cool Burning Man

Burning Man principles

Some of the fashions

A new temple outside the museum!

Blogger with Karen and Suzy ~ happy women

Suzy arranged our Oakland Museum outing yesterday and it was quite fun.
Burning Man intrigues me, but I would never go due to crowds and heat, so
this exhibit was ten times better. Then we three had lunch at the Tribune
Tower and all in all, a delightful day.

off to Oakland

I know, I know ~ we have so damn many museums here in SF and yet I
still rank the Oakland Museum as one of my favorites. I went here
Wednesday to have lunch with Ken (the person, not the car) who used
to work with me way back in the day at Barnes and Noble. Good
food at the museum cafe and so much to see. I love their contemporary
California artists upstairs and this one by Nathan Oliviera is special.
Lots of Joan Brown too and we all know how much I love her work.
(I wasn't wild about the exhibit of changing lights and blow-ups, it
reminded me of those horrid xmas front lawn santas and snow men.)

so then, so now

I met Ginger at the Oakland Museum yesterday to see the extensive
exhibit of Black Panther art, writing, history and memorabilia. We
had such hope back then in the 70's when we were young. The
Panthers consisted of many women, I didn't realize that. We think of
the young black men with rifles, but this exhibit pointed out the
free medical clinics, school lunch programs, legal counsel and all
the education that was accomplished during this time. Very well
done, well attended and inspiring.

more altars, more memories

Ruth Asawa by her grand daughter - all in origami

Yesterday I met Joe and Pamela at the Oakland Museum. First we had
lunch outside on the cafe patio, then we toured the Rituals + Remembrance
special exhibit which celebrates memorials in different cultures. Again,
I highly recommend this and you can visit it through January 3rd.

the butterfly, the noodles

1974 - Judy Chicago in Oakland

Shan Dong on 10th Street

Yesterday we met Ginger at the Oakland Museum to see the video of
"A Butterfly for Oakland" by Judy Chicago, one of our favorite feminist
artists. We stopped in the store so I could see my ex-boss, Mike, and
he recommended Shan Dong for lunch. Homemade noodles and
dumplings and truly one of the best Chinese restaurants that we have
ever been to. And cheap, cash only!

the bay bridge

Peter Stackpole was only about 20 when the bridge workers invited him to
climb up with them and take photos (imagine!) and we benefit from his talent
over at the Oakland Museum. Yesterday we took BART out of the fog into
Oakland's sunshine, meeting Ginger and poking around this really excellent
little museum. I love the room filled with Joan Brown paintings too. Then we
had lunch outside and talked about everyone and everything. A great day!

ah, the revolution

Posters of the 70's

1968 ~ the War

1968 ~ the reality

There are two excellent exhibits at the Oakland Museum. The first just
concentrates on the year 1968, when we took to the streets in huge
numbers. Opposing Vietnam (that waste of a war), and then finally, it
seems, women and minorities found their voices. The Poster exhibit
is one man's vast collection and includes some of our favorites
including Fuck Housework which Ginger had on display in her garage and
lots of the famous psychedelic music group posters. I highly recommend
both of these shows ~ 1968 is detailed and really quite sad, the posters
are reminders of how much further we have to go. We didn't quite
achieve that Revolution, alas.

After the museum Ginger, Husbando and I lunched at the Joy Luck in
Oakland's Chinatown. Lots of pretty good food and quite inexpensive.
A really fine day and always that puzzle as to why/why/why our
neighboring city looks so unkempt when it has so much to offer.