Two Oakland neighborhoods poised for rapid redevelopment are the focus of “Pieces of Oakland,” a multimedia exhibit currently on display at Warehouse 416.
Hanging across the gallery’s brick walls are four large plywood panels, which comprise the exhibit’s main displays. At every panel’s center is an official planning map of either the Lake Merritt BART Station area or West Oakland, two neighborhoods that will be directly impacted by the City of Oakland’s redevelopment plans. A web of photographs depicting cityscapes and local residents surround the maps.
In contrast to these contemporary photos is a small collection of archival images underscoring Oakland’s rich history and the vibrant community it has evolved into. Each image is traceable to an exact location on the map.
One scene traced to West Oakland by photographer Anne-Marie Ross depicts a row of old but stately Victorian homes, crested by a modern high-rise only blocks away.
“My goal was to engage people with different backgrounds and perspectives,” said curator Chelsea Wurms, an Oakland resident herself. “I wanted them to talk with each other about their values and visions. Having interned with local government in the past gave me a sense of what the planning process is about, and about the need to translate that in new and more engaging ways for the public.”
Wurms pitched her idea to a group of local photographers back in September 2013, noting, “the official planning documents use photographs, maps, charts, and text to suggest how the neighborhoods should be activated and changed.” Likewise, “this project will use these media to portray the life of these neighborhoods as they are now — diverse, enduring, and constantly changing.” The photographers were also encouraged to collect residents’ reflections on their neighborhoods, excerpts of which were included in the exhibition.
The gallery held two opening receptions last Thursday and Friday, drawing visitors from Oakland’s Art Murmur crowd, members of the city’s planning department, various advocacy groups, and even Mayor Quan.
Participating photographers include former Laney students Anna Quichocho Davis, Anne-Marie Ross, and Suzanne Olmos, as well as Pendarvis Harshaw, Stephen Texeira, and Linnea Zulch.
“Pieces of Oakland” can be visited every Saturday in September from 1–5 p.m. at Warehouse 416, located at 416 26th Street in Oakland. The closing reception is on September 27th and open to the public.