Press Release
(Oakland, CA) March 20, 2013—Climate change, commerce and transportation, changing populations, recreation, invasive species, and environmentalism are a few of the dynamic themes to be explored in the Oakland Museum of California’s (OMCA) major multi-disciplinary exhibition, Above and Below: Stories of Our Changing Bay , on view August 31, 2013, through February 23, 2014 , in the Museum’s Great Hall. Presented on the occasion of the opening of the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge’s new East Bay span , the exhibition explores the dynamic stories of how the residents of, and visitors to, the San Francisco Bay Area have shaped and been shaped by the Bay over the last 6,000 years.
The first major exhibition to be presented with all three of OMCA’s transformed galleries of California Art, History, and Natural Sciences open to the public, this multidisciplinary exhibition highlights historic and contemporary place-based stories about the Bay, and engages viewers in discussions about the Bay’s future . Through an extensive use of media featuring oral histories, community voices, and interactives , the exhibition explores how human engineering and natural forces have come together over time to shape and reshape the land and water around the San Francisco Bay, and how sea-level rise, wetlands restoration, invasive species, and climate change are central topics in determining the future of the Bay .
“We are thrilled to be presenting this major exhibition on the historic occasion of the opening of the New East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and to offer an opportunity for exploration of the history of the Bridge in the context of the broad and rich story of the San Francisco Bay,” says OMCA Director Lori Fogarty . “This topic is ideal for the Oakland Museum of California as we bring together the natural, cultural and creative histories of the Bay—which has defined this region since human habitation began here. The project will also allow visitors themselves to tell their own stories of the Bay and to consider not just its past, but its future and our own future as stewards and citizens of the Bay region.”
Exhibition Highlights Include:
• Evocative gallery environment revealing objects, projections, and artifacts about life underneath and above the Bay
• Dramatic high-resolution film taking visitors on a sweeping journey 500 feet above the edge of the Bay
• A “fly-through” of the bottom surface of the Bay
• Science stations where visitors can monitor the health of the Bay, its water,
sediments, plants, and animals
• Oral histories and original film footage documenting the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge opening day festivities in 1936, and the work it took to keep the bridge running over the course of the 20th century
• “Crossing the Bay” Loaded Lounge, featuring film taken from the point of view of visitors crossing by ferry, bridge, and BART, and inviting visitors to contribute their own stories
• Panoramic floor map with eight Geo-Stations featuring quirky historic and contemporary place-based stories from around the Bay, such as the folk sculptures of the Emeryville mud flats, and the buried ships hidden under downtown San Francisco
• Exploration of the mysterious and isolated islands of the Bay, including poignant stories of immigrants detained at Angel Island
• A 22-foot high, 3D projection of the reconstructed Emeryville Shellmound—an original burial ground of the Native Muwekema Ohlone Tribe—and artifacts recovered from the mound, interpreted by living descendants of the mound builders
• “Bay Futures Lounge” where visitors can discuss current and controversial issues pertaining to the Bay, including sea-level rise, wetlands restoration, invasive species, and climate change, and make choices about the future of the Bay
• Stunning aerial, panoramic photographs of the Bay’s colorful salt ponds, which are becoming one of the world’s top experiments in habitat restoration
• A working salt pond evaporation tank
• Drawbridge hunting “shack,” featuring interactive doors and windows that reveal
stories about the history of this now ghost town in the marshes of the South Bay
• Large-scale digital photo matrix showcasing the change of the Bay’s edge over time through contemporary imagery and historical maps
• Overview of the history of the Bay’s vast military presence, from World War II to the Cold War, featuring an original Nike missile launch station from Angel Island, and images exploring the complex legacy of these military sites today
Above and Below: Stories of our Changing Bay is supported by the California Department of Transportation in partnership with the Bay Area Toll Authority and the California Transportation Commission which are completing the seismic retrofit of the historic San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The exhibition and related oral histories, school curriculum, and on-line resources help satisfy mitigation obligations required to comply with state and federal environmental laws.
ABOUT THE OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) brings together collections of art, history and natural science under one roof to tell the extraordinary stories of California and its people. OMCA's groundbreaking exhibits tell the many stories that comprise California with many voices, often drawing on first-person accounts by people who have shaped California's cultural heritage. Visitors are invited to actively participate in the Museum as they learn about the natural, artistic, and social forces that affect the state and investigate their own role in both its history and its future. With more than 1.8 million objects, OMCA is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California's dynamic cultural and environmental heritage.
ABOUT THE NEWLY TRANSFORMED GALLERY OF CALIFORNIA NATURAL SCIENCES
On May 31 through June 2, 2013, the Oakland Museum of California will open its newly transformed Gallery of California Natural Sciences to the public after more than three years of redesigning and reinstalling its exhibitions and programs with public input and a completely new concept. Visitors to the new exhibits will experience the Golden’s State’s natural offerings like never before with a fresh focus on California’s natural history, the threats it faces and humans’ relationships with nature. The reinstalled Gallery draws on the museum’s extensive holdings, community resources, and established track record as a leader in creating a visitor-centered experience. The interdisciplinary gallery will feature relevant art and historical connections alongside brand new and repurposed natural science dioramas that merge new multimedia and interactive elements.
Visitors will experience seven real places throughout California that depict the state’s diversity of climate, geology, habitats, ecosystems , and wildlife , while exploring current research, contemporary issues of land use, environmental conflict, conservation projects, and more . Innovative displays present the fusion of world-class dioramas with emerging technologies, citizen science projects , and visitor contribution, enabling the new Gallery to tell the story of California’s amazing natural world through the voices of local community members and scientists of these regions , while providing an immersive and intimate experience of the individual habitats.
At 25,000 square feet , the vast gallery space is the only museum presentation of its kind to showcase a collective portrait of California’s rich biodiversity, with more than 2,000 plant and animal species featured, alongside humans’ interaction with the natural world. These converged storylines will raise awareness of the state’s environmental pressures that call for a heightened need for environmental conservation and provide dynamic and inspiring opportunities for visitors to become involved in the future of California’s environment.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is at 1000 Oak Street, at 10th Street, in Oakland. OMCA is situated between downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt. Museum admission is $12 general; $9 seniors and students with valid ID, $6 youth ages 9 to 17, and free for Members and children 8 and under. OMCA offers onsite underground parking and is conveniently located one block from the Lake Merritt BART station, on the corner of 10th Street and Oak Street. The accessibility ramp is located at the 1000 Oak Street main entrance. For more information, visit museumca.org.
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For more information and visuals, please contact:
Kelly Koski, Associate Director, Communications & Audience Development
kkoski@museumca.org; 510-318-8453