SFBayStyle

Oakland Asian Cultural Center Chinatown Oral History Project

San Francisco Chinatown is known around the world, but hey, Oakland Chinatown is pretty fab too. Located downtown, Oakland Chinatown has a fascinating history going back to the 1850s making it one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America. This Saturday afternoon, September 19, The Oakland Asian Cultural Center (OACC) is having an exhibit opening and website launch party celebrating the rich history of Oakland Chinatown.

In 1984 the OACC was founded to preserve the history and culture of Oakland Chinatown. Since then the all volunteer organization has sponsored many cultural and artistic events. Their latest endeavor is The Oakland Chinatown Oral History Project, which is a series of taped interviews with Oakland Chinatown residents discussing their lives, families, and community.

David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow in Walnut Creek

 

 

Richard Aiello, Stephen Rexrode, and Sylvia Boboeck star in Speed-the-Plow

What's better than a good story? A good story told well and that's what Role Players Ensemble offers with their Black Box production of David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow, opening Friday September 18 at Diablo Actors Ensemble in Walnut Creek and featuring local actors Richard Aiello as Bobby Gould, Sylvia Boboeck as Karen and Stephen Rexrode as Charles Fox.

Set in Hollywood's ruthless entertainment industry, Speed-the-Plow centers on the dealings of two successful movie producers and a mysterious temporary secretary who unwittingly (or not?) upsets the balance of power. The original production of Mamet's play opened on Broadway in 1988 and starred Madonna as the secretary, Karen. A recent Broadway revival featured Mad Men's, Elisabeth Moss.

Speed-the-Plow, Diablo Actors Ensemble Theatre, 1345 Locust Street, Walnut Creek, September 18, 19, 25, 26, 8PM. Tickets will be sold only at the door and are a steal at $12. They'll go quickly, so call 925-820-1278 for reservations. NOTE: this show is not suitable for young children.

More Photos from SF Symphony Gala

We're not the only ones showcasing some of the great looking ensembles from events, but that doesn't mean we don't know our readers like to see the photos too. Here are some of our favorites from this year's San Francisco Symphony Gala, to complement our full article. All photos provided by Drew Altizer Photography.

Pamela Joyner pictured left.

SF Symphony Opening Night Gala Sizzled with Style

Wednesday night's San Francisco Symphony Opening Gala introduced the new arts season with thoughtful music, fine delectables, and throngs of fetching gowns. As the sun set on the warm Bay Area, the event kept buzzing. Turning up the heat, the concert featured one of People magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive," Lang Lang, the 27 year-old piano virtuoso and a trio of dizzying waltzes conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.

The evening began with cocktails and parallel dinner events organized by the San Francisco Symphony League and Symphonix, the young professional league. McCall's catered, and everything looked grand, beginning in the tent pavilion, City Hall, and of course Davies Symphony Hall where patrons flocked for the main event.

Treasures from The Mexican Museum at the Palo Alto Art Center

For those who think it's too far, time-consuming or expensive to get to Mexico, fear not - there are ways to bring Mexico to us. The Palo Alto Art Center will present Treasures from The Mexican Museum: A Spirited Legacy from September 26, 2009 through April 18, 2010. If you've ever heard of The Mexican Museum, maybe you know it's the first and the oldest-operating museum outside of Mexico and the world to exhibit Mexican and Mexican-American art and culture. The collection at The Mexican Museum represents a treasury with a collection of over 12,000 objects spanning thousands of years of art and culture in the Americas. 

The Mexican Museum is located in the Mission District for visits any time, and the Palo Alto Center will highlight this particular collection, featuring five focal areas of acquisition: Pre-Conquest (Pre-Hispanic or Pre-Columbian) Art; Art of Colonial Mexico (1521-1821); Modern and Contemporary Mexican and Latino Art; Arte Popular (Folk or Popular Art,) and Chicano Art over the next six months.

So if you're looking to get inspired, see historical art, or just want to get out of the house, check out the exhibit at the Palo Alto Art Center. It's free -- that's also nice.

Black & White Photo Retrospective from Oscar de la Renta Show in Tahoe

Included here are some exquisite photographs from last weekend's Oscar de la Renta fashion show in Lake Tahoe.

The credit for this entirely belongs to Drew Altizer who took all of these amazing photos and thought to put them into black and white for posterity.  We just thought it would be nice to do one article with all images in black-and-white. Enjoy!

First image, left, is of Brenda Zarate and Jonathan Lazar.

Symphonix Gala Preview Event - Educational and Entertaining

It's hard to believe another exciting season of galas and events is just around the corner. The challenge of introducing each new generation to classical music can be daunting, but as one of the premiere arts organizations in the country, the San Francisco Symphony has been working tirelessly to make this happen. Through the symphony's Volunteer Council, they have several Leagues that support the efforts of the symphony organization by helping with concerts, planning events, providing education and raising awareness. Symphonix, the "young professional" (ages 21-45) League plans their own event series leading up to the Opening Night Gala each year. The first of these events happened last week in San Francisco.

John Baldessari Exhibition at the Legion of Honor

An exhibition of the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his family foundation's John Baldessari prints is now open at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.

The exhibition consists of a retrospective of over 100 prints by John Baldessari, an American conceptual artist famous for his influential collage-like prints. Baldessari has been creating and teaching art for over 50 years and has won many awards, including the recent 2009 Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award at the 53rd International Venice Biennale.

The exhibition runs through November 8th.

Renegade Craft Fair

 

Renegade crafts? Ah, yeah, we're there! It's the second annual Renegade Craft Fair this weekend, July 18-19, 11am to 7pm, at Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion in San Francisco.  

Over 200 artists from around the country are settin' up and selling their handcrafted wares. One-of-a-kind goodies like clothing, jewelry, stationary, bath products, ceramics, oh my! Think holiday gifts. Think birthdays. Think unique looks pour vous. Also, for crafty types, there will be DIY workshops -learn how to make stylin' bangles, brooches, and earrings out of old toys. 

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs

    

The de Young Museum entrance in 1979

In 1979 the hippie look was nearing its end, Disco was in, gas cost 86 cents a gallon, and the San Francisco de Young Museum hosted the King Tutankamun exhibit to great fanfare. Mayor Gavin Newsom was 11 years old at the time and recalls the crowds and the spectacle. Lindy Sherwood-Combs, Senior Vice-President Northern Trust, says she was slightly older than Mayor Newsom in '79, "I was a kid in Fresno and I came with my parents all dressed up, including white gloves."

Now through March 28, 2010 at the de Young Museum, new generations will have their chance to create lasting memories and get inspired by the wonders of King Tutankhamun.

King Tut Returns - June 27, 2009

  

Our favorite boy king Tutankhamun returns to the San Francisco de Young Museum after 30 years. Here's a cheat sheet before you go.

• Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt's 18th Dynasty.
• He was nine years old when he became pharaoh in 1333 BC.
• He died mysteriously at age 19.
• The tomb of King Tut, as we affectionately call him, was discovered intact in 1922 by British archaeologist Howard Carter.
• Discovery of the tomb created an international buzz that influenced art, architecture, and fashions throughout the 1920s. 
• Fifty of the artifacts made their first international tour in 1979.
• Eight million people attended.
• The current exhibit includes 130 artifacts - 50 from King Tut's tomb and 80 from the tombs of other pharaohs and royalty.
• A portion of the proceeds from this world tour will go to help preserve Egypt's treasures and construction of a new museum in Cairo.
• Sponsors include National Geographic and Northern Trust.
• The museum has set up a (not-to-be-missed)Tut webpage full of information and e-cards and a podcast interview with designer of the exhibit, Mark Lach.

Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs, de Young Museum, 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive, SF, 415-750-3600, June 27, 2009 through March 28, 2010. Just like in '79, you must purchase tickets in advance.

http://tutsanfrancisco.org/content/tickets

Composer Philanthropist Gordon Getty Honored by Lavish Gala Performance

"The older I get, the less I know, but I am certain that what we do matters." - from Master Class, music by Jake Heggie, lyrics by Terrence McNally

Gordon Getty is one of those names one automatically associates with San Francisco and the arts, but not everyone knows that he was a student of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Bay Area equivalent to Julliard.  Years later, Getty donated funds to help build the new Recital Hall, named after Getty's principal teacher there, Sol Joseph.  Among his many talents, Getty is also a composer, so it's fitting that for their gala this year, the Conservatory honored Gordon Getty with a performance for him including pieces written by him, to thank him for his passion and generosity over the years.

Artists Warehouse Sale

  

Calling all art collectors, or want-to-be collectors. The sixteenth annual artists warehouse sale is open at the SF MOMA gallery on Fort Mason.  This is your chance to purchase art directly from Bay Area artists. You never know what treasure you may discover. Art pieces are priced in all ranges.

The gallery is open Thursday May 7th from noon-8pm, Friday May 8, noon-8pm,Saturday May 9th from noon-5:30 and Sunday May 10th from noon-4pm. Sale is open to the public, free of charge.

An Unforgettable Evening to Benefit Ballet San Jose

Ballet San Jose recently hosted a new, intriguing event, "Unforgettable: An Evening of Glamorous Fashion and Exotic Collectible Automobiles" featuring local designer, Azadeh, including a runway show of her exquisite, custom gowns. Azadeh is a former designer for the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, who formerly served as the head designer for Bebe stores nationwide. She has run a successful and well-respected couturier salon in the Bay Area for over ten years.

Revelers arrived at Club Auto Sport, a "condominium" facility in San Jose designed to house high-end cars, and were encouraged to take photographs with the rare autos while nibbling on gourmet food and wine provided by local sponsors. After 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the custom cars -- my favorite was a vintage Mercedes Benz -- party-goers were seated for the beginning of the fashion show.

Art For Aids Auction

The 12th annual Art For Aids auction will take place this Friday, October 3rd.  Support the U.C.S.F. Aids Health Project by bidding on pieces that have been donated by galleries and the artists themselves. (I hear there is a Chagall that was donated for this event.)  The silent auction and reception start at 5:30pm with the live auction starting at 6:45pm. Tickets cost $75.00.  Please call 415-502-7276 for more information.

Spared from the Storm, in its last month at Stanford

Don't miss your last chance to see Spared From the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art, now on view at the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University through October 4, 2008. Over 80 drawings, paintings, and sculptures by some of the most significant artists in history are included, representing only a portion of the New Orleans Museum of Art's diverse and comprehensive collection which was spared from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It comes as no surprise given the history of New Orleans that the exhibit is undoubtedly rich in French works, including such artists as Bucher, Vigee-Lebrun, Degas, and Braque, but the exhibit also includes equally interesting works by Picasso, Magritte, O'Keefe, Cassatt, Cornell, and many others. The artistic range and profound variety makes this exhibit particularly fascinating.

Spared From the Storm: Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art
on view now through October 4, 2008
Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
328 Lomita Dr (at Museum Way)
Stanford CA 95305

Free tours of the exhibition on Thursdays at 12:15 pm and Saturdays/Sundays at 2pm.
This exhibit was organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art to benefit its Katrina Recovery Fund.

Walker and Bowes Glass Pumpkin Patch

The San Francisco Bay Area is sweltering at the moment. With temperatures in the double digits Fall should not be on my mind. I am resisting buying cashmere, and winter clothes, as I am too hot too carry the shopping bags.Then I stumbled, luckily just figuratively upon the Walker and Bowes Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Stanford Mall. Thousands of one of a kind glass pumpkins are on display throughout the mall. The pumpkins look as if they have just sprouted up in front of the shops. Pumpkins will be available for purchase on Aug. 29- Sept 1, Sept. 5-7, and Sept. 12-14. Proceeds from sales benefit local charities. Hard to believe that fall is just around the corner.

There will be an artist reception on Sept. 5th, from 5- 7:30 in Bloomingdales on the second floor.

Kiss of the Wolf fashions come to the American Craft Council Show this Weekend

Fashionistas listen up! For a bit of couture treatment head over this weekend to the annual American Craft Council show, Herbst and Festival Pavilions, Fort Mason and find Kiss of the Wolf, located in booth #112 in the Herbst building.

Mother/daughter team, Lori Bacigalupi and Serene Bacigalupi are the designers behind Kiss of the Wolf (a translation of the family name), creating fabulous women's clothing primarily in silk. Known for their hand painted fabrics in vivid colors, the Bacigalupis have created a following doing high end craft shows around the country for the past 25  years. "It's really a collaborative process," says Serene, who joined the family business in 2007. "Customers come into the  booth, try on designs they like and then we discuss together what color combinations they prefer." Like couture, each piece is custom made to fit.
 

The Bacigalpuis say they attract women who want one-of-a-kind pieces. "Our customers are sophisticated women," says Lori. "They want quality and they want style." And Kiss of the Wolf delivers, using unique techniques including direct dye, Japanese shibori, batik, and silkscreen. The collection is made up of separates that can be layered, mixed and matched.

Fashion Show & New Designer Launch Friday

Our friends at The A-List are hosting a "Glitz and Glamour" fashion show at the Weinstein Gallery (picture Matisse, Dali, Picasso) this Friday, 6:30-9:30pm. The event kicks off (literally) with a cocktail reception and shoe show, followed by a fashion show at 8pm(ish), featuring the 2009 "Lady in White" Collection, followed by desserts and entertainment. And if you still want to party, follow the crowd to Slide. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Find tickets and information here.

Have local designer wish? Go to the WELL

Among the increasingly interesting array of stores and restaurants lining Telegraph Avenue in the Temescal District of Oakland inhabits one of the most unique and visionary stores I have found in a long time. I don't have a lot of spare time in general, so at this point a store has to capture my interest immediately or I am likely to forget it. In the case of WELL, they had me from the first moment I stepped up to the window.

Dubbed a "resource center for art design and balance, helping to connect independent designers and artists to the Oakland Community and beyond," the WELL carries an array of jewelry, clothing, accessories, art, and natural healing products and services from local and nearby designers such as AC Clothing and Bags, Oaklandish, Small Cynz, Greenbelts, Pretty fun, Cozy Rampage, Sofina, The Weekend Store, Culture Consumer, Mats!?, Super Sugar Ray Ray, Necessary Voodoo, Rx Designs, Cara Lydon Designs, Rag Trader, Field Day Wearables, and more.