Oakland Museum Wants To Be on Your 'Gram

Photo courtesy of Oakland Museum of California

If there's one thing that 2017 has taught us about art, it's that the best installations are active experiences ripe for Instagram. (See Color Factory, Museum of Ice Cream, and—always—Burning Man.) The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) wants in on the #hashtag glory, and is making its move to become the next big thing on the 'gram with Nature’s Gift: Humans, Friends & the Unknown. 

Opening Saturday, October 7, the exhibition is an immersive experience featuring a large-scale, commissioned work by Los Angeles based FriendsWithYou—the fine art collaborative including Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. (Psst... These guys are internationally-recognized as pioneers in the field of experiential art.)

The installation will fill an otherwise dark room with bright, multicolored LED lights and layers of texture and sound. There's also integrated programming, ranging from yoga and meditation to curated DJ selections throughout the exhibition on Friday Nights.

Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Photo courtesy of Oakland Museum of California

“This exhibition is unlike any other experience we’ve had at OMCA since we opened in 1969,” said Carin Adams, Associate Curator of Art and Material Culture at OMCA. “Our Great Hall will be transformed into a rainbow-filled universe, becoming both a spiritual space for reflection as well as space for interaction, adventure, and fun."

“Like all of our work, people will complete the experience,” Borkson and Sandoval said in a statement. “We want those who enter the space to feel a special connection with the work and with each other. The intention is to bring people together through this joyful, immersive experience, accessible and welcoming to all.”

The exhibit runs in OMCA’s Great Hall October 7, 2017–January 21, 2018, but you know you want the unparalleled prestige of being the first among your friends to post. Snap up those tickets for the world premiere, stat.

The Oakland Museum of California is located at 1000 Oak Street (at 10th Street) in Oakland. one block from the Lake Merritt BART station. Admission is $15.95 general; $10.95 seniors and students with valid ID, $6.95 youth ages 9 to 17, and free for members and children 8 and under. There is a $4 charge in addition to general admission pricing for special exhibitions.