Fresh installation at Rosewood House, 2523 Broadway, Oakland CA 94612. Exhibit featuring the works of Lindsey Whittaker. An Uptown Oakland/Temescal Telegraph resident, it’s only fitting that her work be featured in the most established and reputable art dealer in Uptown Oakland, the Rosewood House.

A bit about Broadway Auto Row connecting north to south, from CCA and Piedmont Avenue into Uptown Oakland/Grand – Downtown/Financial — Telegraph/Old Oakland/Chinatown, and concluding at the water of Jack London Square. Once dilapidated, during the 1980s recession under President Reagan, Broadway was under incredible strain: a ghost town heavily covered in graffiti. Auto Row was introduced into the vacant lots and built up with car dealerships to keep Broadway relevant and the tax dollars up for the City of Oakland. In return, Broadway was officially renamed to Broadway Auto Row to drive customers to a singular location where they could shop for vehicles in a booming economic period. Empty lots were filled with shiny, new automobiles and lots were lit 24 hours, thus safety and visibility replaced dark shadows and crime.

Now that Uptown Oakland is established thanks to, in newest to oldest developments: Fox Theatre, Grand @ Broadway, Whole Foods (Harrison/27th flagship grocery store) First Friday Art Walk, and  the refurbishing and residential loft transfomation of the historic Sears Roebuck building by then Mayor Jerry Brown, Uptown Oakland is gentrifying quickly. In addition to AC Transit rapid bus lines and transport hub located at 19th BART station, bicycles and pedestrian traffic is up.

Keep in mind that downtown Oakland, the financial district, just a few blocks south from Grand @ Broadway and 19th St BART, was the set location of Will Smith’s film, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006, director Chris Gardner). Taking place in 1981, the film was shot throughout downtown Oakland’s Broadway corridor, in its current state, serving as the backdrop for the timeline of the film – 1981. Essentially, Oakland hasn’t changed for almost three decades if that says anything of the lack of progress of Oakland in general. It goes to show that Uptown has been making big impacts that count to grow. Since 1969, Rosewood House has been through it all, through the ups and downs of Oaklands development and counter-culture and creation. Rosewood House has evolved into a custom furniture design boutique with an original art collection that rivals or exceeds the SF Asian Art Museum in diversity, authenticty, and quality of craftsmanship. I am ecstatic that Lindsey’s progressive and contemporary work can be rewarded and displayed in such a fine establishment. – Wilson of Dragon Motif

Lindsey Whittaker featured in Rosewood House window display