“Naked Ladies” art show brings feminist flair to Oakland venues

By Titania Kumeh | November 8, 2012 |
Pleasant Hill resident Juan Gonzalez views one of the art pieces on display at SomaR Bar. "The human body is an art when you look at it," he said. "It's a beautiful thing that God gave us."

Images of naked and unashamed women are part of the show “Naked Ladies: Sexy. Raw. Owning it,” which began its run at a crowded reception during the First Friday Art Murmur on November 2. The exhibit features female-centric paintings, photographs, video art and mixed media created by 30 artists—mostly women—whose works deal with women’s ownership of their bodies, emotions and sexuality.

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Oakland’s newest sex shop is cut from a different cloth

By Ted Trautman | February 18, 2011 |

Feelmore510, Oakland’s newest adult store, opened—somewhat appropriately—on Valentine’s Day this week, but it has not been universally welcomed. When Nenna Joiner applied for permits to open the store two months ago, opponents complained that Feelmore510’s Uptown location would put it within 500 feet of several major gathering places for young people, including Youth Radio, a foster housing agency called First Place for Youth, and Oakland School for the Arts. But not everyone objects to the store.

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