Art
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Shit Girls Say...
Art Robert Gammon — Thu, Jan 5, 2012 at 12:23 PM
First, there was just The Shit Girls Say:
Then...
Friday, August 19, 2011
It's Worse than Fracking
Art / Politics / Environment Robert Gammon — Fri, Aug 19, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Josh Fox, the award-winning director of Gasland, one of the most disturbing environmental documentaries ever made, describes another major threat to North America — and the world — that may be even more devastating than fracking: it's the giant Tar Sands project in Alberta, Canada. To extract fossil fuels trapped in sand, energy companies are destroying a giant swath of pristine Alberta forest that is equivalent to the size of Florida, poisoning groundwater, and unleashing so much CO2 that leading climate scientists say it will make it impossible to slow the course of global warming.
Over the next two weeks, starting tomorrow, environmentalists from around the country will be meeting at the White House for a large sit-in to protest President Obama's plan to massively increase demand for tar sands fuel by okaying the planned construction of a web of pipelines throughout the United States that will ship the fuel to refineries across the nation.
As Fox says in the below must-see video, it will blow your mind:
Monday, June 27, 2011
City to Sell Kaiser Center to Redevelopment Agency
Art / Politics / People Robert Gammon — Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 1:33 PM
Based on budget proposals made by councilmembers late last week, it seems obvious that the city council plans to approve Mayor Jean Quan’s plan for the city to sell the shuttered Henry J. Kaiser Center to Oakland’s Redevelopment Agency for $28.3 million. In fact, all of the three budget proposals made by the eight councilmembers contemplate using proceeds from the sale of the Kaiser Center to help close Oakland’s $58 million general fund deficit.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Thursday Must Read: Mehserle to be Released Monday; Delta Pumps Slaughter Millions of Baby Fish
Art / Law Enforcement & Crime / Environment Robert Gammon — Thu, Jun 9, 2011 at 11:41 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle is scheduled to be released from custody on Monday after serving a short prison stint for fatally shooting unarmed train-rider Oscar Grant, the Trib reports. Grant’s family, who remains unhappy about Mehserle’s relatively light sentence, is planning a series of events over the weekend in Los Angeles. Mehserle was convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter, but the judge in the case threw out a gun-enhancement conviction that would have resulted in a much longer prison sentence.
2. Delta pumps that send freshwater to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California slaughtered six million young splittail fish last month, generating protests from environmental groups, the Chron reports. The pumps also have shredded tens of thousands of imperiled Chinook salmon since last October. But some regulators say the massive fish kills may be good news because they might be an indicator that there are more fish than previously thought.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
You Write Too Long: This Week's Feature, Bite-Sized
Art Ellen Cushing — Wed, May 4, 2011 at 2:26 PM
This week, East Bay Express music editor/resident jazz nerd Rachel "Swantanamo Bay" Swan gamely dives into one of the bigger paradoxes facing the local music scene today: Here in the Bay Area, we've got a legacy of producing great jazz music as well as great jazz musicians, with one of the best high-school jazz programs in the country (at Berkeley High) and legenday clubs lie Yoshi's. We've got a relatively arts-happy populace that appears to be more than willing to sink money into nonprofit jazz projects. So why, then, can't we sustain a jazz scene, and why do most of our best and brightest move to New York to start their careers? It's a complicated question with a complicated answer, which is why you should really read the whole thing.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
You Write Too Long: This Week's Feature, Bite-Sized
Art Ellen Cushing — Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 4:29 PM
This week, it's all about art; specifically, the toxic chemicals that show up in many commercial art supplies and which are — and have been, for decades — been causing all kinds of health gnarliness for amateur and professional artists. We're talking cancer, chronic diseases, dizziness, headaches, and more, in addition to the significant environmental damage that comes with these toxins.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Monday Must Read: Kamala Harris Looks Unbeatable; Oakland Museum May Break from City
Art / Politics / People Robert Gammon — Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 7:02 AM
Stories you shouldn’t miss:
1. Kamala Harris appears to have built an insurmountable lead in the California attorney general’s race. According to the latest totals from the Secretary of State’s Office, the Democratic San Francisco DA leads Republican Steve Cooley by more than 40,000 votes. As of Friday, there were an estimated 500,000 ballots left to count, the Chron reported. And many of the uncounted ballots are in voter-rich Los Angeles County, where Harris is pummeling Cooley, even though it’s his home, 53 percent to 39 percent.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Oakland's First Friday Art Murmur Going Ahead As Planned
Art / Breaking News / Law Enforcement & Crime Ellen Cushing — Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 3:08 PM
Despite the reaction to ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle’s sentencing this afternoon, it looks like many of Downtown Oakland’s cultural events will still be happening tonight: Florence and the Machine are still set to play their sold-out show at the Fox Theater, according to a representative from the box office, and folks from Mama Buzz and Rock Paper Scissors Collective said First Friday Art Murmur will go on as usual, though Ara Jo at Rock Paper Scissors said there will be three security guards instead of the usual two stationed around 23rd Street and Telegraph. The Uptown, which is set to host Birds and Batteries tonight, isn’t answering its phone.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Video: East Bay Express Home Grown Party 2010
Art / Media Kathleen Richards — Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 1:36 PM
Here's video from our 2010 Best of the East Bay Home Grown Party at Jack London Square on August 6. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Oakland Arts Funding Saved for Now
Art / Breaking News Kathleen Richards — Fri, Apr 2, 2010 at 10:17 AM
Oakland's City Council did not vote on the proposed cuts to its Cultural Funding Program last night, choosing instead to wait until April 29. As we previously reported, the council, facing a $30 million budget deficit, was considering a 50 percent cut to the $1 million program, which provides important grants and loans to various artistic and cultural institutions and artists in Oakland.
According to Margo Dunlap, chair and co-founder of the Oakland Cultural Trust, and executive director of Pro Arts, the council expressed strong support for the arts, and Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente said he would not support any cuts at all. "I'm very optimistic," said Dunlap, noting that the council acknowledged that the arts are an important investment that actually produce revenue for the city.
Dunlap estimates that about 200 people showed up to the meeting to express their support — including Oakland East Bay Symphony's Michael Morgan. "It was very powerful," she said of his statement. "He’s a tremendous leader and figure for Oakland." Dunlap said she would understand if the council makes a small cut to the arts funding, but thinks it should be proportional to other cuts. Other supporters, however, do not want any cuts, and some are advocating increased funding.
Last night, however, the council did approve 15-percent cuts to elected officials' offices. The council plans to vote on the city administrator's recommendations for closing the budget deficit on April 29. Dunlap says the Oakland Cultural Trust will stay in communication with councilmembers and will be present at the April 29th meeting.
