“Redline Redefined” Oakland Sound Walk & Bike Rid by Thingamajigs

Thingamajigs presents a new project called Redline Redefined that explores the history of redlining in  through the lens of 8 East Bay artists to explore the discriminatory practices of redlining and their effects in our neighborhoods.

Thanks to the generous support of California Arts Council and Bill Graham Foundation. Admission is FREE to the sound walk and launch party.

Thingamajigs presents Redline Redefined, a new multi-year project that investigates, narrates and celebrates our formally red-lined neighborhoods. Thingamajigs has curated a program of audio and visual pieces designed to transport audiences from their home to the streets of Oakland and Berkeley. Featuring eight of the East Bay’s most exciting performing artists, events scheduled include sound walks, live performances, video narratives, poetry readings and an online interactive map. A diverse group of local artists are participating in the project, including performance artist Theresa Wong, Oakland’s Poet Laureate Ayodele Nzinga, and instrument inventor Sudhu Tewari.

Redlining is the systematic practice of denying people financial and other services based on where they lived. In the 1930s, the federal government carved The East Bay into a series of puzzle pieces–imaginary lines were drawn down streets, dividing neighborhoods, families, and entire populations of residents. Redline Redefined project artists explore the balance between the past and present and encourages all of us to to take a second look at who is included and excluded from conversations about development in modern-day East Bay. Come join us in Oakland for an exciting in person launch of East Bay: Redline Redefined filled with live performances, premier film screenings, and artist talks happening through October.

Schedule

October 8, 2022 Oakland, CA –  Redline Redefined Sound Walks

Participants with different vision, hearing, mobility, or accessibility needs, email erica@thingamajigs.org to arrange accommodations.

11:00 AM: Bike around Oakland with Suki O’Kane

Hop on your bike to explore five locations in the historic Brooklyn and Clinton townships of Oakland with artist Suki O’Kane, who made graphic scores and soundscapes from her field recordings and research of the 1937 Holc maps of these areas. This flat route is slow-paced, family friendly, with frequent stops for a bit of history and plant identification, some deep listening, and conversations about how the red line has always been, and continues to be redefined by people, cultures, and the natural world itself.

This round trip starts at 11AM from the Fruitvale BART taxi stand and will last 60-90 minutes. Bring your bike, water, hat, headphones, and smart phone loaded with the Redline Redefined website.

2:00 PM: Explore Sounds with Gabby Wen

Join us at the parking lot and meeting room of the Golden Gate Branch Library to gather and view Commons Archive’s publications, listen to sound artist Gabby Wen’s compositions made solely with field recordings made in the Golden Gate neighborhood, exchange stories, and enjoy some sweets before heading for a short, intentional walk to listen closely to the sounds of the neighborhood. We will walk to Temescal Creek Park and listen/sing/make weird sounds to the creek that’s buried underground but has a small opening covered by a grate near the entrance of the park.

Trip starts at 2PM:

Golden Gate Branch Library

5606 San Pablo Ave.

Oakland, CA 94608

Nearby bus stops: San Pablo Ave. & 56th St, San Pablo Ave. & Stanford Ave., bus lines: 72, 72M, 72R, 802. The closest BART station is MacArthur.

October 9th, 2022 1PM: Redline Redefined Launch Party 

Shapeshifters Cinema

567 5th St. Oakland, CA 94607

Artists include, Sudhu Tewari, Theresa Wong, Katy Luo, Ayodele Nzinga, Suki O’Kane, Gabby Wen, Maxi Himpe and Hallie Smith.