Tag Archives: temescal public art

Speaking of Temescal…

I love this little district in Oakland.  Yes, it’s gentrified… and yes, there are too many hipsters. But I love it just the same as when I called it my home many years ago, even more so now since you can actually get a decent cup of coffee!

It’s just got so much going for it… one of the oldest neighborhoods in Oakland, horse drawn carriages used to run up and down what’s now Telegraph Ave.

The food, of course, is a huge draw… everything from the 80 year old Genova Delicatessen – a nod to the neighborhood’s early Italian-immigrant residents; to those established by more recent immigrant groups – Asmara & Red Sea; to gourmet delights like Pizzaiolo and Doñas Tomás; to the home of the original Betty’s (her ginger molasses cookies are so good I want to cry!)

There’s my beloved Tool Library (see yesterday’s post).

And there’s the art… home to Studio One, the Creative Reuse Depot, ever expanding public projects (see below), and numerous galleries… for those who love doing the Art Murmur thing (tonight!) but are a bit put off by the crowds in Uptown, Temescal is a wonderful alternative.  In fact, tonight they’re hosting a special “Summer Art Hop.” With this weather, perhaps they should call it Winter II Art Hop. Either way, I did the first Winter one and it was a blast.

And speaking of the weather, it looks like the Temescal Street Fair has been postponed.  Originally slated for this Sunday (and partly why I decided to do this post today), it’s been put off until July 10th.

I was wondering how they were going to finish this art project (Temescal Flows by Oakland muralist Alan Leon) in time for the festival… now they have another month.

I’ve been watching its progression for several weeks now and while I wasn’t sure I was going to like it initially, I’m growing rather fond of it.  The flowing/waving lines throughout reference the neighborhood’s Temescal Creek, and specific imagery honors the region’s earliest settlers, the Ohlone.

These pics were shot Wednesday and while much has been accomplished, there appears to be much yet to do…
public art temescal

temescal public art, overpass painting project
Alan Leon, alan leon muralist, oakland murals
temescal flows, temescal flows mural project, alan leon
24 underpass art, temescal art project, temescal murals, oakland murals
temescal creek, waving lines represent water, community art

Temescal, Telegraph & Traffic Boxes

I don’t know who did these… the interweb has nothing for me.  Perhaps my search terms are flawed… These were done by students at Peralta Elementary, which is situated just off the corner of Telegraph and Altatraz. (Thanks to Fragmentary Evidence for this info).

temescal public art, temescal art on traffic boxes

I’m assuming they were, at the very least, orchestrated by the Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District, whose mission is to make the Temescal Telegraph commercial corridor a better place to live, work and shop.  They were installed at least a year ago, along with large flower filled planters that also run the length of Telegraph in Temescal.

telegraph temescal business improvement district, TBID

oakland utility boxes, temescal public art

Likely modeled after Emeryville’s Signs of the Times public art project (which I truly love… you can read more about it on my post Words By Roads ~ part III), these images certainly add a shiny happy people feeling to the corridor.

portraits of temescal, faces of temescal

oakland public art, telegraph temescal business corridor

public art traffic boxes, paintings on traffic signal boxes, temescal telegraph

I’m interested to know who produced the artwork.  Studio One? CCA? A local school? If anyone has info, please send in a comment.

A more recent project by City Canvas has been installed in the Uptown District, also on traffic signal boxes… (another post)

Temescal Public Art, telegraph temescal business improvement, telegraph corridor improvement

Oakland Traffic Signal Boxes, Public Art Temescal