Oakland's First Friday

                                                           First Friday - Shannon Corr

Closing in on its four year anniversary the Oakland Art Murmur is still your best bet for discovering talented emerging artists of all walks of life.  Art spaces and galleries located in the Northgate and Temescal neighborhoods continue to draw increasingly larger crowds to this monthly street party, commonly known as First Friday.  Unlike a visit to your local resplendent gallery you won't find gowns, suits or seventy five dollar bottles of wine. What you will find are eclectic works of art, music, street performers and all other manner of talent from the Bay Area's massively resourceful art scene.  Collectives such as Rock Paper Scissors are leading the way  with classes and events for all ages. This is not a new idea, many cities have been doing this for years but the difference here is most likely Oakland's diversity, location and reputation for alarming the norm.  The cross section of society represented here can be both refreshing and overwhelming.  Art Murmur remains unsoiled by the masses.  You still walk away with the feeling that you were part of and witness to an actual grass roots movement. More info here.