InsIde | Out

S p r i n g 2 0 1 0

a ne w state of mind at the Oakl and museum Of califOrnia

Reinvention

expect the unexpected at the new omca

sneak peaka b e h I n d -t h e-s c e n es lo o k at t h e n e w I n sta l l at I o n s

a conversation with wayne thiebaudt h e l eg e n da ry a rt Ist st Il l m a k es wav es

| welcome

2 o A K l A N D m U S e U m o F c A l I F o R N I A

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Dear Museum members and supporters,

welcome to the first edition of Inside out, the publication that you receive in appreciation of your support of the oakland museum of california. we are delighted to provide this magazine as

one of many benefits of omcA membership, together with free yearlong admission for yourself and a guest to our new galleries and upcoming programs, previews for spe-cial exhibitions, and discounts at our new museum Store.

So, why the title Inside out? First and foremost, we envi-sion this publication as your guide to the inner workings of omcA, with perspectives on museum activities—from the behind-the-scenes discoveries of curators, to the views of artists whose work is represented in our collection, to the personal stories of other californians like you.

At the same time, we hope this magazine will take you out and about throughout california. you’ll learn about people making a difference in our state, get recommendations from our staff and volunteers on places to visit, and have a chance to contribute your own ideas on california “top picks.” while there is much to see and appreciate within the walls of omcA’s building and gardens, we are also a launching pad for your further exploration of the state’s natural and cultural wonders.

the following pages will introduce you to a truly transformed omcA and to some of the people who have been part of the incredible evolution of this institution. Indeed, you are part of this evolution, and we are deeply grateful for your mem-bership at this moment of reinvention and reintroduction. while there is much that is new and exciting, what remains constant is our commitment to being a “museum of the people”—a place that is as vibrant, inclusive, dynamic, and varied as california and californians.

we look forward to welcoming you at our member/Insider open House on April 29 and to seeing you throughout the year—in and out of omcA!

Lori Fogartyexecutive Director

the oakland museum of california thanks the

oakland museum women’s board for its gener-

ous support of the inaugural issue of Inside out.

Inside out is published three times a year by the

oakland museum of california, 1000 oak Street,

oakland, cA 94607. museumca.org ©2010

Editor: Ann Dickson

Contributors: lori Fogarty, maggie R. pico,

Sunny green, gail bernstein, Rue Flaherty

produced by Diablo custom publishing

dcpubs.com

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coNteNtS |

features8OMCA Reopens with a

Reinvented Museum Experience Interactive. Interdisciplinary. transparent. Dynamic. Nimble. the reconceived museum unveils a revolutionary new approach to experiencing california’s ever-evolving art, history, and natural sciences.

departments4 Opening Eventscome celebrate omcA’s exciting reopening at one of our special events!

5 Culinary Artschef Robert Dorsey III updates omcA’s café with an all-new menu of california-inspired cuisine.

6 Thought Leadersliving legend wayne thiebaud speaks with Senior curator of Art Karen tsujimoto about the inspirations for his artful life.

16 38 Million StoriesIn a highly personal installation, June yee reveals a unique perspective on the bay Area’s chinese population.

17 Member Spotlightteacher and artist cesar barragan helps keep omcA’s Días de los muertos events on the cutting edge.

18 CalendarA guide to our don’t-miss trips, tours, and programs.

4 o A K l A N D m U S e U m o F c A l I F o R N I A

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| opeNINg EvEnTS

celebrate with Us!

Don’t miss these festivities when we unveil our all-new

omcA experience this spring

WE’RE ThROWing OpEn OuR DOORS TO ThE

EnTiRE COMMuniTy—FROM ThE gEnEROuS

DOnORS AnD FunDERS WhO hAvE MADE ThE

CAMpAign FOR ThE MuSEuM OF CALiFORniA

SuCh An ASTOunDing SuCCESS TO ThE MAny

ADuLTS, FAMiLiES, AnD STuDEnTS WhO RELy On

uS AS A viTAL CuLTuRAL AnD EDuCATiOnAL

RESOuRCE. WE LOOk FORWARD TO WELCOMing

yOu TO OnE OF ThESE SpECiAL EvEnTS!

CALiFORniA inSiDE AnD OuT: MEMbER/inSiDER OpEn hOuSE Thursday, April 29, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.we invite members, insiders, and contributors to the campaign to enjoy an exclusive open House in advance of the public opening. tour the new galleries of History and Art, enjoy performances, and socialize in the renovated public spaces. this event launches our new thursday evening hours, which will become part of the regular schedule. the open House is made possible by the oakland museum women’s board, sponsors of the annual white elephant Sale.

OpEning CELEbRATiOn WEEkEnD pRESEnTED by TARgET Saturday, May 1, 11 a.m.–Sunday, May 2, 6 p.m.everyone is invited to our grand opening celebration, when omcA will be open to the public, free of charge. members of omcA’s leadership, joined by civic and community lead-ers, will mark the occasion by thanking oakland’s measure g supporters and donors to the campaign. Following the ribbon cutting, visitors can explore the galleries and enjoy an exciting schedule of activities. on Saturday, we pay tribute to “california Firsts”; on Sunday, the theme shifts to “celebrating california Families,” with activities and performances for visi-tors of all ages.

gOLDEn gALA 2010: A gOLDEn STATE OF MinDSaturday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.–midnightthe golden gala 2010 is a fundraiser for our award-winning educational programs. Now in a transformative moment, these programs have an enormous impact on the future of our state by connecting members of our community with califor-nia’s cultural and environmental heritage.

the gala, held in omcA’s gardens, terraces, and galleries, will begin with a champagne and mai tai reception. guests will then enjoy an elegant dinner of california cuisine, followed by a lively auction and dancing. guests may visit the reinstalled galleries of california Art and california History throughout the evening. For more information on becoming a sponsor of the Golden Gala, contact Joni Hess at 510-238-7425 or jhess@museumca.org.

opening Season Sponsors:

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CuLinARy ARtS |

CuRATORSoF cAlIFoRNIA CuiSinEThe chefs behind OMCA’s new café and catering services give California’s culinary traditions an inspired update

california is known the world over for pioneering approaches to food. Drawing on the state’s multicultural influences and its vast variety of food sources, california chefs continually invent new culinary traditions. So when omcA’s blue oak café opens this spring, chef Robert Dorsey III will carry on this legacy by creating

singularly inspired dishes. “my style pushes cultural boundaries,” explains Dorsey, whose résumé

includes stints at Kuletos, bay wolf, Firefly, and the award-winning blackberry bistro, which he founded. “I’d describe it as california cuisine with global influences.” Dorsey, an east bay native, plans to use seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and will create special themed menus tied to omcA exhibitions.

blue oak, named after the native california tree (with a nod to omcA’s address on oak Street), will have both indoor and outdoor seating, and will be open during regular museum hours.

omcA is also proud to offer california-inspired catering services, overseen by chef Karen bevels. A celebrated events planner, bevels uses fresh local foods and sustainable practices to create delectable meals and unforgettable gatherings.

both Dorsey and bevels are committed to telling the stories of california through its many flavors and cultural influences, and in so doing are making invaluable—and delicious—contributions to the new omcA experience.

Chef Dorsey’s Miso-Glazed Salmon Filets / Serves 4

Serve hot over steamed brown rice or chilled as a salad with udon noodles and baby greens.

¼ cup brown sugar2 teaspoons soy sauce4 tablespoons Mirin cooking wine2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed orange juice2 tablespoons warm water2 tablespoons white miso (soybean paste)1 teaspoon minced garlic4 salmon filets (each 6 to 7 ounces)2 tablespoons fresh chives

Directions: Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine first seven ingredients in a bowl and and mix well with a whisk. Arrange filets in a shallow, greased baking dish. Season salmon with salt and pepper and evenly spoon on the miso glaze. Broil salmon 10 to 12 minutes, basting 2 to 3 times. Salmon is done when center is tender and the fish is lightly translucent. Remove salmon to a serving platter and sprinkle with chives.

6 o A K l A N D m U S e U m o F c A l I F o R N I A

wayne thiebaud, who turns ninety this year, is one of the country’s most revered working artists. best known for his iconic paintings of pies, cakes, and gumball machines, thiebaud has also created a

prodigious body of landscapes, streetscapes, portraits, drawings, and prints. As a teacher, he has inspired genera-tions of art students, first at Sacramento city college and later at Uc Davis, and has received many honors, including the National medal of Arts in 1994. the oakland museum of california, which in 1977 exhibited the retrospective “wayne thiebaud: Survey 1947–1976,” is proud to have many of his works in its permanent collection. Here, Senior curator of Art Karen tsujimoto chats with the living legend.

K.T.: It’s probably hard to answer this in a nutshell, but can you talk about your work’s evolution? W.T.: It pretty much goes along on a rickety, seat-of-the-pants basis. I like to paint anything that attracts my attention. I have a fear of losing options, so I continually take risks. And that has resulted in the patchwork career I’ve had in painting. I like to stop and do prints often based

on previous subject matter, like taking a gumball machine and forcing it into a black-and-white etching to see how the transfer can be engaged. So, I rattle along. Sometimes, I’ll go back and paint a pie, like I did in 1959, just to see if I know how to make a slight change.

K.T.: How did you start painting pies and cakes? W.T.: In my early years, I tried painting everything I could see and every style I could find. then, I went to New york in the late 1950s and met my heroes—willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, and others—and I was amazed to find that their take on painting was quite different from what I had gotten from their writing. talking with people of that New york era gave me a different set of goals. the primary thing was that you don’t have to think about “what is art” all the time. Instead, it’s better to think about something you know and avoid trying to figure out what you should do, as opposed to what you love doing. that meant a lot to me.

So when I came back to california, I began painting in a different way. And that was to try to get things to sit on a plane in a contrived fictional space. I started with shapes like circles and triangles. At the same moment,

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| tHoUgHt LEADERS

A COnvERSATiOn wItH WAynE ThiEbAuDThe beloved California artist reveals the wisdom and wonder of a well-lived life

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Cakes and pies,

1995. Oil on linen.

I was thinking of my experience working in restaurants and being brought up in America. So the triangles became pies, and the circles became plates. It fascinated me, but it made me think, “this cannot be a serious enterprise. I’m going to be laughed out of the so-called art world.” but I couldn’t leave it alone.

K.T.: Do you have concerns about being identified as a “California artist”?W.T.: I’ve always thought that that’s like talking about california mathematics or california science. you realize very quickly that there is one kind of painting, one language of paint. It’s fascinating that our location and other parts of America have always seemed like outlands in com-parison to New york. In my judgment, california has been poorly served in terms of hierarchy of achievement. many wonderful painters, sculptors, and other artists inhabit the state of california, and I’m very proud to be called a california artist after all.

K.T.: Do you have any thoughts about museums and their role in society? W.T.: I love museums. I see them as wonderlands, sav-ing extraordinary objects that both give us pleasure and establish criteria. but at their center should be a goal

to establish consistent and far-reaching standards of excellence. I don’t know how that can be done, but I think it needs to be done. I also think that it may have been a mistake to establish contemporary art museums. I know this is heretical, but I’m going to say it anyway. If museums have a standard of high achievement, there should not be separated out an intrapeer group that limits museums to a particular time or form. I may be talking nonsense, but I am willing to do that.

K.T.: Can you tell us about your relationship with the Oakland Museum of California? W.T.: I have a great love of the museum. It celebrates california art, and that is wonderful in itself. It also has a very human scale and attitude. I remember when it was in the oakland Auditorium and I participated in an invitational exhibition. then paul mills came along, and I loved the fact that he gave exhibitions of california painting, which endeared me to the museum. It was a great thrill when they built the new building, in 1969, and to have a much better facility for showing art. I’ve long appreciated the museum and look forward to the new opening.

urban Square,

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8 O A K L A N D M U S E U M O F C A L I F O R N I A

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REINVEN-REINVENTION

>S P R I N G 2 0 1 0 9

REINVEN-REINVENTION

THe Oakland MuseuM OF CalIFORnIa ReOpens THIs spRInG wITH a 21sT-CenTuRy Take On OuR ORIGInal MIssIOn: TO be a MuseuM FOR THe peOple

Art1 0 O A K L A N D M U S E U M O F C A L I F O R N I A

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the reconceived GAllery of cAliforniA Art tAkes the creAtive process—And visitor pArticipAtion—to A whole new level

PROvOCAtIvE

flexibilityOFFeRInG a nIMble way TO

expeRIenCe aRT

• View art your way: Move a chair in front

of your favorite artwork and sit as long

as you like.

• Expect the unexpected: with four

regularly changing exhibition spaces,

the Gallery offers dynamic experiences

that evolve with your input.

• Get engaged: Touch materials, write in

journals, draw your self-portrait.

intersectionsTakInG an InTeRdIsCIplInaRy

appROaCH

• Enjoy the mash-ups: People don’t live

in silos, and neither should museums.

Art, history, and science are deeply

intertwined, and our galleries reflect

these interrelationships.

• Do deeper dives: Stop in a Loaded

Lounge to explore connections, get

different perspectives, and ask: what is

art, anyway?

“The Gallery is incorporating interactivity in a deep and robust way. One piece even

allows viewers to draw self-portraits and project them onto flat screens on a salon-

style wall, next to portraits by artists like David Park and Carmen Lomas Garza.”

—René de Guzman, Senior Curator of Art

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> the new Gallery of California Art has been transformed into a living, breathing space, pulsating with energy and ideas. Renovated and expanded by San Fran-cisco architects Mark Cavagnero Associates, the team behind the Museum- wide reinvention, the Gallery of California Art features engaging interpretative tools, playful lounges, and refreshingly unorthodox installations. Organized the-matically, the Gallery is installed along three motifs: California Land, California People, and California Creativity. this thematic approach allows visitors to see works in different media and from different periods side by side, inspiring new ways of looking at California’s evolving role as a cutting-edge center of visual ex-pression. Seminal works by artists such as Albert Bierstadt, Dorothea Lange, Richard Diebenkorn, Edward Weston, and David Ireland remain highlights of the art collection, but museum-goers can also count on making new and thought-provoking discoveries every time they visit.

the reconceived GAllery of cAliforniA Art tAkes the creAtive process—And visitor pArticipAtion—to A whole new level

“The Oakland Museum of California is not just an art, history, or science museum, but all three. The goal is to create a holistic ex-perience that visitors shape for themselves. We’re creating a museum that is not just for the visitor, it is with the visitor.” —Kathy McLean, Consultant

PROvOCAtIvE

An Exceptional EyeDESIGNER tED COhEN BREAthES NEW LIFE INtO thE ARt GALLERy

with more than

fifty years at the

Oakland Museum

of California and

eighty-two years

on the planet, Ted

Cohen enjoys a

unique perspec-

tive on the chang-

es at OMCa—and

welcomes what

he sees.

a lead consul-

tant in the rede-

sign of the Gallery

of California Art,

Cohen was first

hired at the Oak-

land art Museum

in 1959 and has

played a major

role ever since,

designing, light-

ing, and mounting

many landmark

exhibitions. Ac-

cording to Execu-

tive director lori

Fogarty, Cohen

brings a beautiful

aesthetic sen-

sibility to every

project he under-

takes. “not only

does Ted’s work

always shine,”

says Fogarty,

“he’s one of the

hippest people

I know. For him,

the reinvention of

the Museum has

been a long time

coming.”

among Co-

hen’s innovations

is the introduc-

tion of vividly

colored walls. “I

am anti-white

walls for contem-

porary muse-

ums,” explains

Cohen, “and I love

coming up with

different creative

solutions. Right

now, I’m doing

some of the best

work of my life.”

historyLIvING

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> there’s nothing static about the new Gallery of California history, and for good reason: California—multilayered and ever evolving—has no single storyline, no fixed narrative. Millions of individuals and their unique stories have shaped how we perceive California, and the new Gallery reflects this diversity in its vibrant new installations. “Coming to California” is the Gallery’s overarching theme, emphasizing the profound impact of the state’s successive waves of immigration. Explorations of Californians’ varied ethnicities, relationships with the environment, global connections, and dreams and aspirations also run through the 30,000-square-foot Gallery in interactive presentations that showcase more than 2,200 artifacts, works of art, photographs, and ethnographic materials. visitors can add their stories, too, becoming a permanent part of OMCA’s experience and inspiration.

the trAnsformed GAllery of cAliforniA history tells the evolvinG stories thAt hAve shAped the stAte—And keep it on the cuttinG edGe

“California has always been a place of great

diversity, and there have always been

new people coming who have changed the culture. Wheth-

er your family has been here for

generations or you arrived two weeks

ago, the idea of coming to California

resonates— because ‘coming

to California’ is both a geographic idea

and a metaphorical one.”

—Lori Fogarty,Executive Director

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transparencydeMysTIFyInG THe MuseuM expeRIenCe • See conservation in action: OMCa will display partially restored artworks, allowing visitors to see how the process works—and the effect it has.• Get the inside story: Wall text is multilingual and reflects the voices of many Californians, providing different perspectives on the meaning of California history.

interactivityenGaGInG VIsITORs TO

paRTICIpaTe

• Chill out: Visit the loaded lounges and

listen to a 1940s jukebox or read

about California’s literary heritage.

• Get playful: Imagine you’re a gold miner,

rancher, or railroad magnate in our

interactive exhibits.

• Share your story: Tell us a bit about

yourself in the story booth or on the

Immigration Map.

“History is made up of individual stories, and OMCA is a platform for bringing these stories out. We’re not here to be the textbook of California history. We’re not aiming for encyclopedic coverage. We’re trying to evoke the notion that there are all these stories out there and that visitors’ stories are just as valid.” —Louise Pubols, Chief Curator of History

scienceSCINtILLAtING

“The Gallery of California Natural Sciences will inspire visitors about California’s natural resources, raise awareness of the state’s environmental challenges, and strengthen their sense of place and responsibility toward the natural landscape that we share and treasure.” —Douglas Long, Chief Curator of Natural Sciences

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> the new Gallery of California Natural Sciences will invite Californians to explore, appreciate, and sustain the wonders of nature in our own backyard. Scheduled for completion in 2012, the Gallery is being reconceived in partnership with leading community groups and conservation organizations, including the Nature Conservancy California, Golden Gate Audubon Society, Bay Nature, East Bay Regional Parks, and yMCA of the East Bay. Plans are to contemporize dioramas and engage visitors with re-creations of different California habitats, including Point Reyes, yosemite, and Oakland itself. By fostering a deeper connection to these and other treasured places, the Gallery aims to spark a sense of urgency about today’s threatened ecosystems and nurture grassroots actions to protect them. Stay tuned for developments on this exciting work in progress—and drop by the Gallery to test prototypes and contribute your ideas.

the reimAGined GAllery of cAliforniA nAturAl sciences will

explore the stAte As A resource-rich

but ecoloGicAlly chAllenGed hot spot

scienceSCINtILLAtING

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sustainabilityspaRkInG new Ideas TO pROTeCT

OuR enVIROnMenT

• Get inspired: Apply what you learn

from our ecologists to your own

environment.

• Hear the call of the wild: discover

California’s natural treasures, from

yosemite to the marine sanctuaries.

communityeMbRaCInG THe dIVeRsITy THaT

enHanCes OuR lIVes

• Collaborate: Share ideas and input—

and help shape exhibits.

• Get involved: Participate in our

neighborhood programs, hikes, and

bike tours—and get to know your

own backyard.

Go with the FlowMAPPING thE BAy AREA’S

CREEK SyStEM

ecologist Chris-

topher Richard

has seldom met

a creek he didn’t

love. In fact, Rich-

ard, who oversees

OMCA’s creek-

mapping project,

seizes every op-

portunity to raise

awareness of the

Bay Area’s origi-

nal creek system,

much of which

has been lost to

development.

To date,

Richard, working

with partners at

William Lettis,

the san Francisco

Estuary Institute,

and The bay

Institute, has

published fifteen

maps of local

creek systems.

The work will

be visualized in

OMCA’s Gallery of

California natural

Sciences, where

the East Bay’s

waterscape will

figure prominent-

ly in a section de-

voted to Oakland

and surrounding

habitats.

Restoring

creeks to their

natural ecologi-

cal function has

many benefits,

says Richard.

not only do you

get a community

amenity, you can

return fish and

birds to their

original habi-

tats. “we try to

illustrate the path

a raindrop falling

anywhere in the

bay area would

take to reach the

Bay. The process

is both ecologi-

cally enlightening

and fun for the

discoverer.”

To that end,

Richard encour-

ages people to

pick up a map and

go out on a rainy

day for a self-

guided adventure.

“Put on slickers,

grab umbrellas,

and watch where

the rain goes.

Eventually, it will

end up in a creek.

Following water,”

adds Richard, “is

great sherlock

Holmesian fun.”

sausal CReek

walk

One of Richard’s

favorite walks is

along Oakland’s

sausal Creek.

He recommends

starting at the en-

trance to dimond

park and follow-

ing the creekside

trail to el Centro

Avenue. There,

pick up Dimond

Canyon Trail and

follow it until you

reach Highway 13.

Highlights along

this scenic two-

mile walk include

WPA projects

from 1939.

For more in-

formation on this

creek walk and

many others, visit

museumca.org.

1 6 O A K L A N D M U S E U M O F C A L I F O R N I A

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| 3 8 MILLION stories

June Yee was fourteen years old when she and her family left Hong Kong for California. The year was 1969, and many Chinese in the former british colony feared their lives would be dramatically changed by the upheaval of Mao Tse-tung’s Cultural Revolution. Taking advantage of relaxed immigration laws in the United States, many of them came to

the bay Area, where Chinese-American families had lived for generations.but if the newcomers expected a seamless transition into an established

Chinese community, they were in for a shock. “I was surprised at how much misunderstanding there was,” recalls Yee. “They called us FObs, for fresh off the boat, and they were AbCs, American-born Chinese. Ironically, we did not fit into each other’s stereotype, even though we were all Chinese. We weren’t aware of the anti-Chinese sentiment they had endured for years. And they didn’t understand our feelings about Mao, who in the ’60s was a hero for many AbCs who joined the student protests. I remember being appalled by AbCs who embraced Mao’s Little Red book.”

This disconnect is the subject of a project Yee created for OMCA, where she serves on the Asian Pacific Advisory Council. Yee is one of twenty-four Californians invited by OMCA to tell their personal stories in an exhibit called “Forces of Change: 1960–75,” in the gallery of California History. Her piece, Two Chinese Worlds in California, is an arrangement of images depicting the cultural clashes she experienced firsthand. At the center is a photograph of Yee’s marriage—to a Chinese-American man—which represents the common ground the two groups are increasingly finding.

“My piece is about how preconceived notions get in the way of understand-ing each other,” says Yee, a financial adviser who lives in the East bay. “And this is a fabulous place for me to tell my story, because OMCA is open-minded and curious and celebrates the shared experiences we have living in California.”

“I was surprised at how much mis-understanding there was. They called us FOBs, for fresh off the boat, and they were ABCs, American-born Chinese. Ironically, we did not fit each other’s stereotype.”

breaking DOWN barriersin a provocative artwork, June Yee explores conflicts and commonalities among the bay area’s divergent Chinese population

S P R I N g 2 0 1 0 1 7

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Altar(ed) StatesArtist and teacher Cesar barragan puts a fresh spin on

OMCA’s Días de los Muertos celebrations

“I love the creative spirit of the bay Area,” says Cesar barragan, an Oakland-based artist, curator, and high school teacher. born in Tijuana, barragan frequently explores issues of border politics, immi-gration, and identity in his work as well as in the ex-hibitions of contemporary art that he has curated for edgy bay Area galler-ies. “The arts scene here is inclusive and forward-looking,” he says, “and I like being involved with it on many levels.”

One way that barragan stays engaged with the arts community is through his volunteer activities at the Oakland Museum of California. He became a member, he says, because OMCA celebrates different

cultures and often shows work by Latino artists whom he knows and admires. Invited by poet and artist Rafael Jesús gonzález to join OMCA’s Días de los Muertos (Days of the Dead) Advisory Council four years ago, barragan plays a vital role in shaping the popular community event, held every year prior to the key dates of October 31 through November 2.

“Días de los Muertos is a Mesoamerican tradition that combines respectful remembrance and joy,” explains barragan. “We honor it with a celebra-tion of music, food, and altars.” Many of the iconic elements associated with Días de los Muertos—such as skeletons, sugar skulls, and marigolds—are avail-able at OMCA, so people can incorporate them into

their own altars to honor the deceased. Two years ago, barragan encouraged his high school students to create altars honoring immigrants who died while crossing the border, and the results were displayed in front of OMCA.

For barragan, Días de los Muertos is not only an opportunity for artistic expression, it’s a family

affair. His wife, lawyer Vylma Ortiz, and their two young sons are active par-ticipants in the annual tra-dition. “We go to OMCA all year long, but we especially love Días de los Muertos,” says Ortiz. “It’s anchored in tradition, but OMCA always makes it contem-porary. It’s all about going forward without detracting from your roots.”

Cesar barragan with his wife, Vylma Ortiz, and their sons,

two-year-old Mario and seven-year-old Diego.

1 8 O A K L A N D M U S E U M O F C A L I F O R N I A

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| CALENDAR

museum trips, tours, AND programsAPRIL

april 19 • History guild Day trip: Historic Lighthouses of san Francisco baySee lighthouses from aboard the Delphinus. Contact: mary Lou Ciranni (650-345-9031) or Helen tryon (510-834-2964)

april 28–30 • History guild trip: Historic sierra nevada Chief Curator of History Emeritus Tom Frye leads this trip to

Left to right: a

picturesque bay

Area lighthouse; an

illustration by Miné

Okubo

a WHopper oF a saLethe annual White elephant sale is a colossal (and colossally fun)fundraiser for the oakland museum of California

Once a year, the Oakland Museum Women’s board presents the sale to end all sales, with proceeds from the two-day event supporting OMCA’s pro-grams and exhibitions. Attended by thousands of people, who come from all over the state to rummage through a veritable treasure trove of donated goods, the sale is the biggest of its kind in Northern California. Now in its 51st year, the sale was held on March 6 and 7, 2010, and raised vital funds for OMCA’s ongoing activities. To learn more about the legendary event—and to donate to or volunteer for the 2011 sale—visit whiteelephantsale.org.

Donner Lake, Truckee, Lake Tahoe, and Nevada City.Contact: marlynn Dykstra (510-339-0371) or kay macFarland (510-758-6643)

MAY

may 1 • exhibition: miné okubo: Citizen 13660Okubo, a former assistant to Diego Rivera, was an accom-plished artist and instructor at UC berkeley when she was sent to the Tanforan internment site

during WWII. Curated by Senior Curator of Art Karen Tsujimoto, the exhibition is based on Okubo’s illustrated account of her internment. Through Sunday, August 1.

may 11–22 • History guild trip: Colonial america Visit historic sites where our nation’s independence was born, fought for, and won. Contact: mary Lou Ciranni (650-345-9031) or kay macFarland (510-758-6643)

may 13–18 • art guild trip: Connecticut CanvasThe tour includes visits to artists’ studios, private collections, and small museums, and ends at the Mayflower Inn and Spa. Contact: Candy Caldwell (925-283-0269) or sandy Wolfe (925-284-2838)

may 16 • bike tour: oakland on two Wheels Explore Oakland with the Mu-seum’s bike-tripping docents. Participants must be 12 or older.

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Clockwise from

far left: Pixar’s

Ratatouille; Phila-

delphia’s Indepen-

dence Hall; instal-

lation view, Mark Dion: Microcos-mographia, South

London gallery,

London, 2006.

MuseuM HoursMonday Closed

Tuesday Closed

Wednesday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Saturday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Second Friday of Month 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Contact: tik thurston (510-865-4507) or tik.thurston@gmail.com

June 6 • Free First sundaysAdmission free to visitors all day. Made possible by Wells Fargo.

June 8–12 • History guild trip: ashland This trip to the Oregon Shake-speare Festival features plays, lectures, and a special “Feast of Will” dinner. Contact: mary Lou Ciranni (650-345-9031) or Helen tryon (510-834-2964) June 11 • omCa relaunches our popular late-Friday programs

June 20 • Family explorations! Join us for fun family activities. Made possible by Chevron.

June 20 • bike tour: oakland on two WheelsExplore Oakland with the Mu-seum’s bike-tripping docents. Participants must be 12 or older. bring your own bikes, helmets,

and repair kits. Meet at the main entrance to OMCA on Oak Street at 10 a.m. Free. Contact: 510-238-3514 or docentcenter@museumca.org

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS

pixar: 25 Years of animation July 31, 2010–January 9, 2011An in-depth look at the creative work behind the Emeryville-based studio’s acclaimed films.

the marvelous museum: a project by mark Dionseptember 11, 2010– march 6, 2011Drawing on overlooked treasures from the Museum’s collections, Mark Dion creates site-specific installations and interventions.

please visit museumca.org for more information about upcoming exhibitions.

bring your own bikes, helmets, and repair kits. Meet at the main entrance to OMCA on Oak Street at 10 a.m. Free. Contact: 510-238-3514 or docentcenter@museumca.org

may 28–June 7 • art guild trip: berlin 20 Years after the Wall, plus Leipzig and prague (with optional extension to Vienna June 7–10) Explore the superb contempo-rary architecture and design of post-reunification berlin, and visit historic Leipzig and Prague. Contact: Candy Caldwell (925-283-0269) or Judy Wood (925-254-7047)

JUNE

June 4 • natural sciences guild Day trip: Creepy Crawl-ers at olompali state park Join Chief Curator Douglas Long on a search for snakes and lizards, salamanders and frogs, spiders and scorpions—or what Long calls “uncharismatic microfauna.”

you’re

invited!

oakland museum of California

1000 Oak Street

Oakland, CA 94607-4892

NONPROFIT ORGU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSALT LAKE CITY, UTPERMIT NO.6563

Enjoy a snEak

prEviEw

don’t Miss our opening celebration weekend

presented by target

OF THE NEW gALLERIES AT A SPECIAL MEMbER/INSIDER OPEN HOUSE, APRIL 29, 11 A.M.–9 P.M.

FREE AdMISSION TO THE PUBLICMAY 1, 11 A.M.–MAY 2, 6 P.M.