Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. OMCA's groundbreaking exhibits tell the many stories that comprise California with many voices, often drawing on first-person accounts by people who have shaped California's cultural heritage.
Visitors are invited to actively participate in the Museum as they learn about the natural, artistic and social forces that affect the state and investigate their own role in both its history and its future. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California's dynamic cultural and environmental heritage.
Permanent Galleries
* Black Power: https://museumca.org/projects/black-power
Uncover the history of the Black Power movements in California with a compelling addition to the Gallery of California History. In response to the widely-popular 2016 exhibition All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50, this new installation will illustrate the creative ways black anti-racist activists in California supported their communities and challenged the U.S. government. Focusing on the example of the Black Panther Party, Black Power will bring to light the tensions between a culturally and socially progressive California and examples of economic racism and oppression in the state. This moment in California history will be represented through historic photographs, provocative objects, iconic posters, paintings and interactive prompts that encourage visitors to take action out in the world. Learn more about the Bay Area role in this national story, and the impacts this history continues to have today.
* Question Bridge: Black Males: https://museumca.org/projects/question-bridge-black-males
Hailed as one of the Bay Area's Top Exhibitions by the San Francisco Chronicle, Question Bridge: Black Males returns to the Oakland Museum of California's Gallery of California Art. Immerse yourself in intimate videos--woven together and arranged to simulate face-to-face conversations between participants--among a diverse group of over 160 Black men across the United States. Hear these men answer each other's questions with exceptional honesty and vulnerability, and share stories, beliefs, and values in a personal portrayal of their lives. Encompassing themes of family, love, interracial relationships, community, education, and wisdom, Question Bridge: Black Males presents nuanced portraits of past, present, and future of Black men in American society. Listen, watch, learn, and start your own conversations with this profoundly moving installation.
A recent acquisition to the Oakland Museum of California's permanent collection, Question Bridge is an innovative and widely exhibited video installation from artists Chris Johnson and Hank Willis Thomas in collaboration with Bayeté Ross Smith and Kamal Sinclair. Joining the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Brooklyn Museum, OMCA is proud to acquire this groundbreaking and poignant work for its collection.
* OMCA Kids: https://museumca.org/exhibit/omca-kids-nature-playspace
Nature Playspace is a 1800 square-foot indoor area featuring a variety of hands-on activities for young visitors to learn about nature in Oakland. From nature-themed puzzles and building materials to exhibits featuring animals that make their homes in Oakland's backyards, streams, and hills, Nature Playspace will give families a fun, safe place to play and build community with other families.
Nature Playspace is the result of a multi-year research and planning process undertaken with community partners. The development focused on creating playful learning experiences to inspire children and their caregivers, foster observation and questions and making connections with others. In addition to the space itself, the Museum has developed a family activity guide to help kids and families extend their experience throughout the OMCA galleries and campus.
OMCA Kids: Nature Playspace will open to the public Saturday, June 4, and is located in the Gallery of Natural Sciences.
read more
show less