NEWS: The Oakland Business Review article on the Flight Deck

VISUAL ART: Just Ripe Exhibit

I am making art again, and was a featured artist in the Flight Deck inaugural exhibit, Just Ripe on display June 6-July 20, 2014 (see show announcement below).

I had several pieces including this one which is a series of photo transfers on wood and photographs.

To see the work, please go to my portfolio page on my artist website.

NEWS: Flight Deck Business Development

Since 2012, I worked with Ragged Wing Ensemble to create a new art space in downtown Oakland called the Flight Deck. Specifically, I partnered with Executive Director, Anna Schneiderman, to conduct a feasibility study and write a business plan with an innovative share model for paying the rent and creating collaborative programming. The project provided a vehicle for me to use my urban planning expertise to work with the developers, architects and community partners to bring the concept from an idea to fruition. We led a team of six staff in a $300,000 fundraising effort. I played a key role in working with the City of Oakland to secure a matching grant through their Redevelopment program. We, as a group, ran a successful crowd-funding campaign through Indiegogo that raised $50,000. In addition to developing the business model, I also designed and maintain the Flight Deck website, serve as the Flight Deck Manager and am a contributing member of the social media and blogging team.

The project was profiled in the San Francisco Chronicle, on the cover of the Datebook, and in the East Bay Express. Additionally, the Flight Deck was voted best new venue, only one month after opening, by the readers of the East Bay Express.

I wrote a blog post about the opening of the space.