Michael Brown – Oakland

in
Untitled

Last November 25th, like a lot of frustrated Americans, I headed to my downtown to show support for Michael Brown and other young black men that have recently lost their lives at the hands of the police. In the weeks to come, protests escalated and of course there were looters just looking to get into a crowd, but the overall environment that I witnessed was extremely peaceful. I was very proud to walk with the city of Oakland that night and am glad that many people showed up to demonstrate rather than to sit silent. – Tim

Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled
Untitled

photos by Tim Gatto

iRot

in

If you live in Oakland you can't help but notice the graffiti that covers most of the city. Since moving here, I cannot ignore that my landscape changes week by week. It has helped me pay attention to the politics that surround graffiti but also appreciate the art. Everyday on the way to work I bike by an oil change place that is always covered in graffiti. The roll up doors get painted over each week, and so do most of the walls, except for a spray character by iRot. The oil change guys sit in front of the wall in the perfect morning light, smoking and waiting for customers. For all of the reasons above, and out of fear that the character might get painted over, I have desperately wanted to take a photo.

I shoot mostly normal length lens cameras and am without anything telephoto, so I knew that I'd have to get pretty close in order to get the shot. My first attempt at getting the photo, I crusied in and asked a question about prices and snapped a quick photo with my point and shoot and rode off. Only 1/4 guys saw me, so I was pretty happy about that. When I got home that day I found out that my "trusty" p&s, had a broken film advance, and my roll didn't even take. I was bummed.

Determined to get the photo, I loaded some slide film in my more reliable point and shoot, and waited for a perfectly sunny morning. One came last week, and I pulled up to the place to a not-so busy staff. I up and asked them if I could take a photo of the crow. They looked at me weird, said sure, and moved out of the shot. I snapped the photo, but really wanted them in it. So, I asked them why they kept the crow but kept nothing else. The guys sat down, and told me that they kept it because they really liked it. I took another shot and can now bike to work without stressing. —Tim

photos by Tim Gatto

upside down crosses & triangles 11.15.11

in

Life in Oakland the last month or so. Trips to SF | Halloween | Art Murmur | OMCA | occupy | street dogs.

Headed to SF and tried to take a picture of everyone I saw on my bike ride. Guy at Rosemunde was not having it.

guy at Needles & Pens was interested in my camera and said sure.

guy #3

guy #4: Brian of BITBYZEUS fame!

then at some point towards the end of the month it was halloween and saw this president

Halloween was Comedy at the purple onion

to see our badass friend Becky Wolf

finally made it over to the Oakland Museum of Ca

Big Barry Mcgee installation when you walk in

Mark Klett & Byron Wolfe. My college photo teacher in a museum. very cool.

No photos of the Richard Misrach exhibit. but it was amazing, go see it. Huge scans.

afterwards we drank beers and looked at these hideous sights of oakland

east bay cars

whoopsies

checked out occupy oakland for a sec.

Just look at this unruly mob.

saw this fake banksy, with the word 'wolfy' above it.

chile jalepenos

headed to Art murmur downtown Oakland, first fridays on November 1st.

saw art?

more?

so much 'art' I headed to Sf the same night to hang with these fools.

and eat street dogs

Sorry for the mega photo dump or if you really wanted to see photos with upside down crosses in them, I hear those are hard to find. —Tim

Temescal Alley Barbershop

in

I recently headed over to the new barber shop on the block, Temescal Alley Barbershop, "A Classic barbershop that offers traditional barbershop services in the Temescal neighborhood of Oakland, CA". I sat down, was offered a beer (at 1030 am), and proceeded to get a pretty slick cut by a fully tatt-ed gentleman. All in all, I really enjoyed my experience at this barbershop. These guys were super cool, and I really like the haircut that I got. Highly recommended, here is a few photos that I snapped.

photos by Tim Gatto