, asking viewers to question their immediate recognition of what they see. In this way, an object that might at first appear to be a chair could also be considered a sculpture, a stand-in for a body, or simply a piece of metal.

This exhibition brings questions of design into conversation with abstraction. The paintings on view emphasize their own materiality rather than picturing or alluding to something outside of themselves. At the same time, items that might seem functional are also explorations of color, shape, pattern, and texture. By highlighting these formal aspects of the pieces, the exhibition calls into question our assumptions around the utility of objects.

Drawing from BAMPFA’s expansive holdings, Object Oriented positions abstract painting and sculpture alongside works designed for architectural spaces, maquettes, and artist’s books. Seen together, these works bring a new awareness to the ways we think about and categorize objects through art and design.

Experience the best of world cinema on the big screen in BAMPFA’s state-of-the-art Barbro Osher Theater, including the following films:

Far from Home by Sohrab Shahid Saless

Kill the Documentary by Harun Farocki, Hanspeter Krüger, Eckart Kammer, and Caroline Gremm

Compensation by Zeinabu irene Davis

The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant by Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Last Year at Marienbad by Alain Resnais

Advanced purchase is highly recommended as films sell out quickly! Check your March calendar of events email for the discount code or email the Membership team at membership@museumca.org.

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.

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*Header image: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, Other Things Seen, Other Things Heard, 1978. Gift of the Theresa Hak Kyung Cha Memorial Foundation.

ThursDates at OMCA with Jessa Calderon & Good Fire Pop-Up Talks and Demos
2026-03-12 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

ThursDates at OMCA | Good Fire: Tending Native Lands In-Gallery Pop-Up Series ft. Jessa Calderon, Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker, Saif Azzuz, Alice Lincoln-Cook, and Dr. Brittani Orona; Music from WELIVEINPARADISE; Pop-Up Market ft. Ihoo Taloowa Beads; and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

This Thursday, experience the latest exhibition Good Fire: Tending Native Lands through a series of intimate, in-gallery pop-up talks, performances, and demonstrations. The evening opens with a musical set by Tongva, Chumash, and Yoeme artist Jessa Calderon, whose songs and poetry channel Indigenous resilience and community healing. Interwoven between performances, experience pop-up talks and demos with regalia maker Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker, artist Saif Azzuz, and basketry and cultural fire specialists Alice Lincoln-Cook and Dr. Brittani Orona, each offering hands-on insights into art, land stewardship, and ancestral practices.

Outside the gallery, Town Fare becomes a hub for immersive sound with WELIVEINPARADISE, blending live electronics and ambient textures, while Ihoo Taloowa Beads offers handcrafted adornments rooted in Chickasaw traditions and the stories of the land. Throughout the evening, guests can sip cocktails, enjoy bites, and let the music guide them through an unhurried exploration of creativity, culture, and connection.

In addition, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours, these conversations invite you to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Join us for an evening made for learning, creating, lingering, and connecting.

Program Schedule:

5–7:30 pm Vendor: Ihoo Taloowa Beads | Great Hall Entrance

5:30–7:30 pm Live Music + DJ Set w/ WELIVEINPARADISE | Town Fare

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

5:40–6 pm Live Music w/ Jessa Calderon | Great Hall—Good Fire

6–6:15 pm Pop-Up Talk w/ Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker | Great Hall—Good Fire

6:15–6:30 pm Pop-Up Talk w/ Saif Azzuz | Great Hall—Good Fire

7–7:30 pm Pop-Up Talk + Demo w/ Alice Lincoln-Cook + Dr. Brittani Orona | Great Hall—Good Fire

7:30–7:50 pm Live Music w/ Jessa Calderon | Great Hall—Good Fire

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About ThursDates

Every Thursday, January through March, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances, live figure drawing sessions, game nights, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs.

Whether you’re exploring the Museum with a date, catching up with friends, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new, you’ll find connection, inspiration, and creative surprises, week after week.

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.

Performer BIOS

About Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker

Tiśina Ta-till-ium Parker is a California Indigenous [cis] fem, traditional regalia maker, fire keeper, textile designer, and community cultural art activist. Tiśina’s people are Yosemite Southern Sierra Miwuk/Kutzadika’a Mono Lake Paiute, from her grandfather’s lineage, and Kashia Pomo & Coast Miwuk, from her grandmother’s lineage. Tiśina was born and raised in her sacred tribal homeland of Yosemite/Mariposa. Born into a strong Indigenous lineage, Tiśina has practiced ceremony with her Yosemite/Mariposa tribal community since birth. She descends from a powerful matriarchy of notable California basketmakers, including her great-great-grandmother, Lucy Telles, and her grandmother, Julia Parker. Tiśina currently serves on tribal council with the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, is active in cultural fire work with the Little Fires cultural burn program in Yosemite National Park.

About Saif Azzuz

Saif Azzuz is a Libyan-Yurok artist who resides in Pacifica, CA. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Painting and Drawing from the California College of the Arts in 2013. Azzuz has had solo presentations at the Blaffer Art Museum and the ICA San Francisco, and his work is in selected public collections including the Rennie Museum, de Young Museum—Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gochman Family Collection, Facebook, North Carolina Museum of Art, Kadist, University of St. Thomas, Stanford Health Care Art Collection, and UBS Art Collection.

About Alice Lincoln-Cook

Alice Lincoln-Cook (Karuk) draws on a lifetime of work as an independent artist, traditional basket weaver, culture bearer, and cultural fire expert. She is passionate about teaching the practices she grew up with to help others manage ancestral lands and waters in a good way—that is healthy for her people and her culture. Prior to serving as the President and Board Member with the California Indian Basketweavers Association (CIBA), Alice taught basket weaving to California Native tribal members and worked with local schools, non-profits, and state and federal agencies throughout the Pacific Northwest. Since obtaining her Basic 32 Red Card firefighting certification, Alice has become a sought-after speaker at universities, conferences, and Basic 32 fire training programs both in California and nationally.

About Brittani Orona

Dr. Brittani R. Orona is a Hupa environmental public humanities scholar and an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at University of California, Davis. Her academic focus is on environmental studies and humanities, California Indian Studies, and abolition ecology in California and the American West. Orona has worked in the museum and cultural resources management fields as a curator and consultant for 18 years. She is Hupa, and an enrolled member of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. Orona is guest curator of OMCA’s latest exhibition Good Fire: Tending Native Lands.

About Paradise Maquetaurie

Paradise Maquetaurie is a two-spirit artist based in San Francisco whose work merges live electronics, improvisational music, and projection-mapped visuals into immersive storytelling environments. Performing as WELIVEINPARADISE, she blends club and ambient soundscapes with field recordings, video art, graffiti, emerging technologies, pop influences, and Taíno/Yoeme histories to create deeply engaging performances. A vital force in the Bay Area’s underground queer and trans electronic music community for over six years, her work has appeared at Outside Lands, Oaklash, Gays Hate Techno, Weaving Spirits Pride 2025, and countless clubs, renegades, and underground spaces.

About Ellissa Thompson and Ihoo Taloowa Beads

Ellissa Thompson is a Chickasaw artist, cultural practitioner, and land steward whose beadwork reflects the teachings of her heritage and the landscapes that shaped her. An enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation with family ties to Ada, Oklahoma, she was born and raised in the East Bay. Her business, Ihoo Taloowa Beads, is grounded in cultural continuance. Bringing together tradition, contemporary expression, and the stories of the plants, waters, and lands that inspire her work. Each piece is created with intention and the understanding of adornment as medicine, identity, and connection.

About Jessa Calderon

Jessa Calderon (Tongva, Chumash Yoeme) is a songwriter, published author, poet, hip-hop artist, basket weaver, paddler, hypnotherapist, massage therapist, energy worker, and offers guided meditations. Jessa is also part of the Dream Warriors society and encourages her community and youth to find physical, mental, and spiritual healing by sharing her words, music, and practices. She has the honor to work with community and youth from many Nations, helping them unleash their creative potential and passion for authentic representation and diverse narratives within the film industry.

Sponsor

Major support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

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Member Tours: Women’s History Month Artwalk with Avril Angevine
2026-03-14 12:00 - 13:00 | OMCA Gallery of California Art, 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Member Tours: Women’s History Month Artwalk with Avril Angevine

Join us for a woman-focused walk-through of the Gallery of California Art. Take a deep dive into the background of some of California’s best—and least—known women artists, including Hung Liu, Sonia Gechtoff, Viola Frey, Margaret Peterson, Ann Weber, Carmen Lomas Garza. Delight in their works and hear stories about their lives, practices, and challenges with Gallery Chats facilitator Avril Angevine.

BECOME A MEMBER

Please note that tour spots are limited. A sign up sheet will be available at the Ticketing Desk when checking in so get here early to grab your spot!

Facilitator

Avril Angevine is an OMCA Gallery Chats Facilitator and a lifelong art aficionado with a particular interest in modern, contemporary, and California art. She speaks on art subjects at various locations in the Bay Area, including the OLLI programs at Santa Clara University, Dominican College, San Francisco State, and the Fromm Institute. Avril has a BA in English and an MA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley and has taught English and Humanities at local colleges. She is also a museum guide at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, and the Oakland Museum of California.

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.

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Spotlight Sundays: Trans Ancestors in History and Creative Practice
2026-03-15 13:00 - 16:00 | OMCA Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
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Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Spotlight Sundays: Trans Ancestors in History and Creative Practice

Talk 1–2 pm

Workshops 2–4 pm

During the month of Trans Day of Visibility, join us for a creative exploration of trans ancestors and their indelible legacies of resistance. Community historian Andrea Horne will give a talk about her life’s work unearthing histories of Black trans luminaries. Learn about her groundbreaking research that confronts a limited written record and unveils stories—from the fantastic to the everyday—of how Black trans women changed the world. This talk is open to all, and tickets are required.

TALK ONLY TICKETS

Following the talk, two intimate creative workshops will draw inspiration from the lives and legacies of trans ancestors. Queer Ancestors Project teaching artists Mason J. and Ajuan Mance will facilitate the simultaneous workshops—writing and comix, respectively—guiding participants in exploring stories of trans ancestors central to their personal, collective, and political lineages. Come create with community and deepen connection to shared histories as we cultivate liberatory visions of trans futures. Materials provided. The workshops prioritize trans and genderqueer people, and capacity is limited. Tickets are required and also include admission to the talk.

Writing Workshop + talk Tickets

COMIX Workshop + talk Tickets

Andrea Horne’s work is funded in part by the San Francisco Arts Commission.

About the Facilitators

Andrea Horne is an SF Arts Commission award-winning artist, cultural worker, and community historian whose work bridges the Black arts movement, LGBTQ+ storytelling, and public health advocacy. A beloved Bay Area performer and advocate, Andrea is the creator of The Knowing—a multidisciplinary collective and archival project honoring the lives, legacies, and cultural memory of Black transgender women through performance, oral history, and sacred storytelling. Her praxis weaves movement work and ancestral testimony into a powerful meditation on survival, transformation, and spiritual lineage. For over four decades, Andrea has been a vital presence in San Francisco Bay Area queer and cultural communities, using her voice and art to protect, remember, and liberate.

Mason J. is a Lambda Literary Awarded San Francisco-born Afro-Indigenous Two-Spirit artist, historian, educator, and community archivist exploring memory, ritual, and cultural recovery. Their work weaves public record with holistic care, nightlife, harm reduction, and ritual craft, helping communities trace lineage beyond academia and erasure. Mason serves on the GLBT Historical Society board and has been a Still Here SF co-editor, Show Us Your Spines co-founder, 2016 VONA alum, and 2017–2019 James C. Hormel Center Fellow. Spotlight Sundays with him is part workshop, part time machine: storytelling meets formal and renegade research – creative mapping through art, global ancestry, witnessing, with collaboration and take-home tools.

Ajuan Mance is an Oakland-based artist and writer and a Professor of Illustration at the California College of the Arts. Ajuan is the author and illustrator of 1001 Black Men: Portraits of Masculinity at the Intersections; Living While Black: Portraits of Everyday Resistance; and the children’s picture book What Do Brothas Do All Day? Her comics and illustrations have appeared in a number of publications, including the Women’s Review of Books and Transition Magazine, as well as several anthologies. Gender Studies, Ajuan’s first book of comics, was nominated for the 2024 Ignatz Award for Best Comics Collection.

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.

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ThursDates at OMCA with Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance & Trivia Night
2026-03-19 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

ThursDates at OMCA | Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Burlesque and Belly Dance Performances, Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience, DJ Set by Mark DiVita, and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Step into ThursDates at OMCA and let the evening unfold at the pace of connection. In Town Fare, DJ Mark DiVita sets the atmosphere with incredible grooves perfect for cocktails and conversation. Guests are invited to test their wits with Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience, celebrating creativity, community, and unexpected insights.

Meanwhile, the Gallery of California History comes alive with Sketchboard Co.’s uninstructed live figure drawing sessions, where models Andy Rose and Rachel Sanders will interweave spellbinding burlesque and belly dance performances between poses.

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. Nude or partially clothed models representing the diversity of the Bay Area will be posing in the galleries for times ranging from 2 to 20 minutes. Since drawing will take place in the galleries, please be mindful of space and bring only the following media from home: sketchbooks (max size 9×12 inches) and pre-sharpened enclosed graphite, charcoal, or conté pencils.

In addition, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours, these conversations invite you to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. With music, drinks, and a relaxed after-hours atmosphere, it’s an evening designed for learning, laughter, and basking in good company.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing ft. Andy Rose + Rachel Sanders | Gallery of California History

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

5:30–7:30 pm DJ Mark DiVita | Town Fare

6:15–7:15 pm Trivia Night: Stories of Resilience | Town Fare

6:35–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing & Art Viewing | Gallery of California History

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About ThursDates

Every Thursday, January through March, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances, live figure drawing sessions, game nights, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs.

Whether you’re exploring the Museum with a date, catching up with friends, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new, you’ll find connection, inspiration, and creative surprises, week after week.

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.

Performer BIOS

About Sketchboard

Sketchboard is a BIPOC figure drawing collective, curating eclectic, diverse, and affordable events in the Bay Area over the last 10 years. Our mission is to feature the bodies of people at the intersection of multiple identities, offer living wages to our art models, and create an inclusive environment for the artists in our community.

About DJ Mark DiVita

Renowned across the Bay Area, DJ Mark DiVita has carved a niche as the go-to DJ for events that radiate soulful, sexy, and vibrant energy. With roots in Hip-Hop culture dating back to 1986, when he first discovered its magic as a grade schooler, Mark embodies the essence of a True Skool Hip-Hop edutainer. His eclectic sounds and captivating sets draw in music lovers from all walks of life, making each event a celebration of unity and rhythm. When he’s not behind the decks, you can find Mark embracing his roles as a devoted father, husband, and creative force in his design studio.

Sponsor

Major support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

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ThursDates at OMCA with The Bay Area Book Festival
2026-03-26 17:00 - 20:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

ThursDates at OMCA | OMCA and The Bay Area Book Festival Present: Maw Shein Win ft. Live Music Performance by SPRINGTWIN, Free-Writing Workshop, and Open Mic Storytelling, Plus DJ Set by La Femme Papi, and Gallery Chats

Adults 18+

Unwind into a reflective and creative ThursDates evening at OMCA, where storytelling, art-making, and music unfold at an easy, welcoming pace. OMCA and the Bay Area Book Festival team up this Thursday to present Maw Shein Win, Burmese American poet and inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, for a collaborative program that moves through the Museum. The evening begins with a performance by SPRINGTWIN (Win and guitarist Danny Allen), followed by a drop-in writing workshop in the Gallery of California History, inviting guests to reflect on personal and collective histories through free-writing exercises. The program culminates in Town Fare with an open mic, where participants can share their writings while enjoying cocktails and bites. All the while, DJ La Femme Papi provides soulful, expansive music throughout the evening, creating a warm and immersive soundtrack for the night.In addition, every ThursDates at OMCA offers a rich gallery experience with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Unlike traditional tours, these conversations invite you to ask questions, share perspectives, and engage with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience. Gallery Chats take place in all of our galleries—including our Special Exhibitions—and are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. This is a night made for celebrating creativity, community, and culture in every form.

Program Schedule:

5:30–5:45 pm Live Music Performance w/ SPRINGTWIN | Gallery of California History

5:45–6:45 pm Free Writing Workshop w/ Maw Shein Win | Gallery of California History

5:30–7:30 pm DJ Set w/ La Femme Papi | Town Fare

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

7–7:30 pm Open Mic w/ The Bay Area Book Festival | Town Fare

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS

SPECIAL EXHIBITION TICKETS

Free Member Tickets

About ThursDates

Every Thursday, January through March, step into OMCA’s warm after-hours glow. Experience a rotating mix of intimate performances, live figure drawing sessions, game nights, and more—designed just for adults. Or sip a signature cocktail and grab a light bite in Town Fare by Michele McQueen, all to a soundtrack of local Oakland artists and DJs.

Whether you’re exploring the Museum with a date, catching up with friends, or are coming solo and looking to meet someone new, you’ll find connection, inspiration, and creative surprises, week after week.

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.

Performer BIOS

About The Bay Area Book Festival

The Bay Area Book Festival is a vibrant celebration of literature, diversity, and progressive ideas, drawing over 20,000 people to its flagship weekend event in Downtown Berkeley each year. In addition to this major festival, the Bay Area Book Festival hosts monthly events and year-round programming in venues throughout the region, making it a dynamic, community-driven hub for authors, readers, and literary advocates across the Bay Area. Their mission is to uplift and honor the full spectrum of literary voices, with particular care for those who have been historically excluded or marginalized, while encouraging reading, creative expression, and critical thinking across all ages and backgrounds, fostering understanding, resilience, and collective action.

About Maw Shein Win

Maw Shein Win’s latest full-length poetry collection, Percussing the Thinking Jar (Omnidawn, 2024), was shortlisted for the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. Her previous full-length collection, Storage Unit for the Spirit House (Omnidawn, 2020), was longlisted for the PEN America 2021 Open Book Award, shortlisted for the Golden Poppy Award for Poetry, and nominated for the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. She is the inaugural poet laureate of El Cerrito, CA, the 2025 Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Awardee, and a 2025 Recipient of the Nomadic/San Francisco Foundation Literary Award. Win’s previous collections include Invisible Gifts and two chapbooks, Score and Bone and Ruins of a Glittering Palace. She teaches poetry in the MFA Program at the University of San Francisco and in the Low Residency MFA Program at Dominican University.

About Danny Allen

Danny Allen is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer living in Oakland, California. He’s played all over the US and Europe both as a solo performer and as a touring guitarist. Danny isn’t tied to one genre—he simply loves songs, and sonics that move and inspire him. He has a deep love for the American songbook and loves to perform standards. He also has a deep appreciation of punk rock, and early country music. He hopes you’re doing well!

About La Femme Papi

La Femme Papi is a non-binary, first-generation Salvadoran American DJ, youth worker, and community healer. They were born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District (Yelamu), the unceded ancestral land of the Ramaytush Ohlone people. Their work centers joy and healing for immigrants, as well as queer and trans people of color dedicated to collective liberation. They’re the current resident DJ at Clutch the Pearls, a QTBIPOC drag cabaret in the Mission, and have held residencies with iconic Bay Area parties including Soulovely, Puti Club, and Queer Qumbia.

Sponsor

Major support for ThursDates at OMCA is provided by The Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia
2026-04-03 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia, Drag Storytime with Per Sia, Dance Ribbon Making, Music Set by DJ Kream, and Gallery Chats

Friday Nights at OMCA kicks off the 2026 season with the vibrant and joyful rhythms of the Caribbean as Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia take the Garden Stage. Blending timba, salsa, son, and tropical fusion, their high-energy set will have you dancing and celebrating all night long. The party continues with Oakland’s own DJ Kream, spinning soulful, rhythm-forward beats rooted in deep house, funk, and feel-good grooves to keep the dance floor moving.

Families can gather in the Garden for Drag Storytime with Per Sia, featuring a reading of Celia Cruz, Queen of Salsa, an inspiring tribute to the Queen of Salsa. Plus, get hands-on and make your own colorful dance ribbon in a festive art activity celebrating movement and spring.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:15 pm Drag Storytime with Per Sia | Garden

5:30–7:30 pm Dance Ribbon Making | Garden

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

6–7:15 pm Live Music by Yeny Valdés & TeamBahia | Garden Stage

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

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

DJ Kream

Per Sia

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Yeny Valdes & 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 DJ Kream

Hailing from Oakland, DJ Kream is a community organizer, creative, and event producer known for her genre-bending DJ style. In 2016, as part of her DJ debut, Kream co-founded the Oakland-based entertainment company Oakhella, curating tunes at the inaugural festival. Since then, Oakhella has grown from a music festival to full-scale entertainment company marketing, curating, and producing events for clients like Black Joy Parade, REI, Goldenvoice, Oakland Museum of California, The Battery Club (SF), The Life is Living Festival, and many more.
DJ Kream has gone on to curate the vibes at music festivals, nightclubs, weddings, day parties, brunches, drag shows, corporate events, and spaces coast to coast, from Portland and NYC to Mexico City. DJ Kream’s resume includes sharing marquees with legends old and new like Black Coffee, Moodymann, Joe Kay, TxC, Kevin Saunderson, Carl Cox, Channel Tres, Coco & Breezy, Cypress Hill, 112, Next, Sango, and Durand Bernarr.

About Per Sia

San Francisco’s current Drag Laureate, Per Sia, is a first-generation Trans Mexican-American drag artist raised in South Central Los Angeles, with drag roots in San Francisco’s Mission District. Her multidisciplinary practice spans performance, curation, television, and storytelling, presented in spaces ranging from local bars to major museums, including the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and the Oakland Museum of California. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, she is a co-founder of Drag Story Hour and an educator with Children’s After School Arts, with work featured on KQED Arts, National Public Radio, and CNN.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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OMCA Architecture Walk and Talk
2026-04-05 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-05-03 13:00 - 14:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

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

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Friday Nights at OMCA with SambaDá
2026-04-10 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by SambaDá, Baile Funk Dance Lesson w/ Weslie Guimarães, DJ Set by murcutian, OMCA Members’ Lounge, and Gallery Chats

Step into your weekend with Brazilian-inspired music, dance, and joyful connection at Friday Nights at OMCA. On the Garden Stage, SambaDá delivers a joy-filled set rooted in electric Brazilian rhythms with a funky American twist. Blending samba, funk, soul, and global grooves, their infectious live performance brings radiant energy and irresistible beats that keep the crowd moving.

In the Amphitheater, a Baile Funk dance lesson with Weslei Guimarães spotlights the dynamic style born in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. This all-levels class introduces signature steps and expressive movements that celebrate the culture, creativity, and community of Brazil’s Funk Carioca tradition.

Keeping the dance floor lively, murcutian spins a fun, family-friendly DJ set of Latine favorites, ’70s classics, Y2K hits, Hip-Hop, and R&B—timeless, flavorful sounds designed to get everyone moving.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:30 pm Baile Funk Dance Lesson w/ Weslei Guimarães | Amphitheater

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

6:30–7:45 pm Live Music by SambaDá | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm DJ Set by murcutian | Amphitheater

*Due to expected rain, our Member Lounge originally scheduled for April 10 has been postponed. We look forward to welcoming you soon and are planning to reschedule for a Friday in May—stay tuned for updates!

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

Weslei Guimarães

murcutian

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About SambaDá

For over 25 years, SambaDá has built a vibrant musical bridge between traditional and contemporary Brazilian sounds and modern global influences. Led by Brazilian natives, Papiba Godinho and Dandha Da Hora, the group’s powerhouse ensemble delivers a joyous blend of Afro-samba-Reggae-funk that keeps feet dancing and hearts open.

About murcutian

murcutian is a Bay Area selector and founder of Her DJ Club, and a proud child of Salvadoran immigrants whose earliest memories are rooted in the rhythms and sounds of home. A self-taught DJ, she brings an eclectic flavor to any space and has rocked crowds at the California Academy of Sciences, The Exploratorium, Hello Stranger, and, most recently, KQED. She brings people together through sound, with an energy and skill that has captivated audiences across the Bay and beyond.

About Weslei Guimarães

Weslei Guimarães is a director, instructor, and performer native to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Weslei specializes in several Brazilian ballroom dances, including Forro, Samba de Gafieira, Bolero (National Champion, 2016), and other Río-style dances such as Samba no Pé and Brazilian funk. He has performed on many stages across continents, and recently founded his own dance school, Sou Samba Studios (2023), in Berkeley, CA, where he teaches weekly classes dedicated to preserving the Brazilian arts.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with The Philharmonik
2026-04-17 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by The Philharmonik, Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing, Music Set by DJ Hauna Bauna, and Gallery Chats

This evening, Friday Nights at OMCA is bringing you and your crew soulful grooves, infectious rhythms, and playful creativity. The Philharmonik sets the tone on the Garden Stage with a passionate blend of R&B, funk, soul, and Hip-Hop, energizing the crowd and inspiring dancing and singing for all ages. Over in the Amphitheater, DJ Hauna Bauna adds to the vibrations with a high-energy, genre-spanning set—from Hip-Hop and Afro beats to house, Jersey club, Nola bounce, and R&B—creating a rhythm-driven journey that moves everyone.

A crowd favorite, Sketchboard Co., is back in the galleries with uninstructed live figure drawing.

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.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

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

6–7 pm Live Music by The Philharmonik | Garden Stage

6:45–8:50 pm Music Set by DJ Hauna Bauna | Amphitheater

6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

The Philharmonik

Sketchboard Co.

DJ Hauna Bauna

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About The Philharmonik

Christian Gates, known professionally as The Philharmonik, is an American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, lyricist, music producer, and genre defining artist. From NPR’s Tiny Desk to The Bluenote Jazz Clubs in NYC and Tokyo to Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, his live shows have moved and inspired audiences around the world.

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 DJ Hauna Bauna

DJ Hauna Bauna is from San Jose, CA, and has been DJing for three years. She’s a lover of music and loves to dance. Her sets consist of Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, house, Jersey club, Nola bounce, and R&B.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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Spotlight Sundays: Cultural Burn Practices and the Future of Fire
2026-04-19 13:00 - 14:00 | OMCA Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
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Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Spotlight Sundays: Cultural Burn Practices and the Future of Fire

Spotlight Sundays invites guests to an in-depth conversation about the future of fire through the lens of Indigenous fire practices. Corrina Gould of Sogorea Te’ Land Trust will lead a conversation with Jordan Reyes and Corine Pearce of Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance. The discussion will illuminate how fire is an essential component of Native lifeways, affirms tribal sovereignty, and is a critical element for healthy California ecosystems. Learn what it means to be a steward of the land and how Native fire practitioners are increasing their efforts to build a more sustainable future with fire in California.

This program is a part of our exhibition programming for Good Fire: Tending Native Lands, on view through May 31.

General TICKETS

MEMBER TICKETS

About Corrina Gould

Corrina Gould (Tribal Chair for the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation) was born and raised in the village of Huichin, now known as Oakland, CA. She is the Co-Founder and Lead Organizer for Indian People Organizing for Change, a small Native-run organization, and the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, an urban Indigenous women-led organization within her ancestral territory. Through the practices of rematriation, cultural revitalization, and land restoration, the Land Trust calls on Native and non-Native peoples to heal and transform legacies of colonization, genocide, and to do the work our ancestors and future generations are calling us to do.

About Jordan Reyes

Jordan Reyes (Pomo/Lake Miwok/Yuki/Little Lake/Wailak) is a land steward with a background in Tribal government serving in Tribal Historic Preservation, Tribal Gaming Regulatory Commission, Tribal Gaming Operations, and Tribal Council. Jordan currently serves as the Field Coordinator with the Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance and is a leader in his Tribal community with land stewardship and reintroducing cultural fire practices. He sees fire as medicine, a way to heal intergenerational separation, and a way to ensure the safe passage of knowledge. Serving the people and Tribal sovereignty is the main focus of his passion, to heal the lands and human beings, and maintaining a relationship of reciprocity between the two.

About Corine Pearce

Corine Pearce (Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo)‘s weaving heals and restores both the land and the people. She weaves to connect the future generations to a living cultural identity and to remind them they will also face struggles and triumphs, and they will also carry the spirit of our ancestors. Corine creates all types of basketry: cradle baskets—from miniatures that would fit on a dime, to doll size, to full-size serviceable cradles; twine baskets using six different twining techniques—from simple rough work baskets to fine closed twine baskets; and feather/beaded/plain coil baskets using two separate techniques that are specific to Mendocino, Sonoma, and Lake County Pomo peoples.

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.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with CO-LLAB Choir
2026-04-24 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by CO-LLAB Choir, Hip Hop Dance Lesson with Samara Atkins, DJ Set by AMAL, and Gallery Chats

Celebrate an evening of powerful vocals, dynamic movement, and genre-spanning sounds this Friday Nights at OMCA. The Garden Stage will be transformed as CO-LLAB Choir presents an uplifting set of contemporary music and original compositions performed with a live band. Featuring standout soloists alongside the full ensemble, the Oakland-based choir brings rich harmonies and collaborative spirit to every song.

Over in the Amphitheater, a Hip-Hop dance lesson with Samara Atkins offers an engaging, all-levels experience rooted in accessible, dynamic movement. From warm-up to choreography, the class creates space for dancers of all ages and abilities to move with confidence and joy.

Rounding out the night, AMAL curates a genre-spanning music set—from funk and house to R&B, disco, global grooves, and future beats—blending styles seamlessly to keep the energy flowing across the dance floor.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also feature a dynamic gallery offering with Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum and Special Exhibition admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:30 pm Hip-Hop Dance Lesson with Samara Atkins | Amphitheater

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

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by CO-LLAB Choir | 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:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

CO-LLAB Choir

Samara Atkins

AMAL

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About CO-LLAB Choir

CO-LLAB Choir is an Oakland-based contemporary vocal ensemble for adults working with vocal artists and singer-songwriters to bring their music to life in a vocal ensemble setting. The ensemble co-arranges and co-writes music together as well as collaborates with professional artists on studio recordings and performances. The choir has performed at venues and festivals such as Super Bowl 60, Outside Lands, the Oakland Coliseum, the Fox Theater, SFJazz, Shoreline Amphitheatre, Yoshi’s, Bandcamp Oakland, Empire Records, Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, MOAD, Berkeley Rep, the Academy of Sciences, the Empress Theatre in Vallejo, the Paramount, and the Vermont in LA. The CO-LLAB Choir is currently touring, recording, and performing with the artist LaRussell and works regularly with Empire Records on studio recordings. CO-LLAB Choir is directed and founded by longtime Oakland music educator and artist, Cava Menzies.

About Samara Atkins

Oakland-born Samara Atkins uses Hip-Hop and street dance as an arts practice to both connect with the world and as a vehicle to cope, celebrate, heal, and express joy. Samara is a co-founder and co-director of the all-female dance company Mix’d Ingrdnts, is a member of the GRAMMY-Award winning music group Alphabet Rockers, and is a seasoned teaching artist at Destiny Arts Center. Samara brings a beautifully hype and fun energy to her dance style that invites and encourages people of all ages to get up and be moved.

About AMAL

AMAL is a DJ, music curator, and event producer based out of Oakland, California. With music at the center of her work and creations, Amal’s multifaceted sound, inspired by her Egyptian and Bay Area roots, holds no genre boundary. From R&B to future beats, soul to world, house to hip-hop, and everything in between – Amal’s work holds a common thread of building feeling, connection, and community.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

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OMCA May Day Drop-in Poster making
2026-04-30 13:00 - 16:00 | Oak Street Plaza, 1000 Oak St, Oakland, California, 94607, United States
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

In solidarity with the May Day general strike on May 1, the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is hosting a drop-in poster workshop on Thursday, April 30! Stop by OMCA’s Oak Street Entrance from 1–4 pm to make a poster for use at May Day 2026 protests, rallies, and actions. Don’t have time to make your own? Printed posters from May Day Strong will also be available for pickup.

Please note: On May 1, 2026, OMCA will close in observance of and in solidarity with the planned May Day general strike and related peaceful demonstrations. Organizers of the May Day activities have specified that this year’s general strike is a national call for “no shopping, no work, and no school.” We’ve made the decision to close our doors for the day—including that evening’s Friday Nights at OMCA, which will return the following week on Friday, May 8—in support of our neighbors, out of precaution for the safety of our visitors, and in alliance with the greater social movement.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Artist: Nik Koski

Artist: Ril’riia Kil’urden

Artist: Adam Whittier

Artist: Adam Whittier

*Posters courtesy of May Day Strong

Spring Teacher Night
2026-05-08 16:30 - 19:00 | California
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Calling all teachers! After everything you’ve given this year, let us celebrate you. Join us for OMCA’s Spring Teacher Night to explore the galleries, enjoy live music, great food, and good company.

Stop by a special teachers’ lounge in the California Room to learn about OMCA field trips and connect with other educators. While you’re here, explore OMCA’s galleries and exhibitions, including last chances to see Good Fire: Tending Native Lands, focusing on Native California cultural burning practices, and Students on Strike, an installation exploring student activism at San Francisco State University, both closing May 31.

Check out OMCA’s student and teacher guides for our galleries and exhibitions, and then head to the garden to hang out and vibe to the music of Friday Nights at OMCA. Enjoy late-night gallery access and Off the Grid food trucks.

Bring your team! This event is free for teachers and principals, including free gallery admission for all teachers and chaperones, plus Off the Grid food truck and drink tickets for the first 100 arrivals. No RSVP required.

LEARN MORE

Program Schedule:

4:30pm Teacher Night Check-in Table and Lounge Open | California Room, Lower Level

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Elujay During Friday Nights | Garden Stage

7 pm Teacher Night Check-in Table and Lounge Close—Friday Nights Continues

9 pm Off the Grid Food Trucks Close | 10th Street

9 pmOMCA 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.

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Friday Nights at OMCA with Elujay
2026-05-08 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by Elujay, R&B Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton, Music Set with DJ Harmonyy, Spring Teacher Night, and Gallery Chats

This Friday Night at OMCA, Elujay ignites the Garden Stage with his live band, delivering a genre-blending sound that weaves together alternative R&B, jazz, soul, house, and dream pop. Known for his honey-toned vocals and introspective songwriting, his performance promises a rich, immersive musical experience rooted in Oakland and resonating far beyond. Keeping the energy flowing, DJ Harmonyy brings an electrifying set filled with feel-good tracks and infectious rhythms.

Guests are encouraged to step into their groove with Sara Templeton, leading a beginner-friendly R&B dance lesson. Blending smooth grooves, Hip-Hop foundations, and expressive choreography, this session invites dancers of all levels to learn new moves and build confidence on the dance floor.

Earlier in the evening, OMCA’s Annual Spring Teacher Night is back! In celebration of our school communities, educators and principals are invited to unwind in a dedicated lounge space, connect with fellow educators, and explore the Museum’s galleries and resources. The gathering highlights OMCA’s school programs and exhibitions like Good Fire: Tending Native Lands and Students on Strike, while offering a chance to experience the vibrant Friday Nights atmosphere.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

4:30–7 pm Spring Teacher Night Check-In and Lounge | California Room, Lower Level

5:30–6:30 pmR&B Dance Lesson with Sara Templeton | Amphitheater

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

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Elujay | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by DJ Harmonyy | Amphitheater

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

Elujay

Sara Templeton

DJ Harmonyy

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Elujay

Elujay is a singer, songwriter, producer, and director from Oakland whose sound fluidly blends alternative R&B, jazz, soul, house, and dream pop. A multi-instrumentalist with a honey-toned voice and forward-thinking production style, he has released multiple critically acclaimed projects over the past four years, toured internationally, and secured major TV placements. His latest offering, A Constant Charade, with tracks like “Hyundai” and “Flotilla,” showcases his ability to pair pacifying vocals with restless and inventive production that nods to early ’80s soft rock, drum’n’bass, and house without losing its soulful core.
As JEMS!—a duo alongside J. Robb—Elujay expands his sonic palette with rhythmic experimentation and left-field R&B in projects like Gems in the Cornerstore and Gems in the Cornerstore 2. With each release, Elujay continues refining a sound that feels both deeply Oakland-rooted and globally resonant.

About DJ Harmonyy

DJ Harmonyy, also known as the love DJ (with two yy’s), is a California-based female DJ with a household name who has built a brand around energy, intention, and human connection. Known for her ability to move effortlessly across live performances, festivals, club events, and corporate gatherings, she—by design—operates completely outside of traditional categories.

About Sara Templeton

Sara is a SF-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.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events

Friday Nights at OMCA with La Cumbiamba Colombiana & Combo Tezeta
2026-05-15 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Dance by La Cumbiamba Colombiana, Live Music by Combo Tezeta, Music Set by DJ Olga T, Live Figure Drawing by Sketchboard Co., and Gallery Chats

This evening, Friday Nights at OMCA brings vibrant rhythms, rich cultural traditions, and dance-floor energy to the Garden Stage. La Cumbiamba Colombiana kicks off the evening with a lively dance performance celebrating the roots of Colombian cumbia, weaving together ancestral steps and Afro-Caribbean influences in a colorful, high-energy showcase. Then, Combo Tezeta, whose psychedelic take on cumbia, chicha, and música tropical blends surf rock textures with hypnotic Latin rhythms, takes the stage to create an irresistibly danceable atmosphere that bridges past and present.

Over in the Amphitheater, DJ Olga T delivers a dynamic set filled with Latin rhythms, Afrobeats, R&B, and soulful house. Known for her seamless genre-spanning mixes and infectious energy, she’ll keep the crowd moving and the vibes flowing all night long.

In the galleries, Sketchboard Co. is here to help guests scratch their creative itch with uninstructed live figure drawing.

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.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

5:30–6:15 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art*

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

6–6:30 pm Live Dance by La Cumbiamba Colombiana | Garden Stage

6:45–7:45 pm Live Music by Combo Tezeta | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by DJ Olga T | Amphitheater

6:45–7:30 pm Sketchboard Co. Live Figure Drawing | Gallery of California Art*

* Paid gallery admission required

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

La Cumbiamba Colombiana

Combo Tezeta

DJ Olga T

Sketchboard Co.

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

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 La Cumbiamba Colombiana

La Cumbiamba Colombiana is a non-profit folkloric group established in 2014 with the mission of preserving Colombian heritage, culture, and folklore in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Best known for showcasing the traditional Colombian Cumbia, a rhythm that was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of all Colombians, the group proudly represents empowerment, resilience, and freedom through their dances.

About Combo Tezeta

Based out of the Bay Area, Combo Tezeta plays a highly danceable blend of instrumental Cumbias, Chichas, and Musica Tropical inspired by the late 60’s and early 70’s era of psychedelic Peru.
Combo Tezeta has performed at many local venues as well as toured up and down the West Coast. Recent highlights include 2024’s The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Noise Pop’s Summer of Music Fest (w/Thundercat), two performances in the Great American Music Hall, and opening for Los Mirlos of Peru and Los Bitchos from the UK. Their growing momentum is demonstrated as they headline their own shows and are increasingly requested to open for other high-profile artists as they travel through the Bay Area.

About DJ Olga T

Olga T, a Puerto Rican lover of all things music, community, and human connection through rhythm and beats, was born in NYC and raised in San Francisco, and has an explosive style of DJing that never fails to grab your attention on the dance floor. A Northern Californian legend known for masterfully transitioning through nearly every genre of music while creating live unrehearsed remixes, Olga T consistently delivers a uniquely infectious excitement to the audience. DJing for the past 20 years while producing iconic Bay Area events year-round in addition to teaching DJ classes, creating exclusive remixes, edits and mixtapes is Olga T’s full-time passion. Go to www.soundcloud.com/djolgat to explore a plethora of mixtapes of various music genres created by DJ Olga T.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events

Spotlight Sundays: Earth Seed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas
2026-05-17 13:00 - 16:30 | OMCA Lecture Hall, 1000 Oak, Oakland, California, 94607
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Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Spotlight Sundays: Earthseed Screening with People’s Kitchen Collective and Emory Douglas

1–3 pm | Documentary Screening | James Moore Theater

3–4:30 pm | Collective Presentation and Gathering | OMCA Garden

Join us for a special gathering showcasing stories of survival and resilience through food culture and ancestral wisdom with People’s Kitchen Collective (PKC) and Understory. This event will begin with a screening of the documentary Earth Seed: A People’s Journey of Radical Hospitality by filmmaker Fox Nakai and PKC. Rooted in Octavia E. Butler’s Parable series and the legacy of the Black Panther Party’s community engagement strategies, this film maps the Earth Seed pilgrimage through five regions of California.

After the screening, we will gather in OMCA’s Garden where Jocelyn Jackson, co-founder of PKC, will lead us in a series of Earth Seed testimonies and spoken word musings by fellow PKC co-founders Võ Hải and Sarai Bordeaux. Then we will welcome special guest speaker, revolutionary artist, and former Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party, Emory Douglas, to share on the power of community collectives.

Immerse yourself in their inspiring stories while enjoying nourishing food by worker-owned Understory, and play to win a curated “go-bag” containing unique pieces inspired by the Parable series. Radical Hospitality is a powerful strategy toward strengthening our interconnectedness. We welcome you to share in this unifying community experience.

General TICKETS

MEMBER TICKETS

About People’s Kitchen Collective

People’s Kitchen Collective (PKC) works at the intersection of art and activism as a food-centered political education project. Based in Oakland, our crew and creative practices reflect the diverse histories and backgrounds of the city. Written in our families’ recipes are the maps of our migrations and stories of our resilience. From this foundation, we create immersive experiences that honor the shared struggles of our people. We believe in radical hospitality as a strategy to address the urgent social issues of our time.

About EARTH SEED

Led by PKC, EARTH SEED is rooted in Octavia E. Butler’s Parable series and the legacy of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense. By enacting radical hospitality as a survival practice, we deepen our relationships with BIPOC activists, artists, educators, farmers, youth, and elders. EARTH SEED centers a pilgrimage through California from present-day Los Angeles to Mendocino Woodlands from March – June 2023. PKC visited with people and places building models for survival and our collective future. Spanning across the native lands of the Tongva, Yokut, Mutsun, Ohlone, Miwok and Pomo tribes in California, each part of the pilgrimage focuses on a different element (Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Wood).

About Understory

Understory was founded in 2020 by Lily Fahsi-Haskell, Jenabi Pareja, Nino Serrano, and Florencio Esquivel to address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic was having on workers of color within the restaurant industry. With diverse backgrounds as chefs, artists, and movement organizers, they dared to create a collaborative restaurant model that centers worker agency, access, inclusion, and radical community care. Their governance model ensures decisions are made collectively, cultivating trust, accountability, and empowerment.

About Jocelyn Jackson

Jocelyn is a cook, activist, and artist working at the intersection of food, art, and social justice. Her current projects include Executive Producer of the Life is Living Festival, JUSTUS Kitchen co-creating healing food experiences for Black women, and co-founder of People’s Kitchen Collective. Jocelyn is co-lead artist, co-director, writer, and executive producer of PKC’s documentary film project, EARTH SEED: A People’s Journey of Radical Hospitality. It is a practice in collective survival inspired by Octavia Butler and the Black Panther Party. Jocelyn just completed her Chef-in-Residency at the Museum of the African Diaspora in SF.

About Sarai Bordeaux

Sarai is a poet, scholar, educator, facilitator, and model. She holds a MA of Education in Equity and Social Justice focused on liberatory and transformational learning experiences. She has been connected with People’s Kitchen Collective for over ten years, serving as a conceptual partner, as well as front of house and logistics for gatherings. Sarai is the current Poet Laureate of Eureka, Ca and her most recent publication appears in When We Exhale: An Anthology of Black Women Rooted In Ancestral Medicine from Black Freighter Press. Her work can also be found in Patrice Lumumba: An Anthology or Writers on Black Liberation.

About Võ Hải

Hải is a queer Việt passionate about traditional food(ways), home(land), and partum care, whose family and ancestors are from southern Việt Nam – Mỹ Tho and Chợ Gạo. A guiding proverb for Hải towards community organizing is “Một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao”. It translates to one tree provides little strength, three trees together allow us to reach high mountains – that when we come together, we can achieve anything and change the world. Hải is a member of the QTViệt Cafe Collective dedicated to Queer and Trans Việt liberation.

About Emory Douglas

Emory Douglas attended City College of San Francisco where he majored in commercial art. He was the Revolutionary Artist and Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party from February 1967 until the early 1980’s. Douglas’s iconic art and design concepts were staples of the more than 530 Black Panther Newspapers, communicating the politics of the BPP and the concerns of the community in an easy-to-understand, immediate visual form. His art was meant to be an inspiring call to oppressed and colonized peoples. Douglas continues to produce political art that captures the power and urgency of global social justice.

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 Pacific Mambo Orchestra
2026-05-22 17:00 - 21:00 | OMCA campus
Special Guest Gallery Chats with Cheo Tyehimba Taylor and Carolyn Johnson

Live Music by Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Music Set by Dj Sizzle, Salsa Dance Lesson with Ramón Ramos Alayo, OMCA Members’ Lounge, and Gallery Chats

Friday Nights at OMCA is set to kick off your weekend with bold Latin sounds, vibrant dance, and nonstop rhythm. Pacific Mambo Orchestra takes over the Garden Stage with an electrifying live performance, blending mambo, salsa, Latin jazz, and big band tradition into a high-energy vibe that’s both timeless and fresh. Known for their explosive stage presence and world-class musicianship, the Grammy Award-winning ensemble delivers a powerful, dance-ready experience.

Keeping the energy alive, Dj Sizzle spins a lively mix of cumbia, reggaeton, salsa, merengue, Hip-Hop, R&B, and global beats, curating a feel-good soundtrack that keeps the dance floor moving.

Guests are invited to step into the rhythm with Ramón Ramos Alayo who will lead a salsa dance lesson rooted in Cuban tradition. With an emphasis on connection, musicality, and joyful expression, this session welcomes dancers of all levels to build confidence and add a little extra flavor to their moves.

On the Upper Level Terrace the Museum welcomes its Members to a special Members’ Lounge. Members can enjoy light refreshments, sidewalk chalk, family-friendly games, and a bingo give-away featuring awesome OMCA merch! It’s the perfect way to mingle with fellow OMCA enthusiasts all while overlooking the Garden buzzing with Friday Nights energy.

Alongside an exceptional event experience, Friday Nights at OMCA also features Gallery Chats from 5:30–7:30 pm. Moving beyond the traditional museum tour, Gallery Chats invite visitors to engage in conversation, ask questions, and connect with OMCA facilitators who blend content expertise with lived experience to spark meaningful dialogue and new perspectives. Gallery Chat facilitators can be found in OMCA’s Great Hall Special Exhibitions and the Core Galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences. Gallery Chats are included with Museum admission. Facilitators float between galleries throughout the night and can be seen wearing a blue “Let’s Chat” shirt.

Program Schedule:

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

5:30–7:30 pm Member Lounge | Upper Level Terrace

5:30–6:30 pm Salsa Dance Lesson with Ramón Ramos Alayo | Amphitheater

6:30–7:30 pm Live Music by Pacific Mambo Orchestra | Garden Stage

6:45–8:45 pm Music Set by Dj Sizzle | Amphitheater

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

About Friday Nights:

The Town’s favorite block party, Friday Nights at OMCA, is back for the 2026 season, inviting the Bay to kick off the weekend with the crew—whether family, friends, or neighbors. From April–October, join us every Friday at 5 pm for a free evening of live music, interactive activities, Off the Grid food trucks, and, with a Museum ticket, exclusive late-night access to our galleries and special exhibitions.

Fuel your night with a rotating lineup of Off the Grid food trucks stationed along 10th Street between Oak and Fallon Streets, serving up bold flavors and local favorites. Inside, near the Koi Pond, purchase beer, wine, cocktails, and refreshing non-alcoholic options to sip while exploring. In the Garden, picnic tables, blankets, and a dazzling view of Lake Merritt welcome you to settle in with your meal. With games, engaging museum programs, and a vibrant community atmosphere, it’s the perfect setting for making memories marked with unmistakable Oakland energy, week after week.

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

Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Dj Sizzle

Ramón Ramos Alayo

Off the Grid Food Truck Lineup

Performer BIOS

About Pacific Mambo Orchestra

Pacific Mambo Orchestra (PMO) is a Grammy Award-winning Latin big band from San Francisco that has become one of the leading forces in keeping the great mambo and Latin jazz orchestra tradition alive in the 21st century. Founded in 2010 by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn, the 19-piece ensemble gained international recognition after winning the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album with its debut release, launching the band onto major stages around the world. Combining the spirit of Tito Puente, Machito, and the classic mambo orchestras with bold original compositions and modern arrangements, PMO delivers explosive, high-energy performances marked by virtuoso musicianship and powerful big band sound. From major jazz festivals to concert halls across the United States, Europe, Canada, and Latin America, Pacific Mambo Orchestra has earned a reputation for unforgettable live shows that celebrate the past, present, and future of Latin big band music.

About Dj Sizzle

Dj Sizzle is an artist and producer based in California, where she splits her time between The Bay Area and Los Angeles. She is the co-founder and director of Cumbiaton, an intergenerational cultural movement that celebrates Afro-Latin culture, community, and self-expression.

About Ramón Ramos Alayo

Ramón Ramos Alayo was selected by the Cuban government to study dance in Santiago de Cuba at age eleven. In 1990, he earned a master’s degree in contemporary and folkloric dance and dance education from Havana’s National School of Art. As a graduate specializing in folkloric and contemporary dance, he was a principal dancer with several prominent Cuban dance companies, including Danza del Caribe and Narcisco Medina Contemporary Dance Company, touring throughout Europe, Belize, and Canada. His success continued after relocating to the U.S. in 1997; he has performed as a dancer with numerous outstanding companies, including Robert Henry Johnson, Kim Epifano, Sara Shelton Mann, Zaccho Dance Theatre and Robert Moses’ Kin. Ramon currently teaches Cuban popular dance, Afro-Cuban modern dance, and children’s movement at several local dance studios and schools.

Sponsors

Friday Nights at OMCA with Off the Grid is sponsored by the Oakland Museum Women’s Board and Bank of America. Additional support provided by OAKLAND ROOTS AND SOUL SC, Donahue Fitzgerald LLP, and Townsend Public Affairs.

Learn more about becoming a Friday Nights at OMCA sponsor.

Return to Events
