Weapons of Mass Expression
Weekend Wake-Up Presents Whispers of Revolution
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the <a hrefWeekend Wake-Up was forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the Weekend Wake-Upwas forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the Weekend Wake-Upwas forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com
Weekend Wake-Up Presents Whispers of Revolution
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the <a hrefWeekend Wake-Up was forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the Weekend Wake-Upwas forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com
Since it began in 2006, the Oakland Art Murmur has been described in military terms, “Hipster Invasion” being one of the most prominent. Young white artists pushed out of San Francisco due to sky-rocketing rents moving into the ghettos of Oakland and building a community for themselves there. The issues were all there: Gentrification, cultural appropriation, and the definition of art. Yet what started with a small collective of seven galleries coordinating their calendars to each participate in a “First Fridays” art walk has doubled and continues to grow. And although more established, some of those core issues remain.
Two years before the Oakland Art Murmur began, the Weekend Wake-Upwas forming in the midst of a different type of gentrification, in the newly built Fruitvale plaza. Both movements started small and proceeded to build up a community around their events. Yet, while the Art Murmur, by its nature, remained in a specific region, the Weekend Wake-Up consistently reached out to new communities, neighborhoods and populations, ending up at the steps of Rock Paper Scissors. Thus, a strange yet beautiful collaboration was born.
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS) exemplifies the Art Murmur’s Do It Yourself hipster aesthetic. However, under their surface, they are reaching beyond their cultural stratosphere through one of the few non-judgmental populations left: the youth. They offer classes at MetWest high school as well as airbrushing and other fashion related activities at the1ir site on Telegraph Ave.
While supporting RPS’ stated goal to “strengthen local communities and encourage sustainable practices and alternative models,” the Weekend Wake-Up brings a rawer form of culture to the table, reminiscent of the neighborhood before cafes and condos. It’s a challenging synthesis, but organizers from all sides of the collaboration are excited by a hip-hop resurgence in the area.
Leading the way is COV Records, a community based music and recording center for youth, whose studio at 28th and Telegraph is only 5 blocks away from RPS. COV artists have been to regularly sell their CDs at the Art Murmur, who have proven to be an interested market.
April 4th marks the first time that the Art Murmur will actually experience a performance by those same COV artists. Accompanied by Lunar Heights’ emcees Jern Eye and Spear of the Nation as well as Knobody from the Hieroimperium, the youth plan to give the murmur a full dosage of all four elements of hip-hop. Expect the unexpected as spray-can legends Crayone, King 157, Dzyer and Rush put on a live aerosol demonstration and DJs Jus Jones and Smokestack serve up classic old skool breaks for the b-boys and b-girls. Other performers include NaR, a queer Arab hip-hop crew; Kensho Kuma, Virtuous, a locking showcase by Groovmekanex, and a special set by Ms. Bashir the Songbird featuring DJ Twelvz. Hosted by Orukusaki.
For more info, visit www.weekendwakeup.com