Oakland Museum of California

I finally made the trip to Oakland to see the Oakland Museum of California, which I’ve been considering for some time now. I can remember seeing the museum featured online and the vibrant atmosphere in which the museum projects. Being that it is a “museum of the people” and of California’s history and art I was eager to see both the history, and particularly the artistic styles of artists and movements associated with the region and its culture.

 The OMCA is a rather spacious and inviting venue to spend time and view art. The grounds are like a large garden pavilion of terraces with trees, a lawn, views of Lake Merrit, and a koi pond surrounded by the warm weather and bustle of the city. I was particularly impressed to see some clusters of college-age people hanging out in the garden and enjoying the day.

The collection at OMCA is as rich and varied as the people of the region, going as far back as Native American cultures and into the present. It encapsulates a great deal of historical ambitions, as well as the rich history and social movements of the bay area.

A good portion of the museum’s historical collection is displayed in dioramas that are similar to what you would see if you visited the Autry Museum in Griffith Park, and there is also a section of natural history that helps to make visitors aware of the environment and ecology of California, which is largely taken for granted.

The highlight of the museum, in my opinion, is the vast and diverse collection of contemporary Californian art. This collection ranges from handmade jewelry, to furniture, to costume, to Silicon Valley tech, etc. The artworks are reflective of the intellectuals and artists who created artworks in expression of their environment. It is easy to see and relate to a lot of the depictions and histories of the people as you move about the spacious gallery that seems like a well-furnished home by a contemporary architect.

I easily spent a few hours here just looking at the works by artists known and unknown, and also learning about some artists that I never actually associated with California. Adding to this there are also artworks that I had read about in university classes and on blogs like Hyperallergic. I think it is interesting that as a museum of California the atmosphere and the furnishings are very much Californian in style.