Inside Out Issue 8

Inside | Out

a n e w stat e o f m i n d at t h e Oa k l a n d m useu m o f ca li fo rn ia

A behind-the-scenes look at the spectacular transformation of OMCA’s Gallery of California Natural Sciences shadows and dreams photographs of the central valley

playing with fire the california studio glass movement

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welcome

Autumn Greetings!

A model-in-progress of a vermilion sea star, made by Jaime Lakatos for the Gallery of California Natural Sciences.

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OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

Lori Fogarty Director and CEO

B ottom : S C O T T M A C L E O D

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eptember always brings both our best weather and the launch of one of our busiest seasons, and this fall is no different, offering the return of cherished traditions and the beginning of many new developments at OMCA. Among our beloved autumn traditions is the annual Days of the Dead exhibition and celebration, which this year commemorate Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives. This fall, we’ll also celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the studio glass movement with a new exhibition titled Playing with Fire. And Oct. 26 marks the culmination of our Summer Nights series, an exciting initiative of films and in-gallery activities made possible by a generous grant from the Elise and Walter Haas Fund.

Behind the scenes, we are hard at work on the creation of our new Gallery of California Natural Sciences. The new Gallery is the final major element in the Museum’s transformation, supported by a $63 million capital campaign that successfully concluded in 2010. Our fall lineup includes four opportunities to see the installation in progress and to share your thoughts as we prototype new exhibit elements.

Experiencing an exhibition in development is also a central part of our we/customize project. California has long been known as the epicenter of customization—the practice of hacking, modifying, and altering products to express personal or communal identity. For this exhibition, “customizers” will be part of the exhibition as we take to the streets in our own customized vehicle, the Oakland Rover, to explore the best of customization locally and across the state. Jump on board as we launch the Rover at our Summer Nights event on Sept. 28, and follow the Rover on the Museum’s social media sites as it travels—and then drives right into the Museum galleries this December.

While these exhibitions and programs are what our public will experience this fall, many efforts are under way to make OMCA the best we can be for our Members and visitors. In these pages, you’ll meet some of our Visitor Experience staff, who ensure that our Museum is the friendliest in the Bay Area. You’ll also hear from Board Chair Quinn Delaney, a community leader who is spearheading the strategic planning process that will set the course for OMCA’s future.

Enjoy this beautiful season and thank you, as always, for your investment in OMCA!

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On the cover: Associate Preparator Cleo Vilett holds a hydrocoral for the new Gallery of California Natural Sciences.

departments 4 Thought Leader

Robert Fritz, Vessel, circa 1975.

Blown glass.

A conversation with social activist and OMCA board chair Quinn Delaney.

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5 Commemoration This year, OMCA’s beloved Days of the Dead exhibition and community celebration honor everyday heroes.

A Wondrous Evolution

When it reopens in 2013, the new Gallery of California Natural Sciences will offer a fresh approach to the state’s marvels. Here’s a sneak preview of this work-in-progress.

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Visions of the Valley

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Playing with Fire

Photographer Ken Light and author Melanie Light create a striking new way of seeing California’s Central Valley.

Brett Cook, Little Bobby Hutton, 2011.

TOP: BEN BLACKWELL, COLLECTION OF OMCA, GIFT OF MARCIA CHAMBERLAIN

A new exhibition traces the enduring impact of the midcentury California studio glass movement.

Ken Light, Rope Swing, 6 p.m., 100°, San Joaquin River, California, 2010.

6 Faces of OMCA Members of the Visitor Experience Team—who ensure that visitors have fulfilling experiences—explain why OMCA is special to them.

16 Retail Tales Studio craft in the OMCA Store.

17 Member Services An overview of the many advantages of OMCA Membership.

18 Calendar A guide to OMCA’s exhibitions, events, and programs.

The Story of California. The Story of You.

Oakland Museum of California

Inside Out is published three times a year by the Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607. museumca.org ©2012 Editor: Kelly A. Koski

Caption tk.

Contributors: Lori Fogarty, Maggie R. Pico, Loretta Lowery, Joni Hess, Gail Bernstein, Nathan Kerr, Scott MacLeod Photography: Terry Lorant Produced by: Diablo Custom Publishing dcpubs.com

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thought leader

Known for her social activism, Quinn Delaney has supported OMCA for years, first as a docent, then a donor, now as the Chair of the OMCA Board of Trustees. Delaney is the founder and president of the Akonadi Foundation, which works to put an end to structural racism in the United States. She lives in Piedmont with her husband, real estate developer Wayne Jordan, who is also active in progressive causes.

A conversation with quinn Delaney

Do you see your work on the OMCA board dovetailing with the Akonadi Foundation?

Yes, we think of culture as a means of social transformation. I think you can change and strengthen a community through art. In addition to always liking and admiring the Museum, I think of it as a gathering place, where everyone in Oakland and the Bay Area can see themselves reflected and be part of the community.

How is the board working to ensure that the Museum is a sustainable business for the long term?

We have wonderful, committed donors, and we rely on them. At the same time, we see the need to find more financial resources, so we are considering sustainable models for the Museum, whether that’s expanding the online presence to generate revenue or renting our beautiful gardens for events, so the community can have that kind of access.

We are optimistic. The Museum is really a jewel in Oakland and on the cutting edge in so many ways—how

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we work functionally and how we work across disciplines, bringing together art, history, and natural science.

How is OMCA a “thought leader” in California?

Our exhibits push people to think about themselves and how they fit into society. I think we specialize in thoughtprovoking exhibits; Question Bridge: Black Males is a great example. As the Museum of California, we do quite a bit to make sure we capture the depth and breadth of the California experience.

Could you tell us about the new strategic planning process?

We’re going back to our mission. How do we respond to our community and excite and bring it in? We feel like we’re in such a good place. It’s a good time for us to figure out the next phase and position ourselves for the future.

Members SNEAK PEEK Friday, Oct. 12, 5:30–8:30 PM Meet the artists and curator of this year’s Días de los Muertos exhibition. And go behind the scenes in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences to see the work-inprogress and give us your feedback!

Commemoration

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Community Celebration!

Sunday, Oct. 21, 12–4:30 pm The entire Museum comes alive for the annual Community Celebration in honor of Days of the Dead.

The event features music by Los Cenzontles, traditional ceremonies, colorful ofrendas, tasty food, and crafts by local artisans.

Inside the Exhibition Meet participating artists and curators on the following dates: Friday, Oct. 26, 5 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, Oct. 28, 2 pm; Sunday, Nov. 4, 2 pm; Sunday, Nov. 18, 2 pm; Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 pm.

Brett Cook, Little Bobby Hutton, 2011.

Days of the Dead­—and the Living This fall, OMCA’s annual Días de los Muertos exhibition honors everyday heroes

I nset art : J ake watling

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he Mesoamerican holiday Días de los Muertos, or Days of the Dead, has evolved into a dynamic and artistic celebration of departed loved ones. Every year, the living honor the dead by creating highly personal ofrendas, or altars, filled with symbolic offerings; sharing heartfelt memories; and decorating loved ones’ graves with exuberant displays of marigolds and sugar skulls. Because the holiday is both a remembrance of the past and an appreciation of the here and now, it resonates with many people throughout the world as a meaningful tribute to the continuum of life.

Every year, OMCA participates in this beloved tradition by organizing a special exhibition and community celebration.

This year, the exhibition tells forgotten stories about our predecessors—and reveals the inspiration we derive from them.

Opening Oct. 10 and closing Dec. 9, the exhibition is titled Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives. “I wanted to look at Californians who have changed the course of history—and then look beyond the story that they are known for,” explains guest curator Eduardo Piñeda, who organized the exhibition.

Piñeda, a muralist who has worked in museum education at SFMOMA and the Museum of the African Diaspora, has invited a wide range of local artists to participate, including Rob-O and Imelda Martinez, Brett Cook, Adrian Arias, Hector Dio Mendoza, Cece Carpio, and Jenifer Wofford. Their works tell stories about everyday Californians who have made an enduring difference, from political activists to migrant braceros to former slaves. In addition to individual artist altars, the exhibition features community altars by OMCA docents and Tennyson High School (Hayward) and Melrose Leadership Academy (Oakland) students.

“The exhibition is about the people who made the history of the state happen,” adds Senior Experience Developer Evelyn Orantes, “but it is also about the doors they have opened for us today.”

Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives: Días de los Muertos 2012 is made possible in part by generous support from the Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

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faces of omca

Our Favorite

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The Museum is committed to providing a great visitor experience, and a group of dedicated employees and volunteers—known as the Visitor Experience Team— ensures that this is always the case.

“Our goal is to offer a completely visitor-oriented experience that says ‘California,’ ” says Visitor Experience Manager Emily Quist, who manages the ticket staff, volunteer ambassadors, and gallery guides who greet Museum visitors. “As people go through training, we teach them to embody being friendly and energetic, all those California kind of traits.”

The staff endeavors to live up to a GOLD standard of service—GOLD standing for Going the extra mile, having an Outgoing personality, Learning what the Museum offers, and Delivering a welcoming experience.

Of course, it’s also important that employees and volunteers are enthusiastic about the content of the Museum. Inside Out asked a few members of the Front Line team about their favorite aspects of OMCA.

Ryan De La Hoz is, in his own words, an “all art, all the time kind of guy.”

When he’s not working as a gallery guide at OMCA, he’s either creating his own pieces—installations composed of paper and ink that look like paintings—or taking art history classes at City College of San Francisco.

In fact, he recently wrote a paper for one of his classes about his favorite painting at the Museum—Nathan Oliveira’s Spring Nude.

“It’s a big piece, pink and green, with a nude in the middle,” says De La Hoz. “I like the piece because the figure in the painting looks like she could be lost, but it also reminds me that we can all be found.”

Such lyrical interpretations are exactly what visitors can expect when they walk through the gallery with De La Hoz. “I just enjoy talking to people about art,” he says.

O A K LA N D M U S E U M O F C AL I F O R N I A

Nathan Oliveira, Spring Nude, 1962. Oil on canvas.

BOTTOM: COLLECTION OF OMCA, GIFT OF THE ARTIST IN MEMORY OF EDNA STODDARD SIEGRIEST

Ryan De La Hoz, Gallery Guide

Members of the Front Line explain what makes OMCA special for them

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Things For Lead Visitor Experience Representative Christine Visita, the best exhibits in the Museum are the ones that offer an interactive experience. In particular, she says, the Gallery of California History gives visitors an opportunity to see how they and their communities helped shape the history of the state.

“My favorite part is the Forces of Change exhibit,” she says, referring to the boxes that visitors created to reflect life in the 1960s and ’70s.

“I like seeing community members’ lives reflected in the Museum.”

Forces of Change also resonates for her on a personal level, because she sees in it echoes of her own family. “I’m Filipino, and there’s a wonderful box by a woman of Filipino descent,” she says of a work created by Evangeline Canonizado Buell, a member of OMCA’s Asian Pacific Advisory Council.

Visita also cites the map in which a visitor can see where his or her family came from as a key part of the Gallery’s interactivity. “You learn how people came to California,” she says, “and you can start a conversation across generations.”

Few people have more of an emotional investment in OMCA than Volunteer Ambassador Dave Eberle, who delights in greeting and helping visitors enjoy the Museum.

Before he began volunteering, Eberle often visited OMCA with his wife, Georg Ann, who was a docent for twenty years. When she passed away a few years ago, friends and family joined together to make a gift to the Museum of California Campaign in her honor. Now there is a tile permanently installed as part of the Community Wall. And Eberle, 72, who wanted to stay involved, became one of the Museum’s first ambassadors.

“The Museum means an awful lot to me,” he says. He especially enjoys sharing the Museum with children and says his favorite exhibit, about the Gold Rush, is one he became familiar with while volunteering as a Gold Rush guide in the Gallery of California History.

Eberle also loves the Museum gardens and the views they offer of Oakland. This connection with the city is no surprise: Eberle was born in Oakland and has lived here nearly all his life. “I like going out onto the Museum’s terraces and looking out over the lake, over Oakland. It’s a beautiful spot.”

Dave Eberle, Volunteer Ambassador

Christine Visita, Lead Visitor Experience Representative

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A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the extraordinary new Gallery of California Natural Sciences

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hen OMCA’s Gallery of California Natural Sciences reopens in the spring of 2013, visitors will experience the Golden State’s phenomenal natural offerings in a brand-new way. With a fresh focus on California’s biodiversity and the threats it faces, the Gallery will feature relevant art and history connections, new multimedia and interactive elements, as well as repurposed assets from the original Gallery. These new and revised exhibits will tell multilayered stories about the natural world and our relationships to it.

The process of reinventing this ambitious new Gallery has been a remarkable one. To bring the Gallery to life, Senior Curator of Natural Sciences Douglas Long, Project Manager John Perry, Senior Exhibit Developer Don Pohlman, and Experience Developer Christine Lashaw are guiding a team of designers, scientists, artists, and community members, each of whom has made invaluable contributions. And, as with the creation of any exciting innovation, the Gallery’s evolution has been one of trial and error, great ideas and unfeasible ones, bold experiments and outside-the-box visions.

Here, Inside Out takes a backstage look at this remarkable work-in-progress.

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­John Perry Project Manager ­Mary Faria Evaluator

­Christine Lashaw Experience Developer

The Visionary ­Douglas Long Senior Curator

As the Gallery’s content specialist, Senior Curator Douglas Long brings vast experience to the task at hand. He holds a PhD in biology from UC Berkeley and, prior to joining OMCA, chaired the Department of Ornithology and Mammalogy at the California Academy of Sciences. His guiding principle, he says, is “being truthful in conveying and interpreting the ecosystem.” For Long, this means thinking about how elements interrelate; it’s not enough to show a gasp-inducing diorama of, say, bighorn sheep or black bears. His vision is to convey how species interact, from microfauna to apex predators. “I want to look at the web of life,” he says, “because that’s how we see adaptation, evolution, and the need for conservation.”

Associate Preparator Jaime Lakatos welds armatures for models of marine hydroids.

The Idea At 25,000 square feet, the vast gallery space presented interesting challenges to the curatorial team, consultants, and developers working on the project. They came up with the concept of telling place-oriented stories and chose seven locations in California—each reflecting different ecological characteristics—for the collective portrait they would paint of the state while also conveying the environmental pressures that call for heightened awareness of the need for conservation. Following are the seven featured regions: ­ on Pohlman D Senior Exhibit Developer

Oakland is a complex urban environment that still has remnants of earlier habitats. This compelling section of the gallery underscores the importance of understanding the human imprint—for better or worse—on California’s diverse ecosystems.

The Sutter Buttes, a range of mountains rising above the Sacramento Valley, were chosen as remnants of the vast number of habitats and species now largely eliminated in this area, and a context for presenting contemporary issues of land management and ownership.

Mount Shasta, an iconic California landmark, plays a defining role in the region’s ecosystems. Visitors will learn about the habitats that surround the volcano and how the water from it feeds two major rivers, the Klamath and the Sacramento, and sustains local wildlife in a myriad of habitats.

Yosemite’s spectacular beauty and diversity are known the world over. The gallery will not only depict its magnificence but also show the impact of the more than 3 million visitors to the park each year.

BOTTOM: SCOTT MACLEOD

OMCA volunteer Julia Starr works on a redwood tree canopy exhibit.

The Tehachapis, a mountainous hub where the Mojave Desert, San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Coast Ranges all meet, is an important area of ecological evolution. Impressive dioramas will reveal how diverse species, including tule elk and mountain lions, coexist in this unique region of many habitats.

Coachella Valley is a desert of palm trees and sand dunes. Visitors will learn how uniquely Californian species thrive in this arid environment; they will also see how the growing human population taxes the scarce water supply and how local communities are working to preserve the land.

Cordell Bank, an underwater, coral-topped mountain west of Point Reyes, features an upwelling of nutrient-rich waters that feed marine animals that visit from all over the Pacific.

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The Artists O Lifelike strawberry sea anemones, created by Cleo Vilett.

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Taxidermist Alicia Goode prepares a Black-Footed Albatross.

n OMCA’s ground floor is a bustling hub of creativity called the Natural Sciences Shop, where taxidermists, fabricators, and artists are creating displays that will dazzle visitors when the Gallery reopens. “This is where the magic happens,” says Jaime Lakatos, a sculptor who is hand-making everything from yellow violets for a simulated redwood grove to sponges for the representation of Cordell Bank’s reefs.

The Cordell Bank section, the first of the seven areas to be completed, will feature the artistry of Cleo Vilett. Trained as a painter and a marine biologist, Vilett is making stunningly realistic creatures to populate a section of Cordell Bank called Pinnacle Reef. Referencing photos of the actual reef and using materials such as polymer clay and epoxy, Vilett has fabricated strawberry sea anemones, starfish, and kelp. “The ocean is endless and crazy, and sometimes you can’t believe it’s real,” Vilett says. “This will help people understand what’s beneath the surface.”

The new Gallery will also feature mounted animal specimens, and that’s where expert taxidermist Alicia Goode comes in. Goode works with different wildlife organizations to locate creatures that may have died accidentally from human causes. (Nearly all the new specimens on display were salvaged.) Goode then prepares and preserves them. She recently completed a Black-Footed Albatross for the Cordell Bank section and next will turn to the Oakland exhibit, for which she will prepare urban creatures such as raccoons and squirrels.

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

The Community One of OMCA’s top priorities is engaging community members and other stakeholders in the development of the Gallery of California Natural Sciences. To this end, Experience Developer Christine Lashaw is looking at ways to incorporate different voices into the curatorial process, whether through video interviews, cocreations with community groups, or interactive experiences. “I’m developing platforms that provide a place for authentic individual voices,” she says, “which offer new lenses on the gallery experience.”

Similarly, Evaluator Mary Faria is helping the Gallery take shape by collecting visitors’ feedback on exhibit prototypes. Her goal is to gauge an exhibit’s success in terms of content, design, and engagement, and the input she collects helps to shape the exhibit’s development. “We want to see how people connect with an exhibit,” she says. “We want them to ask: ‘Why is this significant to me?’ And then we hope they find the answer.”

A young visitor talks into the fort exhibit phone, a gallery element cocreated by Oakland YMCA families and artist Helena Keeffe, in the new Gallery of California Natural Sciences.

Become a Natural Sciences Docent In anticipation of the gallery’s reopening, a docent training class will begin in spring 2013. Volunteer recruiting begins in fall 2012. For more information, contact the Docent Center at 510-318-8470 or email docentcenter@museumca.org.

From left: Associate Preparator Joe Sperone builds a console for a media station codeveloped

by OMCA and the Oakland YMCA; starfish created by Jaime Lakatos.

The Sneak Peeks SCOTT MACLEOD

Don’t miss these opportunities to learn more about the new Gallery of California Natural Sciences.

For more information about each event, visit museumca.org/naturalscience.

Members Sneak Peek Friday, Oct. 12, 5:30–8:30 pm Go behind the scenes in the Gallery of California Natural Sciences to see the work-inprogress and give us your feedback!

Summer Nights and Science Friday, Oct. 26, 5 pm–12 am Marking the last in this year’s series of Summer Nights, the Gallery will welcome visitors for an array of activities. Artist Helena Keeffe will showcase an interactive fort exhibit.

Family Science Fun Sunday, Nov. 11, 11 am–5 pm Visitors can enjoy interactive experimentation in the Gallery and provide feedback. Exhibit partners will engage with visitors in activities highlighting conservation work in Oakland.

A Free Day of Science Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 am–5pm Meet community science organizations and learn how to get involved. Staff from the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary share the wonders and challenges of California’s oceans.

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In a new exhibition, Ken and Melanie Light illuminate California’s Central Valley with images and words

visions of the valley

This page: Ken Light, Rope Swing, 6 p.m., 100°, San Joaquin River, California, 2010; opposite page, top: Food Line, Westside Community Center, Mendota, California, 2009.

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T Meet the Artist Saturday, Sept. 29, 2–3:30 pm The 2012 Marvin Spohn Lecture in the Graphic Arts presents photographer Ken Light, who will discuss his most recent project, Valley of Shadows and Dreams.

Light on Lange Saturday, Dec. 8, 1 pm Join Ken Light in the Gallery of California History for a conversation about groundbreaking documentary photographer Dorothea Lange.

Light Reading For those wishing to further explore Ken and Melanie Light’s work, the Lights have recently published Valley of Shadows and Dreams (Heyday). The book features more than 100 photographs; Melanie’s essays; and an introduction by Thomas Steinbeck, son of Nobel Prize–winning author John Steinbeck. Valley of Shadows and Dreams is available at the OMCA Store.

he Central Valley is a land of great contradictions. It is famous for the grim realities of the Great Depression thanks to the writing of John Steinbeck and the photography of Dorothea Lange, and it is also home to America’s most important agricultural land. It is this complex region that Ken and Melanie Light have sought to evoke and understand in their photography exhibition Valley of Shadows and Dreams, on view in the Gallery of California Art. The roots of this exhibition reach back more than five years, when Melanie traveled to Visalia to investigate a Depression-era story a friend had told her about her baby being run over by a strikebreaker on a tractor. While looking for records of the incident, Melanie found something else: plot after plot of tract housing being erected on valuable agricultural land. She went home and told her husband, Ken, a social documentary photographer who has done projects on the Mississippi Delta and the coal-mining hills of West Virginia.

“She said, ‘There’s this interesting thing going on in the valley. You should look at it,’ ” Ken says.

“As we worked, the downturn hit and the game changed. At first, it was the building stopping, and then there was the ripple of the foreclosures.”

As Ken took photos and Melanie conducted interviews, they realized just how complicated the valley is. The project evolved into a book, and the Lights’ work is now the inaugural exhibition in OMCA’s California Photography series. The exhibition combines thirty-one of Ken’s images with selections from Melanie’s essays, and reflects the multiplicity of issues the Lights found: the environmental impact of industrial agriculture, the housing bubble’s burst, the war over water rights, and the hardscrabble lives of immigrant farmworkers.

“The biggest challenge was to distill it and at the same time convey how it’s all interconnected,” Melanie says.

The exhibit is a particularly apt fit for OMCA, which is home to the Dorothea Lange Archive.

Lange is most famous for her work photographing migrant farmworkers in the valley during the Great Depression, work that she collaborated on with her husband, Paul Taylor, in a fashion similar to that of the Lights.

“This new exhibition conveys how much has changed,” says Drew Johnson, OMCA’s curator of photography and visual culture, “and at the same time, how much has stayed the same.”

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A n e w e x h i b i t i o n t r a c e s t h e i m pa c t o f t h e

Randy Strong, Blue Orchid, 2011.

Glass.

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C O L L EC T I O N O F O M CA , G I F T O F T H E A R T I S T I N M E M O Ry O F K AT H E R I N E G R U B B , P H O T O BY B E N B L AC K W E L L

Ca l i f o r n i a s t u d i o g l a s s m o v e m e n t

T O P T O B O T T O M : C O L L E C T I O N O F O M C A , G I F T O F D O R O T H Y A N D G E O R G E S A X E ; C O urtesy of the artist , P H O T O B Y K E A Y E D W A R D S

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ince its beginning 50 years ago, the studio glass movement in the United States has undergone an exciting evolution. Before the 1960s, art glass in the United States was made in factories. The pioneers of studio glass had to figure out how to build furnaces small enough to use in a studio yet hot enough to melt glass. Luckily, some of those early practitioners were ceramic artists and had practice building kilns.

Others who got involved with glassmaking had engineering and chemistry backgrounds and were “trying to figure out [the process] as they went along,” says Julie Muñiz, OMCA’s Associate Curator of Design and Decorative Arts.

Opening Oct. 27 and running through March 24, Playing with Fire: Artists of the California Studio Glass Movement explores the ways in which California artists have worked with—and evolved—this alluring medium. With the exhibit, OMCA joins more than 120 museums nationwide in marking the fiftieth anniversary of the movement in the United States.

The exhibition features work by Marvin Lipofsky, who studied with movement founder Harvey Littleton before coming to California where he established glass programs at UC Berkeley and the California College of Arts and Crafts. Robert Fritz, another student of Littleton’s who founded the program at San Jose State University, is also included. A number of their students, who are now established artists, also have pieces in the show, demonstrating the movement’s lineage.

Top: Marvin Lipofsky, Zwiesel Series, 1980. Blown and cut glass. Bottom: Susan Longini, Caithness Neighbors, 2011.

Kiln-cast pâte de verre.

In addition to the work of early practitioners, the exhibition highlights the creations of some “next-generation” artists, revealing more recent influences of place, landscape, and culture in California and includes such themes as migrant labor and urban dynamics.

“A lot of young artists are doing more conceptual work, which references not only the maturity of the art form, but the evolution of art from just being beautiful to having a statement behind it,” Muñiz says.

The exhibition also reveals how many Bay Area artists have been drawn to the medium of glassmaking, or—as the evocative title suggests—“playing with fire.”

“ ‘Playing with fire’ connotes a bit of danger, a bit of innovation, and not knowing what’s going to happen,” says Muñiz.

“Glassmaking is a seductive art form and a seductive medium. You’re conquering molten material.”

Playing with Fire: Artists of the California Studio Glass Movement is made possible in part through the generous support of the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass, the Glass Alliance of Northern California, and the Oakland Museum Women’s Board.

G A LLE RY Talk a n d G L AS S S h ow

Meet OMCA Associate Curator of Design and Decorative Arts Julie Muñiz and artist Mary White and learn about artists who helped make the Bay Area a hotbed of the art glass movement. After the talk, check out the work by local artists in a special glass show and sale in the OMCA Store.

Saturday, Nov. 17, 2 pm

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retail tales

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4. Necklace by Philippa Roberts Working out of her Oakland studio, Philippa Roberts designs striking jewelry in simple, organic shapes.

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5. Concrete bowls by Moss Studios Designed by Moss Studios’ owner Breck Armstrong, these modern bowls give off a serene, warm glow with a votive candle placed inside.

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STUDIO CRAFT in the OMCA Store 1. Yunomi cups by Barbara Sebastian Perfect for tea, sake, or wine, these distinctive cups—some with the OMCA logo—are hand-thrown by the artist in her Fairfax studio.

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2. Artisanal crafts from Be Home The environmentally conscious housewares from Berkeley-based Be Home are handcrafted by artisans in Southeast Asia out of materials such as teak, horn, bamboo, and reclaimed wood.

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3. Ceramics by Amy Halko Inspired by geometric patterns and organic shapes, Sonoma-based artist Amy Halko throws each of her unique porcelain pieces by hand.

Special Sale Nov. 17 and 18!

Museum Members receive a special 20 percent discount at the OMCA Store on Nov. 17 and 18. Don’t miss this opportunity to stock up on these one-of-a-kind holiday gifts!

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6. Mini bud vases by Jess Wainer Oakland-based artist Jess Wainer blows each of her delicate, miniature bud vases by hand, and no two are alike.

7. Glass by Caleb Siemon Based in Southern California, artist Caleb Siemon creates gorgeous glass pieces out of lead-free crystal.

T O R R E Y A C U M M I N G S ( 1 , 5 ) ; B E H O M E , I N C . ( 2 ) ; J amey T hom A S ( 3 ) ; P hilippa R O berts ( 4 ) ; J E S S W A I N E R ( 6 ) ; S I E M O N & S A L A Z A R ( 7 )

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member services

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Go Green! Members at any level can choose to receive

all communications electronically, including Inside Out.

Member Levels and Benefits MEET Claudia Leung, Membership Assistant For the past year, Membership Assistant Claudia Leung has been helping OMCA serve its Members by maintaining up-todate lists and renewals, and answering inquiries. Thanks to her enthusiasm, thoroughness, and dedication to the OMCA community, Members can count on receiving first-rate customer service!

How to Join or renew

To learn more about Membership, call 510-318-8520, visit museumca.org/membership, or simply stop by one of our ticketing desks during your next visit to the Museum.

Join an OMCA Guild!

Explore California’s art, history, and natural sciences with OMCA’s guilds, which offer Members special learning and travel opportunities. Annual dues are $20 per guild in addition to OMCA Membership. For information, visit museumca.org/guilds. To join a guild, please contact us at 510-318-8520 or membership@museumca.org.

INDIVIDUAL $60 • Unlimited yearlong admission for you and a guest • Subscriptions to Inside Out and Member e-News • Invitations to previews and special events • 10 percent discount in the OMCA Store, additional savings on special Member Sale Days • Free admission to public programs • Discounts at Bay Area businesses through the Community Partners program FAMILY $75 All Individual Member benefits for two adults plus: • Unlimited free admission for two guests and Member’s children or grandchildren under 18, when accompanied by a cardholder.

• Advance notice of family events and programs • Two one-time-use guest passes SUPPORTER $150 All Family Member benefits plus: • Free admission to more than 500 participating museums in the North American Reciprocal Museum Program • Two additional one-time-use guest passes (total of four passes) SPONSOR $300 All Supporter Member benefits plus: • Guest privileges (two additional

guests per Membership when accompanied by cardholder) • Acknowledgment in Annual Report PATRON $600 All Sponsor Member benefits plus: • A private docent-led tour for up to ten people DONOR FORUM $1,250 All Patron Member benefits plus: • Invitation to annual Leader Lunch • Four VIP parking passes for the Museum garage • Two additional one-time-use guest passes (total of six passes) • Recognition on the Museum’s “Thank You” wall • Opportunities to interact with curators and artists • Guest privileges (unlimited number of guests when accompanied by cardholder) SPECIAL MEMBERSHIPS Proof of status required • Golden State $50: All Individual Member benefits for residents living more than 90 miles outside the 94607 zip code • Individual Senior $45 Student $45 Educator $45: All Individual Member benefits • Dual Senior $55: All Individual Member benefits All Membership gifts are fully tax-deductible as provided by law.

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calendar

Check out the full lineup of events and programs at museumca.org.

exhibitions, events, and programs OMCA SUMMER NIGHTS: THE OAKLAND ROVER LAUNCH Friday, Sept. 28 | 5–9 pm What do you customize, remix, tailor, or trick out?

Find out at the upcoming participatory exhibition we/customize, opening this winter, which explores the popular cultural activity of object modification from a Bay Area perspective. Help celebrate the launch of we/customize with a coming-out party for our interactive electric mobile museum, the Oakland Rover. After Sept. 28, the Rover will be scouring the state to learn how Californians customize. Follow the Rover, and join the conversation at wecustomize.tumblr.com.

Oakland Rover prototype, designed

by Martin Sprouse and Dan Rosenfeld.

OMCA FAMILY: OAKLAND PRIDE CELEBRATION Sunday, Sept. 30 | 12–3 pm Celebrate Oakland Pride Month with a special fun-filled afternoon honoring all families, especially those with adopted, foster, mixed-race, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender loved ones. Feel the rhythm and add your beat to a community drum circle with DRUMM Rhythmic Events. Express your inner artist with arts and crafts, enjoy live performances, and more.

Special Offer for OMCA Members and Fans!

Oakland Raiders vs. Cleveland Browns, Dec. 2, 2012 OMCA Members, friends, and family receive a special-rate ticket for priority group seating. $20 of each ticket sale will directly support OMCA programs and exhibitions.

This special offer also provides access to Raiders Art Appreciation Day, where you will have the opportunity to meet artists participating in this juried art competition.

To learn more or to purchase tickets, contact Walter Brock at 510-710-3104 or wbrock@raiders.com. See the game and support OMCA!

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OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

COMMUNITY CELEBRATION! Sunday, Oct. 21, 12–4:30 pm The entire Museum comes alive for the annual Community Celebration in honor of Days of the Dead. The event features music by Los Cenzontles, observance of traditional ceremonies, colorful ofrendas, tasty food, and crafts by local artisans.

SUMMER NIGHTS FINALE

Happenings include: • Home movies: Share your home movies with an audience of your community.

Friday, Oct. 26 | 5 pm–12 am

• Tour Forgotten Stories, Remarkable Lives: Celebrate Días de los Muertos 2012 with cinema under the stars—Night of the Living Dead is our featured 1968 flick. Break out your most ghoulish garb for a costume contest.

Celebrate the last Summer Nights program of the premiere season—and get a jump-start on Halloween with an

• Visit the Gallery of California Natural Sciences: Meet artist Helena Keeffe and explore the fort exhibit she cocreated with Oakland YMCA families.

evening of Días de los Muertos 2012 tours, a cult horror classic, and more.

experiencE 1968 Enjoy The 1968 Exhibit through November!

Due to popular demand, The 1968 Exhibit has been extended through Nov. 25.

Don’t miss the chance to see the exhibition that chronicles one of the most important years of the twentieth century.

Young children awaiting the Robert F. Kennedy Funeral Train, 1968.

T O P R I G H T: J A S O N L E W ; B O T T O M : D E C L A N H A U N

Museum Hours Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

11 am–5 pm

Thursday

11 am–5 pm

Friday

11 am–5 pm

Last Fridays (through Oct.)

11 am–9 pm

Saturday

11 am–5 pm

Sunday

11 am–5 pm

IN THE MIX After the Election: The First 90 Days Saturday, Nov. 10 | 1–2 pm The ballots have been cast, and the votes tallied. What issues would you like to see the president address in the first ninety days after taking office? Join this lively in-gallery discussion to talk some politics!

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NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE Oakland Museum of California 1000 Oak Street Oakland, CA 94607-4892

PAID

SALT LAKE CITY, UT PERMIT NO.6563

Give a Gift and Get a Gift!

Give an OMCA Membership to friends and family, and inspire their exploration of California art, history, and natural sciences.

Get a special thank-you gift for any gift Memberships at the Family level and above through Dec. 31. To learn about specific promotions starting Oct. 1, visit museumca.org/join-give.

Give the gift that keeps on giving—and get a gift for yourself!

For more information, contact us at 510-318-8520 or membership@museumca.org Fletcher Benton, M, 1974. Aluminum and plexiglass.

Collection of OMCA. Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Alexander H. Ellenberg.