OAKLAND PRIDE: All you Oaklanders – if there’s an indie business or artist you really want to show your support for, here’s your chance. The Indie Awards are calling for nominations. Think of the Oakland businesses (or people) that you love to have in this town and send their names in. Two years ago, you were kind enough to nominate us and help us win the Oakland Soul award. It is someone else’s turn now.

The categories are Oakland Soul, Ripple Effect, Newbie, Greenie, Neighborhood Dynamo, Youth Empowerment, Pillar, and Innovator. To nominate or to learn more about the awards, visit oaklandindieawards.com. The deadline for the nominations is March 24.

The awards ceremonies are always a lot of fun. This year, the other exciting thing to come out of this is that the show will go up at Jack London Pavilion – where Barnes and Noble used to be. It’s sad that Oakland lost such a big bookstore, as Tammerlin Drummond points out in the Oakland Tribune. Until the new tenant comes in, the space will be used for community events. And if there’s one thing the Indies certainly are – it’s a great community event.

Oakland Indie Awards
May 14, 5.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Jack London Pavilion (formerly Barnes and Noble) in Jack London Square
Tickets: $15 each indieawards.eventbrite.com/

ART: Everyone’s favorite art collective, Rock Paper Scissors (RPS), has put out a call to artists for their April Sculptural Fiber Show, which kicks off on April 2. 

From RPS: We are looking for three-dimensional textile sculptures with an emphasis on craftsmanship and technique, such as knitting, embroidery, weaving, applique, sewing, etc. Conceptual and functional pieces will be considered. Submissions are due March 21.

Please send no more than three 300dpi JPEGs in a zip file no larger than 10mb per email to gallery@rpscollective.com. Include your contact information, as well as the medium and dimensions of the works, and the price if for sale. There is no entry fee.

CHECK OUT: This is the first Friday of the month, which means it’s time for the Oakland art murmur and art walk. This is when you'd expect that a lot of galleries would open new shows, but one gallery worth stopping by is closing its show this Friday. Metal vs. Wood/ Wood vs. Metal is showing at the Crucible’s art gallery in the Cathedral building in downtown Oakland – and like most events organized by the Crucible, warrants a second look.
 
From the press release: Both media are rooted in tradition and history, and have been utilized for their material qualities for millennia, yet contemporary artists tend to gravitate towards working with one or the other.  Encompassing a diversity of techniques, such as joinery, carving, turning, welding, forging, pouring, and machining, Metal vs. Wood showcases work that pushes the boundaries of what these materials have to offer.  

March 5, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
1603 Broadway @ Telegraph