If you’ve driven through some of the more urban areas of the East Bay lately, you can’t help but notice all of the murals that cover the sides of buildings and various structures. Oakland alone has over 1,000, and Berkeley a fraction of that but growing. Just think about all of that free accessible public art!
Murals make neighborhoods feel more vibrant and alive, there for everyone to enjoy. Most were commissioned at some point (unlike “street art” which is often done illegally). Many groups have worked tirelessly to keep these projects going, not just as a means to make a statement or bring art to their neighborhoods, but also as a way to involve the community in a positive way.
Recently the tallest mural in Oakland was unveiled on the side of the Marriott Hotel. Zero Hunger is 190 feet tall and features a smiling black girl holding a bundle of wheat. Created by world-renowned muralist, Victor Ash, the piece is part of a 6-part series around the country and is meant to bring attention to world hunger, something that the city is working to address right here at home.
It takes a village to make our cities come to life through art and there are a handful of groups making it happen. For example, the Community Rejuvenation Project (CRP) has painted more than 100 artworks throughout the East Bay over the past ten years. In 2014 they created the Alice Street mural (image above) which is no longer viewable in person due to construction. Before the pandemic, CRP gave tours in Oakland. Hopefully after the pandemic they will make those available again.
Other groups that have contributed to Oakland’s art scene include Graffiti Camp for Girls, Keep Oakland Beautiful, Oakland’s Mural Superhero Project, and others, all with the goal of bringing communities together to engage, promote and educate.
Oakland’s Chinatown is home to some dramatic and beautiful pieces. Community leaders worked with the city, Chinatown businesses and local artists to create the first dragon mural back in 2012 in an effort to thwart growing graffiti attacks. Since then more have been created throughout the neighborhood honoring Chinese symbols and traditions. Many of these projects were spearheaded and created by 333 Arts (originally named Dragon School), a nonprofit started in 2015 to create public artwork for the community. They’ve since broadened their reach to include additional neighborhoods.
Dragon School’s original dragons, Chinatown, Oakland
Chinatown, Oakland
While the landscape is continually changing, here is a current map that shows where to find Oakland’s murals.
Not as prolific as Oakland, Berkeley still holds its own when it comes to public murals, some pieces dating back as far as 50 years! In addition to making a neighborhood more vibrant, murals are often commissioned to make a statement. For example, at the corner of Adeline and Emerson Street in Berkeley is a mural by artist and former Berkeley High School instructor, Juana Alicia. Derrame depicts the Gulf Oil Spill in 2010, the worst of its kind in history. Her goal was to raise awareness around the climate emergency.
Derrame, Adeline & Emerson Street, Berkeley
It’s impossible to share all of the amazing murals throughout the East Bay, but we asked Red Oak agents to grab some photos while they were out and about last month. Here are just a few they came across (with special thanks to Corey Weinstein and April Howell Young):
