Weekly update

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Periscope Cellars in Emeryville, CA is the indie biz of the week. Periscope is a fantastic urban winery, the owner Brendan is super nice and works very hard to bring us tasty vino. Their "official" blur is....

"Periscope Cellars, an urban winery in the heart of the East Bay, specializes in blended red wines.

Operating out of a WWII submarine repair facility, Periscope Cellars works with small, family growers with a focus on hands-on growing and winemaking to yield wines of unique character and quality. Distinctly non-traditional, we focus on unique blends created and consumed in the relaxed, “industrial chic” atmosphere of our tasting room, wine lounge and independent art gallery."

TASTING ROOM FEE: Always free!

TASTING ROOM HOURS:
Wednesday to Sunday : 12pm - 5pm

ONGOING MONTHLY EVENTS:
Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month : 5:00 - 8:00pm

Happy Hour Wine Lounge

First Friday of the Month: 6 - 9pm

Art Gallery Opening Reception

Periscope Cellars
1410 62nd Street Suite B (@ Hollis)
Emeryville, CA 94608
510-655-7827 •periscopecellars.com brendan@periscopecellars.com

Our tasting room is open Friday through Sunday but and we’re here 7 days a week. So give us a call if you’re in the neighborhood. Since all of the wines are made right here in Emeryville, you can check out the full wine making process and taste the newest barrel samples as well as our bottled wines. We’re also available for special events and group tastings.

Comm[unity] bulletin board

Here are some new and continuing open calls for you all to enjoy, please pass on to anyone you think may find the info useful.

I also wanted to mention that this coming Friday is First Friday, not only will Blankspace be open from 7-10pm but if you go to one of the galleries listed in this weeks East Bay Express -including Blankspace- and you let the East Bay Express know you came by, you could win prizes...mmm prizes... and as always shop local...support the local economy by keeping your dollars circulating through local business....that reminds me, scroll down to see the indie biz of the week...

OPEN CALLS

Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit

Entries Due: Post marked by February 14, 2009
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - July 19, 2009
Opening Reception: June 19th 5-8pm
Entry Fee: None

Awards:1st Place $1000, 2nd Place $500, 3rd place $250

Jurors: Carrie Lederer and Ann Weber

Here is a link to a PDF with all of the info and entry form: Click Here

Call for Artists

Deadline February 27

The City of Walnut Creek is currently accepting qualifications from artists
for individual artworks for the new downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Individual works of art will be purchased or commissioned to fill the
library’s common areas in the buildings’ lobbies, reading rooms, community
gallery, children’s library, and children’s garden, as well as outside in
adjacent plazas.

More information: http://www.bedfordgallery.org/public_art.htm

Contact:
Robyn Burror
Public Art Coordinator
burror@walnut-creek.org
925/295-1447

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Four Barrels Coffee in SF is the indie biz of the week. I had been hearing about this great new coffee shop in the Mission and when I was visiting Southern Exposure Gallery the other day I finally went in...if you go on Yelp there is a lot of talk about this business, some of the comments and quibbles are quite funny...but the bottom line; and this comes straight from a self proclaimed coffee snob-I had one of the best cappuccinos I have ever had outside of Italy.

Bottom line, it is all about the coffee, and Four Barrels gets it...I don't care if a monkey in an elephant suit is serving my coffee, if the barista can make a good cap, I am happy. I was walking down the sidewalk and every time I took a sip I sighed with contentment...

**Side note, the other best place (in my opinion) to get a great cup of coffee is Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe on College ave in Oakland.

Four Barrels

375 Valencia St
(at 15th St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 252-0800

* Hours:
Mon-Thu. 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

stick to it

So I said I would start doing this on a regular basis as part of my New Years resolution...so week 2 and I am still good to my resolution...yeah.

It has been such an amazing week for the country, OBAMA!!! We held an inaugural party at Blankspace in conjunction with Lena Reynoso's Forty Four Presidents show. Lena officially moved the Obama painting into the main gallery to take its rightful place amongst all the rest. We had fun, mixing presidential inspired drinks like the Obama on the Ba-rock's, Abe's tropical night in hell and Quincy's Alligator...fun and historical who ever thought we could use those words in the same sentence.

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

The Curiosity Shoppe in SF is the indie biz of the week. Since just finding out about them a couple of weeks ago from the beloved Lena Reynoso, I keep coming across their name and awesomeness. Besides having a kick ass name they have a plethora of amazing and unique items for living, working, crafting.

Here is the link to their website.

The Curiosity Shoppe

855 Valencia St.
SF, CA
415-671-6384

hours: tues-sat 11-7, sun 12-6, closed mondays

Upcoming at Blankspace

Formations

a two person show with Erik Parra and Victoria Wagner

February 13- March 9, 2009

opening reception: Friday Feb 13th 7-10pm

New Years Resolutions

Ok, so I know I have not been super consistent about posting to this blog...but good news, on my long list of New Years resolutions is to blog on a regular basis. I am also going to be adding my favorite indie business of the week and adding an artist of the month...sounds ambitious right, it is, but I resolve to stick to it...really.

Let me start by saying it is almost time for Blankspace to celebrate our three year anniversary. I cannot believe it has been 3 yrs. already. As they say, time flies when your having fun. Seriously, having Blankspace has been such a great experience. This has been a dream of mine for so long and I still sometimes look around and cannot believe that it actually exists.

The support we have received from people coming in to visit has been amazing. When we started this space, we could not have imagined how happy it would make other people. We get such nice words of support on a regular basis, it warms my heart....(pausing to wipe a tear)..I hope we can continue to be a part of this community for years to come.


So lets get to it!!

INDIE BIZ OF THE WEEK

Relish at Home

I have to say that I am talking about them a little too late, they are closing the brick and mortar doors this week...but don't fret they will be re-opening with an all new online store in the weeks to come. This place is soo cute, they have great super designy items for home and body, great bags, jewelry... awesome. She is liquidating some of her current inventory and has an amazing sale that ends tomorrow.

Here is all of the info:

Relish at Home

2703 7th st #112 Berkeley, CA 510-981-9400

Store Hours 11am to 6pm EVERYDAY thru January 16th.

http://www.relishathome.com/

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

Jessica Dacher
I first met Jessica when I was asked to jury a show at Sebastopol Center for the Arts and she had applied to the open call. She ended up being one of the people I gave an award to, and I did not know she was a neighbor until the night of the opening when I read her resume for the first time. It is funny how sometimes you have to leave your home to meet a neighbor.

Jessica's work is fun, she creates great layers of texture and her sense of color is great. These images don't do the colors justice, she gets these amazingly rich colors that you just want to bite into. Her work is a mix of tiles, collages and paintings, she has also recently been creating great sculptures lately.

To sum it up I think that Jessica is a talented artist and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Jessica is currently exhibiting at the SFMOMA artists gallery

Here is a link to her website to check out more of her work.

http://jessicadacher.com

You can find some of Jessica's tiles for sale in the front store at Blankspace.

Some open calls for y'all

Hey everyone, Happy New Year!!!

I have been away for a few weeks, now that I am back I wanted to tell you about some new open calls and art blogs for 2009. I don't want to write much text, but I do want to remind everyone that now more than ever small business needs your support. Think local, think positive.......keep making art.

best wishes-Kerri

PS- Blankspace is opening again after our post Holdiayland hibernation. Join us January 10th 6-9pm for the opening of Lena Reynosos' solo show Forty Four Presidents. Click HERE for more info. Come check out our newly painted gallery front.

OPEN CALLS

Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit

Entries Due: Post marked by February 14, 2009
Exhibition Dates: June 19 - July 19, 2009
Opening Reception: June 19th 5-8pm
Entry Fee: None

Awards:1st Place $1000, 2nd Place $500, 3rd place $250

Jurors: Carrie Lederer and Ann Weber

Here is a link to a PDF with all of the info and entry form: Click Here

****************************************************************

Pro Arts Gallery

Juried Annual 2009

Deadline: January 23, 2009

Exhibition: February 17- March 22

Selections by Ali Subotnik, Curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA; digital submissions only.

click here for more info and the link for online entry

Pro Arts is also doing the call for Open Studios
For more information, go to
www.proartsgallery.org/ebos/artistinfo2009.html

There is a great new blog in town called Artopic started by Steven Barich. But don't take my word for it check it out for yourself.

The Holidays are here- SHOP LOCAL!!!

Hey All,

So I have list of some great local, small businesses where you purchase great, unique, handcrafted, high quality gifts for those you care so much about in your lives!!

Let me stand on my soapbox for a few sentences first...

Now more than ever it is important to support your local economy, the small business is the backbone of this economy. The Eastbay Express has been on the forefront of helping to get people to think about their own backyard as a great place to buy gifts this season. EBExpress sums it up nicely so here are their words cut and pasted from their online newspaper:

Shop Local Pledge
Want to help your community and shop at the same time? Please take one minute to pledge that you will spend $100 at local shops this holiday season.
Here's how to do it: Send an email to elerts [at] eastbayexpress [dot] com with the subject heading "I PLEDGE." Here's what it means: By pledging to spend $100 of your shopping dollars at locally-owned stores, you will have a potential $58.8 million dollar impact on our community, an estimated $8.75 million dollars more than if it was spent at a non-local big box retailer. YOU can help the local economy this Holiday Season. Here's a cool little bonus if you pledge: The Express will automatically enter you to win $1000 in gift certificates from independent locally owned merchants and restaurants.

Not only will you find things that are unique and well-made, but you'll also feel good about your purchases because you're helping to support a local artist or craftsperson, who will in turn spend that money in the community.

Here are some of my picks for finding the perfect gift:

Of course I have to start out with the totally awesome Holidayland Gift Sale at Blankspace!! But the rest of these great sales are listed by the date they begin....

Blankspace

3rd Annual Holidayland Gift Sale
Dec. 5 - Dec 15th, 2008

First Friday-Holiday Sale kick-off Reception:
December 5, 6-10pm

Holiday Cheer Sunday Reception:
Dec 14, 4-7pm

This is our 3rd annual holiday gift sale- once again this year the sale will include lots of great locally produced, hand-crafted items and small works of art. Along with some fun holiday surprises at the receptions!

This year we have partnered up with the Compound Gallery to offer items from more than 50 artists, including small artwork, ceramics, t-shirts, wallets, paper goods, jewelry, accessories, scarves, pillows, plants and so much more....

Extended gallery hours for the sale will be: Sat, Sun, Mon 12-7pm

All art and items will be available for immediate purchase (cash & carry).

blankspace
6608 san pablo ave
oakland, ca 94608
510-547-6608
blankspacegallery.com

****************************************************

Oakland Art Gallery
Holiday Sale
This is their first holiday sale. There are over 100 artists involved, so you should be able to find at least 3 things you like. The sale runs Dec 8-12th 11-6pm
reception Dec 11th 5-8pm

Oakland Art Gallery
150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza(bottom floor), Oakland, ca 94612-this is the plaza where city hall is located in downtown Oakland
510-637-0395
oaklandartgallery.org

*************************************

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA TRUNK SALE

Magnet, Herringbone and Feather Vintage invite you to a holiday trunk sale

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH FROM 6-9PM
@MAGNET 2508 SAN PABLO AVE (@ DWIGHT WAY) BERKELEY, CA 94702

20% off Magnet fall items
15% off Feather Vintage

*************************************

Rowan Morrison Gallery
RoMoLoCo group show
Saturday, Dec 13th 5-10pm
Great group of artists, offering fabulous small works of art at affordable prices-great one-night event.

Rowan Morrison Gallery and Artist's Bookstore
330 40th Street
Oakland, Ca 94609
510.384.5344
rowanmorrison.com

****************************************************

That is all for now. Happy Holidays! Remember to support small business this holiday season.

-k

Comm[unity]

So it has been a few weeks since I have blogged. A lot has happened in that time, there was a battle with City Council, an historic election (yeah OBAMA!!), a disappointing loss for No on 8, with a new battle brewing (stay tune for more on that!!) and an ongoing economic crisis. So I have much to say...

With all of these things going on the idea of community has been floating on the top of my brain, now more than ever. Right before most of these things went down, I curated a show at Blankspace called Double Exposure that highlights just a few of the great artists who do double duty as amazing gallery owners, curators and administrators. The idea behind the show was to really highlight them as working artists and to also spotlight the great spaces they are working with.

As anyone who has met me knows, I believe strongly in supporting the local arts community, my feeling about it is that when one of us does well, we all do well.

So it gave me great pleasure to be able to put a show like Double Exposure together and to know that it will continue on as a multi-part show in 2009 at Rowan Morrison and possibly 2010 at another venue.

Double Exposure
Exhibition runs Oct. 25 - Nov. 17
Sunday Tea: Nov 16, 3-5pm

Kevin Chen, Jen Elia, Narangkar Glover, Peter Glover, Eleanor Harwood, Daniel Healey, Carrie Lederer, Michelle Mansour, Nicole Neditch, Margaret Tedesco

go to blankspacegallery.com for more info and links to all of their venues.

*********************************************

It made me very happy to see how quickly the Oakland art scene mobilized a couple of weeks ago when the City Council was threatening to eliminate the arts grants funding already promised for the 08/09 fiscal year, as well as putting the entire Cultural Arts and Marketing dept on the chopping block. Two of the Council members met separately and came up with this plan themselves the Thursday night before the monthly meeting the following Tuesday. Essentially giving the other Council members and the public 4 days notice. In those 4 days we were able to come together for a meeting of the minds, gather over 300 ipetition signatures, send over 2000 emails and phone calls to the council members and to show up enmass at the Council meeting with over 300 people, 200 of which went on to take their speaker card minute at the podium. ( I am happy to report these efforts resulted in success with keeping the grants for this fiscal year and within the Cultural Arts dept.-the dept was saved and instead of laying off everyone or even 2 people, jobs were saved and people made very selfless sacrifices by opting to split one full time position into 2 part-time positions).

(images of the City Council meeting at City Hall)

This mobilization, not only sent a very strong and clear message to the Council about the importance of the arts in Oakland, it also , I think, showed the members of the community that working together for a greater cause, actually works. This has always been the underlying belief that the Art Murmur was built on. I hope members of the greater community walk away with this burned in their minds.

Riding on this heartwarming show of support, this past First Friday, I picked-up an EastBay Express and to my pleaseure and surprise there was a full page advertising First Friday, paid for by EastBay Express, pretty awesome show of support!!!..if this was not enough they have gone on to create this amazing pledge of support for people to spend $100 shopping at locally owned establishments this holiday season. By pledging your support of the local economy you could win $1000 in goodies. I am so happy to see a local paper ( who for those who do not know the EastBay Express was recently bought back by a group of employees, so it truely is a locally owned and operated weekly again, so support them when you can) showing so much support for the local economy. EBExpress has even gotten other weekly's around the country to create their own local shopping pledges...my heart is warm and fuzzy right now just thinking about it.

Well, I have so much more to say about the idea of community, but will wrap up with this: I think the Presidential election and the City Council meeting both had a great impact on the national and local levels to re-energize people and help re-awaken the idea that your small contribution can make a big difference.

So support small business and shop local.

-k

Here is the info, with great economic statistics:

East Bay Express readers,

by pledging to spend $100 of your shopping dollars at locally-owned stores, you will have a potential $58.8 million dollar impact on our community, an estimated $8.75 million dollars more than if it was spent at a non-local big box retailer. YOU can help the local economy this Holiday Season.

E-mail "I PLEDGE" to eLerts@EastBayExpress.com and the Express will automatically enter you to win $1000 in gift certificates from independent locally owned merchants and restaurants.

MAKE THE PLEDGE!

************************************************************

PS: Please remember to personally thank Ignacio De La Fuente (district 5) and Jean Quan (district 4) for their lack of support next time they are up for re-election by voting them out of office...

PSS: I am still new to blogging and have not figured out how to get comments to show up on the blog, so if anyone has any suggestions or can walk me through it, please email me at info@blankspacegallery.com

************************************************************

COMMUNITY NOTES:

************************************************************

John Casey has a great book out, published by Rowan Morrison, the book is available through both John and Rowan Morrison gallery.

I (kerri) have some new drawings up at the Compound Gallery in their artist of the month gallery.

************************************************************

blankspacegallery.com
6608 san pablo ave
oakland, ca 94608
galelry hours: sat-mon 12-5pm, first fridays 7-10pm