Category Archives: galleries

Vessel Gallery

I mentioned in yesterday that new galleries were springing up in Oaktown like mushrooms. Today’s post is about one of these… Vessel Gallery.

Though new to Oaktown – they literally just opened and their big gala opening reception is this Saturday – this gallery was previously located in Berkeley, established in 2004. Which makes sense. Because it doesn’t feel like a newbie start-up…

For one thing, their space is huge. Contrast this with next door neighbor FM gallery (also new, or at least new to me) which has several artist workstations and a gallery all squeezed into one narrow story, and it seems positively gargantuan.

oakland art gallery, art galleries on 25th, oakland art murmur

Housed in an old livery (there are several of these in the East Bay including one near me on San Pablo, which forced me many years ago to look up the term – it means a stable where horses and vehicles are cared for or rented out for pay – picture horse-drawn carriages running up and down Telegraph), the building dates to 1906 when the “Joseph E. Silva Livery Stable cared for, boarded, and transferred Oakland Fire Department horses at this location.”

Owners Matt and Diane Iglehart worked with architects and designers to renovate the building specifically for use as an art gallery, while maintaining some of the interesting historical details, like the original floors (see below).

A small gallery space greets visitors on the ground floor, but upstairs is a different story. The second floor is expansive, and each piece of art is given lots of breathing room. Additionally, instead of packing several artists’ works into their space, they focused primarily on just one artist, whose pieces filled both floors. It was a somewhat refreshing viewing experience, almost restful compared to the chaos of smaller more eclectic galleries.

vessel gallery, 25th street galleries, oakland art murmur

The current exhibit is titled “A Place In-Between” and features sculptures and drawings by Cyrus Tilton, and jewelry by Eric Silva. Silva’s pieces occupy a display case upstairs and were not easy to document so you’ll have to go see for yourself. And you should, because these one of a kind pieces are quite stunning. He works from found, recycled, or reused materials, fashioning them into “wearable sculpture”.

Pictured below are just two of the works of Cyrus Tilton.  As I mentioned previously, his works dominate the exhibit occupying both floors of the gallery.  His body of work is extremely cohesive, sculptures upstairs echoing the drawings that are first encountered downstairs.

Many of the pieces seem to be about the complexity and changeability of identity and persona, and incorporate interactivity to convey these ideas.  For example, the arms of the figure (below right) are movable and if patrons aren’t too afraid to actually touch the art, you can spin different “masks” into place.

Another piece that seemed quite popular had a figure sitting on a chair, with something akin to a small paddle-wheel for a head.  Each “paddle” had a painted head in some configuration, and the whole wheel had a crank attached to it… if you spun the hand crank, the rotating paddles would create a small motion picture of a head gyrating, in seeming agony.  It was slightly disturbing, but incredibly captivating.

cyrus tilton, sculpture by cyrus tilton, a place in between

The title of the exhibit comes from Tilton’s artist statement:

This body of work is a contemplation, an effort to be present on the journey and to acknowledge the path, the obstacles, and the place in-between.

I encourage folks to check out their opening this weekend. There’ll be music and wine (of course!), and a portion of all proceeds benefit local charity First Place for Youth.

Vessel
471 25th Street
Oakland, CA 94612

T 510.893.8800

Gallery Hours
Tuesday through Saturday 11AM – 6PM
First Friday’s of the month 6 – 9PM

map + directions >

“the stylistic confides of lowbrow art…”

What exactly does this mean?

If you went to the Stand Tall exhibit at Old Crow Tattoo & Gallery on Grand Ave. last Friday night, you might have an idea, as that was the essence of their 20-plus artists show.

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Featuring approximately 20 artists – some local, some not – I expected the show to be primarily graffiti aerosol art, but was surprised to find a much wider range of mediums and styles.

Stand Tall references the tall, but narrow, space that each artist had to work with. The two main gallery walls were each divided into 10 equal segments, 3 feet wide by 9 feet tall, providing 20 slim slates to be adorned however each artist saw fit. Some hung traditional canvases (easier for the out of town artists), some painted directly onto the wall, and some created elaborate mixed media installations incorporating, paint, wood, paper, found objects, smaller framed works, and more.

It was almost too much to take in. And while there wasn’t much cohesion between the individual artists’ pieces (everything from classic expressionism to modern graffiti lettering to flat abstract blocks of color to collaged interactive sculpture), the confines of their equally sized individual spaces marching repetitively along the walls did provide a layer of unity.

old crow tattoo & gallery, graffiti art show at old crow

old crow tattoo and gallery, art show at old crow oakland

old crow tattoo & gallery, stand tall art show, graffiti art show at old crow

stand tall art show, old crow gallery oakland

Several of the pieces were collaborative efforts. I was able to speak briefly with one of the artists, Dead Eyes, who had worked on one with his co-creator Safety First. He explained that collaboration is frequent in this genre, as local street artists are a close-knit group who all know each other and interact with each others’ work.

I asked how much of the collage was put together from already existing works. He said only a small percentage, and that about 80 percent was created originally for this show, focused on themes similar to those exhibited in their street art… visible throughout Oakland.

I also spoke briefly with Desi W.O.M.E. whose piece was one of my friend’s favorites. Though created within the span of a single day, and simple in layout – spray painted directly on the wall with no mixed media or multiple pieces – it was complex in its content. Layers of imagery overlap each other… a man’s face, seemingly in agony, an aztec-styled skull, a graffiti-writing mask over the two – all obscuring, revealing, and interacting with parts of each other. I don’t know what it means, but it seems… deep.

I could probably do a whole post on each of these panels, but you should just go check it out for yourself…
Show remains up until May 5th. I believe gallery hours are by appointment only.

PS – you can get tattoos there too. duh.

Art Show tonight at Old Crow…

There’s an opening reception tonight at Old Crow Tattoo and Gallery for a new “conceptual exhibition” titled Stand Tall…  I plan to go, along with apparently hundreds of other folks (according to their Facebook page which has links for all 20 artists participating).  Yikes!  This is going to be packed.

Here’s their write-up…

Old Crow Tattoo and Gallery with curatorial support from Barrett Moore, has given simple but rigid parameters to the participating artists for this exhibition. Our hopes are to create an all inclusive visually dynamic result. Spanning the country, and at the same time the stylistic confides of aerosol art; the plan was to keep the conceptual execution at the essence each decision. These artists span the country, and at the same time the stylistic confides of lowbrow art. Each selected for his or her individual efforts, this show will also find grace within the group’s overall presentation. Standing Tall at 3ft x 9ft, each artist will be fully in control to install, hang and paint whatever they choose within this personal space. 10 of these columns will line each gallery wall independently. Around 10 o’clock The Chastities will be playing, the event is scheduled to last until about 11… which means it wont end till at least 12.
Photography from Scott La Rockwell so look swell… it’s going to be a gala.

Four G’s Magazine will be on site with the best Graff Magazine on the newsstands right now. Montana’s will be supplying us with the paint needed to make this happen. Give thanks to Art Now SF for continued support and creative focus.
Wine supplied by Steven Heimoff of the Wine Ethusianst Magazine
Organic beverages from Bionade
Musical Selections from Turntable Terry
Hope to see YOUUU ALL THERE.

And here’s an example of a collaborative piece done by two of the artists participating in the show… Desi W.O.M.E. and Ras Terms. The mural is located on the front of the old Parkway Theater… installed for their recent show at Woody’s Cafe across the street.

desi w.o.m.e., ras terms, rasterms, graffiti art oakland, oakland mural art

Warehouse 416 ~ aka The Warehouse

toastmasters, veloraptors, warehouse 416, the warehouse oakland, 26th street oakland

I’d been wondering about this place for awhile, ever since I saw its large sign declaring simply “The Warehouse,” and the smaller signs on its doorway for Veloraptors and Toastmasters. I thought “huh… that’s kind of interesting.”

Warehouse 416 is your classic shared warehouse space in Oakland. With thousands of square feet of space, fashioned into shared courtyard gallery space, individual work spaces, offices, a conference room and more, current occupants include a business consultant, photographer, hat-maker extraordinaire, and one scientist. How cool is that?

art murmur, warehouse 416, 26th street warehouse

Every month they open their space for Art Murmur to feature a new show, including works by tenants as well as community members. This past Friday’s show included paintings by Dada/Surrealist-influenced painter Nome Edonna, metal sculptures by Patricia Chavez, a display of the most beautiful hats I’ve ever seen by Elwyn Crawford’s  O’Lover Hats, (I’m saving my nickels up for one of these babies!), fashion and portraiture photography by Angela Scrivani, and much more. The space has lots of interesting eclectic stuff to check out…

surrealist paintings, nome edonna, art murmur warehouse 416

elwyn crawford, o'lover hats, art murmur warehouse 416

baby dolls, beer advertising collage, doll collection

Similar to their neighbor across the street, Studio Quercus, they seem to host a pretty eclectic range of events and artists, with DJ’s, live bands, open mic poetry, and more. And if that’s not enough to get you there next month, don’t forget, the incredible Liba Falafel truck will be parked right outside!

Regular Gallery Hours are Thursdays & Fridays from 1pm to 7pm.

warehouse 416, the warehouse, oakland 26th street, art murmur warehouse