As part of their residency at Yerba Buena in San Francisco, Portland's Red 76 collective is doing another one of their "How To Create a Cultural District and Have it Vanish Into the Morning Mists of Dawn" projects in Oakland tonight. PORT reported on the Portland version here last summer. Once again, far from being naïve to the effects artistic activities have on the civic fabric, they understand the catalytic effects such activities historically have on neighborhoods and its their understanding of history that makes them relevant. It's like developers have radio tracking collars on artists and Red 76 acknowledges their role in the process in their statements. Their partial solution is to be more ephemeral and will take place tonight (11:59PM - 3AM) around 2nd and Franklin in Oakland, CA. They are also doing 2 laundry lectures tomorrow as well. Call their hotline for more info: 1(888) 212-5652.


Of course this raises larger questions, for instance is the intentional ephemeral, non commercial nature of these activities more or less easily co-opted by real-estate moguls? Also, I'm not convinced all developers are bad, although San Francisco certainly has been a massive cautionary tale that thankfully Portland has heeded to some degree. Is it enough? Objects as artifacts can be empowering as stubborn reminders to be navigated as well but Red 76 is just as bold about its ephemeral/communal approach. Also, does that ephemeral approach place them slightly more the mercy of writers?... and possibly attractive for that same reason? It's all good and I like Red 76's catalytic role, check em out.