Uptown Art Park opens in Oakland
on April 10, 2013
After months of preparation, the City of Oakland celebrated the opening of its temporary gallery space surrounding the vacant lot off of Telegraph Avenue during last Friday’s Art Murmur. The Uptown Art Park, sandwiched between the Fox Theater and The Uptown apartments, was created using a $200,000 matching grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The park features work from five artists including well-known West Oakland steel artist Karen Cusolito, and an innovative collaboration between Berkeley artist Michael Christian and 12 young women from seven different Oakland high schools.
Nine sculptures of various heights and materials line the sidewalks of Telegraph Avenue and 19th Street, providing a place for thoughtful strolls on a sunny afternoon. An inner fence lined with a blue fabric wrap remains around the majority of the vacant lot, which will eventually be developed. For now, Oaklanders are encouraged to enjoy the stark shapes and intriguing statements crafted by some of the Bay Area’s most creative minds.
For a recap on the development of the Uptown Art Park, read Vanessa Rancaño’s story here.
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- The Uptown Art Park features nine sculptures just outside of a fenced in lot that was previously destined to be a parking lot.
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- The “Bike Bridge,” by Michael Christian and a group of Oakland high schoolers looks out onto Telegraph Avenue.
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- A group of 12 girls from Oakland high schools took welding classes at The Crucible in West Oakland and learned to piece recycled bicycle parts together to make new works of art.
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- Old bike pedals make new flower petals.
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- The centerpiece of the “Bike Bridge” reflects buildings across the street.
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- A woman stops to capture a creation by Randolph Colosky.
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- “the pressure to hold together that which held things back – Part 2” is made from salvaged redwood timbers and hardware.
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- A man passes by Bruce Johnson’s “Offering,” which features redwood and copper.
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- Beneath the “Offering,” looking towards Fox Theater.
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- “Barbican” by Randolph Colosky is one of five other sculptures that line the south side of the lot along 19th street.
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- Colosky constructed his piece using engineered ceramic honeycomb, paint and wood.
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- “Vinaya” by Eric Powell stands 15 feet tall.
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- The sculptures cast creative shadows.
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- “Trumpet Flowers” by West Oakland artist Karen Cusolito are made from recycled steel, like most of her creations.
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- “Uprising” by Bruce Johnson
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- Made from redwood and copper, the sculpture features beautiful detail.
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- Eric Powell’s “Skiff”, also made from steel.
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- Another sculpture by Karen Cusolito, entitled “Dandelion.”
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- The leaves of the sculpture crawl across the pavement.
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- The recycled steel flowers loom twenty feet in the air.
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Where are the homeless people?
..i am a resident of Oakland…now..just moved to the West..Oaklands Art and Diversity is thye key to Her success…what a great way to inspire our youth to be artists and sculptors….painters…visionaries…we need more…