Friday, June 25, 2010

Scenes From a Lingering Garden

 
 
This promises to be quite amazing and perhaps even a little magical.  A very rare opportunity to see this incredible garden in the middle of downtown Oakland.  Do you know there was a 3.5 acre private garden in Oakland?  I sure didn't! 
 
Here's a preview video of what you might expect.  Love the cuckoos!  The following was emailed to me by my friend Hugh Livingston, who is responsible for this wonderful craziness:
 
A 58-channel composition for a beautiful rooftop garden floating above downtown Oakland. Composed and produced by Livingston Sound with Brendan Aanes and Andrea Williams.

One day only, 5-8pm, Sunday June 27 2010. Admission $5.

What is a teatro di verdura and what does it sound like? Will the giant gong survive being mounted in the pond? Tomato cages as speakers, as well as birdcages, bowls from Smart & Final, acrylic pyramids, and of course, cymbals. The pine-lute pavilion (shokin-tei), the garden of questionable clockwork, the garden of frozen delights, and 3 vintage hand-cranked phonographs playing 78RPM recordings of 1940s birds.

Live performances by Kyle Bruckmann, Shayna Dunkelman, Matt Ingalls, Gretchen Jude (oboe, percussion, clarinet, koto). Field of Gongs by Matthew Goodheart.

Wines by eno wines and Ehrenberg Cellars, of Alameda. Light catering by Valerie Jackson Events and La Farine.


Remember these details to find the garden: it is not visible from the street, but is on the roof of the parking garage, which will be closed for the weekend. The entrance to the elevator that takes you to the roof is on Webster St between 20th and 21st, just between the 24 Hour Fitness and the CVS. More here: http://livingstonsound.com/

Funding from the City of Oakland, American Composers Forum, Open Circle Foundation.


5 comments:

  1. Christine,

    Oh, I love Hugh's work... he's brilliant.

    I'd love to attend... wonder if I can make it.

    xo Alice
    aka Bay Area Tendrils

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  2. I've been to this garden a couple of times. It certainly isn't easy to find.

    I'm going to be down by Lake Merritt for the Oakland Fiber Festival, so I should stop by!

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  3. I had no idea that garden was there, and I used to live in Oakland! Wish I could make it :(

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  4. Love the soundtrack. Reminds me of Gyorgy Ligeti's Poème Symphonique for 100 metronomes...

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