By Oakland Local Editorial Team

The Oakland Art Murmur Gallery Association recently announced the expansion of its membership area - opening its boundaries to include galleries and mixed-use art venues between 27th street and Jack London Square, along the Broadway and Telegraph corridor.

For the last year, Oakland Art Murmur members had to be located between 27th and 17th streets.

This change brings in four new galleries and four new mixed-use venues. Mixed-use venues are businesses such as shops and cafes that also hold rotating art exhibitions on their premises. New galleries south of Grand include:

• Res Ipsa - 455 17th St.
• Pro Arts - 150 Frank Ogawa Plaza
• Hive - 301 Jefferson
• Swarm - 560 Second St.

New mixed-use art venues in the area include: 

• Betti Ono - 1804 Telegraph
• Oaklandish - 1444 Broadway
• Marion & Rose’s Workshop - 461 Ninth
• Crown Nine - 461A Ninth

Oakland Art Murmur also welcomes three new members to the area north of Grand: Telegraph, which is in the old Mama Buzz space at 2318 Telegraph; Shadravan’s, which is opening at 2435 Telegraph; and Wall Gallery, at 473 25th St. All new member galleries and venues will be open for the First Friday Art Walk, from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday, April 6. 

“Many factors came together in this decision,” Oakland Art Murmur Executive Director Danielle Fox said. “First and foremost, we wanted to extend a message of inclusion rather than exclusion and create a context to work with the arts community on a more significant scale. We are especially excited to be able to partner with long-established art institutions such as Swarm and Pro-Arts who bring not only important exhibitions, but also valuable experience to the organization.

"Moreover, First Fridays have become crowded in Uptown. While the Uptown galleries certainly enjoy the attention, the timing seemed right to share our success and help to activate other neighborhoods.”

Svea Lin Soll, owner and Director of Swarm Gallery in Jack London, is excited about the changes, saying, "Expanding the boundaries of the Art Murmur creates a more cohesive umbrella for all the exciting things happening here. We're thrilled to be involved, along with our neighbor, the Hive Studios and Gallery.

"We will be expanding our program to include performance art and live music on First Fridays, as well as open studios, to showcase more of the diverse multi-disciplinary genres that are alive and well in Oakland," Soll added.

Oakland Art Murmur is an association of Oakland art venues who are supported by a nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. Its mission is to increase awareness of and participation in the arts in Oakland and forwards this goal through collective marketing efforts which include a First Friday art walk, Saturday Stroll, guided walking tours, artists talks, and other public programming which are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact: Danielle Fox director@oaklandartmurmur.org (510) 325-6659.