Showing posts with label Obi Kaufman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obi Kaufman. Show all posts

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Indie Biz of the Week and other tidbits August 8th

Indie Biz of the Week
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Urban Ore
So I am sure you all know about Urban Ore, but I have recently rediscovered how great it is. Until recently I had no particular hard to find item that I was in want or need of until I started restructuring the store area of Blankspace and then I began to realize I needed to take a walk over and check out the goods.

Not too surprisingly I found what I needed, some decent base board and some other cool stuff. Well... I may be getting a bit addicted to going over and checking what new items they have. Mostly I don't need a thousand old doors or windows, but I find a bit of inspiration from being around all the old wood and furniture.

The best part for me is that the people who work there seem to being going back to the old ways (I am referring to the old location in Berkeley) when you could haggle and often come away with free stuff included in your purchase. That makes me happy to be able to haggle a bit, for a while it was frustrating to go in and get attitude AND pay high prices at a salvage shop.


Most of the uber hipsters of the past have moved on to working record shops or install crews at various arts institutions, being replaced by some nice folks who have cute style and nice demeanor, yay, yay.

If you have never been, it is worth checking out.
Urban Ore
900 Murray St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 841-7283
Open Mon-Sat 8:30am-7pm; Sun 10am-7pm
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What's up at Blankspace?
We just re-opened this past Friday (hence the late blog post) August 7th with "How Do You Know" a group exhibit of 16 Irish Artists curated by Gallery 126 in Galway, Ireland.

The opening went smooth and was well attended. We had our neighbors two piece band called Front Junk playing outside between the galleries, fun stuff. We were also celebrating the opening of Obi Kaufmann's new space called Sweet[art] gallery. Located next door on the 6602 side of the Compound Studios. Yay Obi.


The show at Blankspace runs through August 30th. Come by and check it out.


In other news I rearranged the gallery store and brought in some cute new items. I am very excited to launch our online site, if all things go well it will launch at the beginning of September...I will keep you posted. I also created a mural for the back wall, it had been a while since I had done a wall drawing, so I just went for it..here is a pic.














Friday, February 27, 2009

Indie Biz of the Week

Well another week has gone by and it is time once again for the Indie Biz of the week posting. Before I get to it though I wanted to talk a short bit about how excited I am that Blankspace will be celebrating 3 years this coming March!! Stay tuned for more updates on that..

Anyway, I am also posting some great events that are happening this weekend right below the Indie Biz of the week. Enjoy....


INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Slash Jeans in Berkeley, CA is the indie biz of the week. I think this is one of the best places to find the perfect pair of jeans. Period.

I hate shopping for jeans, they are either way to long or made for girls with no booty. When Jason and I walked in to Slash for the first time we were like kids in a candy store. First of all let me say, a little sheepishly, that I was painfully unaware that Slash had started selling new jeans, we had been searching for the holy grail of jeans all over the country, and all along the store was literally right up the street from us. The last time I was there was to go to the fabulous basement filled with hundreds of great vintage jeans, cords, you name it, but the new upstairs section...absolutely yummy.

The "jeans lady" as people refer to her, is super nice and helpful and seems to know everything there is to know about jeans. I told her what I was looking for, she looked me up and down and then proceeded to pull about 12 pairs of jeans for me to try on. I really like that they encourage you to walk to the dressing room with a Doctor Seuss like pile of jeans in your arms, none of this 3 items or less.

Anyway, I did end up finding the perfect jeans for me, that fit like butter. I think I may wear them more than anything else in my wardrobe, it it time for me to go back and get another pair. Skinny jeans are everywhere in this store...BUT there are also many other great styles in stock if skinny is not your thing.

Bonus: they will hem any pair of pant for you, and they do a great job.

What more can I say, check them out for yourself, I think you will fall in love like I did. I believe everyone should treat themselves to a great pair of jeans at least once a year.

SLASH 2840 College Ave
(between Russell St & Stuart St)
Berkeley, CA 94705
(510) 665-5994


Hours:

Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m.--7:00p.m. , Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m



WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND TOWN THIS WEEKEND



Southern Exposure's 9th Annual Monster Drawing Rally

Friday, February 27, 2009
6:00 – 11:00 PM
Donation: $5 & UP
Event Location: Verdi Club
2424 Mariposa Street (between Hampshire and Potrero Streets)

Southern Exposure announces the 9th Annual Monster Drawing Rally at the Verdi Club, a live drawing and fundraising event featuring over 130 artists. (shameless self promotion alert- Kerri and Jason have drawings that will be raffled in the "Drawing Drawing" later in the evening)

Providing the basic necessities of the drawing practice--pencils, charcoal, pens, markers, ink, and paper--Southern Exposure creates the context while the artists create the content of the drawings. The evening will consist of four one-hour shifts with approximately 30 artists drawing simultaneously each hour. As the drawings are completed they will be hung on the walls and available for purchase for $60 each. The Monster Drawing Rally promises to be an action-packed spectacle you won't want to miss!

more info soex.org


Blankspace presents:

Straight Talk: First Time Home Buyers Workshop

Saturday, February 28th 10-11:30AM

Space is limited so please RSVP at info@blankspacegallery.com
subject line: straight talk

Blankspace is hosting a free workshop for anyone that is interested in trying to purchase his or her first home. This will be an informal information session bringing
experts from the home buying industry directly to you in an intimidation free neutral environment.

This is a great chance to have you questions answered honestly without pressure. The expert guests are here to help and will be discussing the home buying process in the current climate, and will be available to answer questions in a no holds barred, straight talk style.

Areas of focus will be:
- Foreclosures- demystifying the process-where to start, what is the process, what is needed to qualify, the best way/places to look for foreclosure listings, beginning to end.

- The role of a broker
- Do I qualify for a loan? – tips on how to start the process and alternative ways of qualifying
- Rehabilitation loans- what are they, who can qualify
- What next
- info sheets with contacts and follow-up info


If you have a specific question, please email info@blankspacegallery.com before February 25th and I will add it to the list. There will also be time at the end of the session for a brief individual Q & A with the experts.


Coffee and light snacks will be served.


The experts who have helped make this event possible are


Kevin Skipper of Skipper Realty
Stephanie Kelley -Chicago Title escrow officer
Allen K. Moore- Loan Officer at Mason-McDuffie Mortgage

blankspace 6608 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA 94608 || blankspacegallery.com || 510-547-6608

The Tyranny of Harmony a show of paintings by Brian Caraway

Reception Saturday, Feb 28th 6-9pm

ZZA'S Enoteca
550 Grand Ave
Oakland, CA

Blankspace's good friend Brian Caraway has some new work that he will be showing at this great restaurant called ZZA'S. The show will run Feb 28th - March 27th. If you can make the opening reception there will be lots of great wine and pizza being served!!


PS-this show was curated by artist and all around awesome person Obi Kaufman who Blankspace loves.