Turntable by Joel Scilley

Winter's finally here as is the holiday shopping season. Why hit the big box retailers with their long lines when you can buy gifts made right here in Oakland by our many talented local artists and craftspeople? This December offers up many opportunities to shop locally in the town's art galleries. Here are my picks for the best -- and affordable -- art sales this December.
 
Holidayland Gift Sale
The Compound Studios and Gallery
6602/6604 San Pablo Avenue
thecompoundgallery.com/

Blankspace
6608 San Pablo Avenue
blankspacegallery.com/
Art Murmur Reception: Friday, Dec.4, 6 p.m.-10 p.m.

San Pablo Avenue, at the very edge of the Art Murmur map and near the Oakland-Berkeley border, has become an art destination with two strong art spaces calling it home. The Compound Studios and Gallery and Blankspace Gallery have again teamed up for their holiday art sale and celebration called Holidayland, which will feature two poles of art and entertainment on hand for your seasonal shopping and mirth needs. Blankspace co–director Kerri Johnson elaborates, “The idea behind this is to promote local artists and crafters. It is a way to put money in the hands of artists we’ve worked or plan to work with in the next year. We put a focus on emerging artists and conceptual ideas at Blankspace.”

This show features so many artists offering up “…original artwork, jewelry, handmade crafts, accessories, cards, ornaments, tote bags…” among other items that to list them all would take up a whole page of space easily. Among those on the list of artists for this year’s edition of Holidayland are several local names I’ve noted previously in this column: Ben Belknap, Crystal Morey, and Daniel Healey and other noteworthy folks like Bruk Dunbar, and gallery owners Kerri Lee Johnson and Jason Byers. According to the press materials, you’ll also have the opportunity to get, “ …your holiday photo taken in our themed photo booth (proceeds go to Art in Oakland Schools) and spin the Wheel o' bounty for prizes.” This sounds like a more interesting shopping plan than visiting a crowded mall -- affordable art and crafts, entertainment and tamales from Tina Tamale of La Borinqueña? Sounds like my kind of shopping experience.

Eastside’s Open House & Holiday Art Sale

Eastside Cultural Center
2277 International Boulevard
eastsideartsalliance.com/
Reception: Friday, Dec.11, 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
 

With the press the Uptown and Western sections of Oakland receive, it can be easy to overlook great spaces and arts organizations in other parts of town -- like The Eastside Arts Alliance. For years, they’ve mentored at risk youth, engaged in progressive activism, and put together community minded events like The Malcolm X Jazz Arts Fest. They serve as a bright beacon in an area that has seen more than its share of blight. I should well know. I grew up there. I expect folks like Favianna Rodriguez who organized the epic mural that adorns the entrance of the in renovation Oakland Museum and legendary aerosol artist Estria Miyashiro will be participating as they are both co-founders of this organization. Support the community, affordable art, free entertainment, and a little education on the side. Huh, kinda hard to argue against going to this one. It’s on the early side too, making hitting other art shows this night a snap.

Shop/Show

Swarm Gallery
560 Second Street
swarmgallery.com/
Reception: Friday, Dec.11, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Svea Lin Soll’s Swarm Gallery will doing a curated “pop-up shop” show of affordable art goods. Of the featured artists, two -- John Casey and Nathaniel Parsons -- have been featured as past picks in this column and another, David Higgins, was one of eleven artists in Art@TheOakbook’s “Improvised Branches” exhibition. In addition, a great emerging art publisher/bookseller, Rowan Morrison, will be selling some thoughtfully designed publications. Here’s some more info: Merchandise includes limited edition t-shirts for everyone by Oakland's favorite home grown brand, Oaklandish; t-shirts printed with work by John Casey, Terry Furry, Sarah A. Smith and Jake Watling; art books by great artists like Jason Jagel and Andrew Schoultz, and self-published zines and autobiographical art by artists such as Alika Cooper and Paul Solis and Ashley Jones; hand-crafted toys for big kids by David Higgins and Nathaniel Parsons; framed work on paper by John Casey and Treasure Frey; sculptural jewelry you won't be able to resist buying for yourself by M.E.Moore; unique Sgraffito tiles by Todd Barricklow and fabulous and fun installations by Sarah A. Smith and others. Count me in. I’ll be the guy buying the John Casey tee around 6.

Editor's note: Below, we feature the art@theOakbook's holiday show. Full disclosure -- The OakBook runs art@theoakbook.

A Long Way From The Cabbage Patch
Art@TheOakbook’s Inaugural Holiday Art Show
ART@TheOakbook
423 Water Street (across from Barnes and Noble in Jack London Square)
Opening Reception: Friday, December 11, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The show runs through January 9, 2010

This holiday season, Art@theOakBook invites you to discover the work of six local emerging artists who who have gotten positive critical accolades on the local and/or national level.  

Each and every artist in this show has been “vetted” by critics and journalists as artists well worth watching.

Art@theOakBook's holiday show is your chance to buy affordable art by Marcos LaFarga, Kevin Earl Taylor, Jake Watling, Savanna Snow, Theo Konrad Auer,and Joel Scilley. Here's an opportunity to make an investment in your community by starting up or augmenting your art collection on the cheap.

Joel Scilley’s Ipod docks have been noted as a “much buy holiday gift under $100 “ by the New York Times. Theo Konrad Auer’s photos have been heralded by DeWitt Cheng of The East Bay Express and have appeared on Fecalface Dot Com among other websites and magazines. Kevin Earl Taylor, Jake Watling, and Savanna Snow’s art has been covered in Juxtapoz and other media outlets.  Marcos LaFarga’s art has received kudos from Swee(t)art Magazine and from The Oakbook. 

All works are priced to sell from less than $100 to $300. Sold work is available for pick-up/shipping one week before Christmas. On Friday, December 11, expect a few holiday surprises and good company at art@theOakbook