Through May 27, 2002

Being There: Here
Oakland International Airport
located in the connecting walkway between the two terminals and
in the entranceway of Terminal One.

Lynn Beldner, 1998, royal icing, styrofoam and stand

In celebration of Oakland’s 150th anniversary, Oakland International Airport proudly presents Being There: Here, an exhibition of select Oakland artists. Curated by Phil Linhares, Chief Curator of Art, the exhibition opens February 8, 2002 and continues through May 27th. It is located in the first Terminal entranceway and in the connecting walkway between the two terminals.

Being There: Here is a companion exhibit to a larger, more comprehensive exhibition (Being There: 45 Oakland Artists) which will be on display at Oakland Museum of California through May 12th. It features 45 artists selected from over 700 entries—a testament to the rich artistic community that developed within the city of Oakland over the last 150 years.

As this artwork demonstrates, there is no current dominant expressive form; perhaps the chief concern shared by the majority of artists is one of conservation. Often using recycled materials and creating works of modest scale, the artists respond to the changing economy in which studio rents, costs of materials and storage expenses are rising. Most of the “live-work” lofts being built in Oakland are beyond the means of artists. But, despite the growing hardships, our artists are among the most adaptable members of society. They are capable of creating solutions to maintain their artistic production, solutions that are often adopted in time by mainstream society.

Oakland does continue to offer advantages that have attracted several generations of creative people, including: a mild, livable climate; varied job opportunities; proximity to colleges, universities and art schools; and supportive public and private institutions. Having served as home to many artists and writers, Oaklanders recognize and appreciate their value to the greater community. Unlike the late poet, writer and Oakland resident Gertrude Stein’s oft-quoted statement regarding her early home, there is a “there” in Oakland, and the artists represented in Being There are living proof.

Artists included in the airport show include:
Seyed Alavi
Kim Anno
Robert Armstrong
Lynn Beldner
Andrea Brewster
Jamie Brunson
Mark Bulwinkle
Pauletta Chanco
Bella Feldman
Linda Geary
Liz Maxwell
Amy Evans McClure
A. Leo Nash
Christin Nelson
Celia Herrera Rodriguez