STOREFRONT HISTORY

This comprehensive multimedia project investigates the histories of old commercial storefronts in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Oakland. The Oakland History Room at the Public Library, old documents on the internet and from the current owner of these buildings, and microfiche provided by Oakland Historian Betty Marvin were used to complete this two-and-a-half year long project. Constructed in the early 1930s, the buildings underwent numerous changes until they were converted into live/work artist spaces in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. The ghosts of these eight structures include beauty parlors, grocery stores, laundromats, tailors, bakeries, restaurants, and bars. This experiential exhibition presents a long-form video component that integrates found footage with imagined scenes based on factual findings; a short documentary; and large-scale reproductions of ephemera and archival documents. Storefront History invites the viewer to explore the stories of this East Bay neighborhood corner in a unique, intimate manner. This exhibition was partially funded by a grant from the City of Oakland Cultural Funding Program. Mixed media, dimensions variable, 2016.