EBOS+

East Bay Open Studios

+ (Some) Satellite Events

💚 💚

Various Locations

June 6-7; 13-14

11am – 5pm

EBOS is a twice a year event celebrating the exceptional wealth of creativity that blooms in the East Bay. This June, almost 200 artists welcome us into their studios to share their joy.

While my blogs occasionally 😜 run long, in this instance you can relax. I will not attempt to provide a summary of all the great artists or even the wide variety of mediums on display. Instead, I’ll provide a short profile of a few special events available during these first two weekends in June. For all the rest, you can access the in-depth details by clicking here.

Spotlight Artist

This Summer, Yong An has been chosen as the EBOS Spotlight Artist. Semi-annually, the public choses artist(s) whose work represents the spirit of East Bay Open Studios and is showcased as a symbol of the creativity and talent within the arts community on our side of The Bay.

Emerging Artists

This June’s Emerging Artists include:

Danny Phan – His work is a love letter to his nonhumans: past and present. The dried plant is central to his practice as it holds memory, transformation and temporality. He is influenced by the concepts of otherness and universal impermanence.

Mark Romero – A first-generation Nicaraguan-American artist whose formal training in fine art, combined with years of experience in education, deeply inform his creative practice. Rooted in his Nicaraguan heritage, he seeks to highlight the connections between Mexico and Central America, revealing shared symbols, histories and traditions that transcend borders. By drawing these links, he aims to foster a deeper sense of unity and collective pride while honoring the distinct identities within each culture. Through collaborations and teaching, he continues to create work that connects past and present while inspiring others to explore their own cultural narratives.

Qi Han – A primarily self-taught oil painter whose practice is rooted in observation, curiosity and a deep respect for her surroundings. Her artistic journey is informed by how she reads people, stories and the subtle shifts in human connection.

Niko Alexander – He struggled to embrace his pull to the arts until he entered the College of Creative Studies at UCSB, where he was encouraged to pursue his interest in painting sport and capturing basketball in those paintings. He began to see parallels between the devotion to sport and religion, exploring what it would mean to make mythological or religious art that centered on basketball, giving life to the myths and history that surround the sport.

Laura Wasserman – A fiber artist and narrative weaver based in Alameda, whose bold, abstract weavings and notably feminist compositions explore the power of fiber to both comfort and evoke. Her mixed media pieces are maximalist in nature, use explosive color, experiment with found and recycled materials and incorporate her own small-batch handspun yarns. Personal narratives highlighted in her work include loss and healing, motherhood, the female experience, disability visibility and meditations on family history. With formal degrees in creative writing, her weavings are mostly self-taught explorations.

Pam Jue – A Berkeley based artist whose work explores the thoughts and emotions that manifest in the body as we grapple with impermanence, uncertainty and acceptance. At NYU’s Studio Arts program, she experimented with painting, photography and digital art. Thereafter, she paused her art and designed products and services for others, focused on health. Ten years later, she remembered just how healing art can be on one’s health, including her own. Since showing at the de Young Open in 2020, she has invested her time in exploring and making more personal art. She also hosts workshops to teach others how to use art to process their own emotions.

Special Interest 💚 💚

At least two SLAA Members will be participating in EBOS this June. Both will be showing in Berkeley. So be sure to charge up your car for the ride there. Information on Eric Shea’s show is directly below. Check out the write up on the Sawtooth Building (three paragraphs below) to learn more about Lisa Gallegos’ Open Studio.

💚 Eric Shea at Makers WorkSpace – 1150 Sixth Street, Berkeley.

Eric’s works will be available both weekends and will include paintings from the two grants he received from the San Leandro Arts, Culture and Library Commission.

Satellite Events

The Crucible

This Oakland foundry will offer a tour only on Saturday, June 6 from 4-6pm. WARNING: Get there early. Parking in the neighborhood is limited. However, the food trucks on site are reportedly quite good!

Jingletown

Jingletown is one of Oakland’s historic arts districts. The artists in this area are offering open studios in conjunction with Oakland Art Murmur but are not specifically listed in the EBOS materials. Start at the Purple Building, officially known as Jingletown Art Studios & Gallery. There you will find a dozen studios, excellent snacks (I seem a bit focused on the food 😋) and artists who may seem familiar, as several have provided Talks/Demos at Art Association events.

‍ ‍Beyond the Purple Building, do not overlook the following neighborhood artists’ studios:

• Chapman Street Studios -2908 Chapman Street

• 3035 Chapman Street #4

• 417 Peterson Street

• Ford Street Studios - 2934 Ford Street * Live Music, Pizza and Wine!

• Gray Loft Gallery - 2889 Ford Street, third floor

• Norton Factory Studios - 3094 East 10th Street (For this one you will need your car)

Before you leave Jingletown, take a moment to shake the change in your pocket. According to legend, the neighborhood got its name from the former Portuguese mill workers who wandered the streets, jingling the silver coins in their pockets as they walked home.

Sawtooth Building (Eighth Street between Dwight and Parker Streets, Berkeley)

You will find dozens of artists and artisans in this historic West Berkeley location. The building itself takes up a whole block. So, be sure to wander about and enjoy artists who are a part of EBOS along with the artists who are taking the opportunity to entice you into their unpublicized spaces.. Various artists will be exhibiting during one or both of the two weekends of EBOS.

💚 SLAA Board Member, Lisa Gallegos will be among the artists you can visit. Lisa will be showing at Unit 12A, (technically at 2525 Eighth Street). Lisa’s work will be on view June 6-7 only.