Artists beware!! The owners of this space are more concerned with taking your money rather than…read moreactually supporting artists. The lowest monthly fee is $250, and that's just to join the space (and access a teeny tiny cubby space to keep any personal belongings). If you actually want to use any of their equipment or facilities (which is the whole point of becoming a member) they charge you an additional $50 monthly fee ON TOP OF your membership fee. PLUS, there's a $50 fee to take any orientation class, which is mandatory before you're even allowed to touch the equipment. They even charge you to use their printers!! I'm surprised there's not a fee to use the restroom...You get locked into a minimum year lease, and then are micromanaged with how you use the space. With creative culture dying in the Bay in favor of Big Tech, what artists need now more than ever is an affordable and accessible space to create and build community, without a financial barrier. THIS PLACE IS NOT IT.

The Compound Gallery is a (hidden?) gem of the Bay Area. It's *free* to enter/browse and there are…read morepieces here ranging from affordable to pricier. 1) I enjoyed David Fullarton's collection, "Everything's Getting Worse and I'm Not Helping," as well as browsing local artisans' pieces. The curation of this gallery feels cohesive. The pieces here are rich with meaning -- great conversation starters, so it's definitely an excellent place to bring a friend or two. 2) I wish I caught the name of the owner/director I met there yesterday -- he was so warm and a great host! It was my first time, and he took the time to briefly show me around the different areas of the gallery whilst entertaining my questions about the history of the gallery/its artists. He also shared upcoming events and exhibitions (artist talks, for instance), inviting me to stay connected! 3) Parking here is pretty great (I was at the gallery on the weekend). There's also a small park across the street -- great place to hang out and debrief after enjoying The Compound. I highly recommend The Compound Gallery -- I know I'll be back soon.

We visited for the first time to see a small show of a friend's artwork. What a cool little shop…read more It seems to mostly sell the work of the craftspeople who have studios there. The items are so diverse. There are many cat-themed items -- not cat lady items, more like "cat dude" items. It's close to the Ashby Bart and the people seem very friendly and low key. They have some wonderful and reasonable art, lots of cool prints. I couldn't tell when they are open, but think it's worth a call if you are looking for a unique gift or artwork for your own space.

I love this gallery! They have all different kinds of art, from cute little cactus arrangements to…read morefull-on illustrations. I purchased several prints from here - including the pictured one of the cats wearing fish heads - and several cards as well. Everything is beautiful, handmade, and original. The owners are lovely and welcoming, and everything is well priced. Definitely worth a visit, but bring some $$$. I would come to all of their openings if I lived closer!

Look no further for the perfect place to select the finishing touches for your home, office or…read moreanywhere you are wanting to make beautiful. Making beautiful home interiors is my profession and I always need help finishing up projects which is why I am so grateful to have Slate Gallery. Danielle and her partner Shelly are extremely knowledgeable about the artists they represent and they curate a beautiful collection. They are also able to source art from other galleries so when they don't have the exact thing a client wants they are able to pull from other local dealers. And not only that, they bring the art to my clients after they have spent time learning about what they want and where it is going to hang in the house. We have come to rely on them greatly here at LMB Interiors and our clients rave about their great service. I highly recommend.

I finally got to stop in at this new gallery in Temescal on my way home. The exhibit there now is…read moregorgeous, works by Jessica Martin, an emerging Bay Area artist. New exhibits every month, I look forward to finding a bit of Breathing Space at Slate when I need an art fix. Open Thu-Sat 10-5 + Art Murmur first friday nights, 7-9pm.

The notion of a starving artist is an oxymoron as the practice of learning how to create art comes…read moreat quite a price. Art schools, art classes, art supplies... they add up quickly . I recently spent 2-full days learning to paint with wax (a process called "Encaustics"). Kala provided all materials and instruction then set us loose in the studio to have at it, along with continuing tips and topics sprinkled in throughout the days, as we learned enough to absorb additional information and tools. 2 days here (10 - 4 each day) flew by quicker than an hour does at my job. Witnessing each student's process and finished products was inspiring. The instructor taught at a level that seemed fully understandable but most so to those with an art background (which most students had). Having only an appreciation for art, I think I'd have benefited more from a little more structure. Still, I got a kick out of the instructor getting our attention by calling out "Artists!" and then talking about things we might do in "your own studio". Riiiight... Regardless of my inabilities, it was still very fun and inspiring. The 2-day workshop cost $272 which is a big chunk of change but worth it. For 2-full days the only thing I focused on was creating art and learning the processes. I pushed all my neuroses to the back of my mind and just let the creative part prevail. Cheaper than therapy, I say. Kala runs lots of different art classes, is easy to find and has ample street parking right out front. The registration process is easy, the work space is big and airy, and the classes are fun. I'm busy thinking how I can arrange things to get myself doing something like this monthly.

I don't consider myself a natural artist, but after taking Introduction to Silkscreen with Emily…read morehere I feel like a spark of potential was finally lit. I thoroughly enjoyed the flexible after-work hours where I could relax and concentrate on just a few set tasks that go into making a screen and prints. The small class size felt both intimate and collaborative. I also loved how the teacher provided great materials to experiment with and Kala had all the necessary equipment. I'd love to come back and take more silkscreen later in the year!

Someone else described it as pompous, and that felt pretty accurate…read more The art itself was weird in a bad way, very dark, heavy vibes that just didn't feel enjoyable or inspiring. The whole place felt small and honestly not worth making a trip for. What really made it worse was the staff behavior. One worker or volunteer took a photo of us and then awkwardly hid behind a wall, which was unsettling. Another staff member kept staring at us the entire time, then eventually approached to say we couldn't have a water bottle inside and had to check it at the front desk. That would have been fine if the front desk had mentioned it in the first place. The inconsistency just added to the uncomfortable atmosphere. Overall, not worth the visit at all. If you are deciding between museums, Oakland Museum of California is much better and a far more enjoyable experience.

I went there today for an international film named "La ciénaga". I love the fact that they show…read moreinternational and other interesting films there! Hollywood movies are getting so boring to me with the same old formulas, so this was a great find! Inside was very spacious, modern, and clean. Bathroom was super clean, too! Location is very near downtown Berkeley ( 2min walk) and so convenient! I would definitely go back:)

Hugo built several shelving units for display art glass. The design was well thought out and…read moreperfectly built. He did extensive research to find the best type of material to place the glass on so they lighting could come through. The price was very reasonable. We really enjoyed our experience working with Hugo.

Contacted the studio to replace an old and decaying frame for a beautiful and important piece of…read moreart, and they did an an incredible job restoring the piece as well as picking out the right matting and frame to show off the beauty of the piece. They displayed high levels of experience and care when dealing with this piece, and clearly demonstrated their expertise in this matter. Very fast turnaround times, and overall very pleasant and easy to work with.

Amazing place! I look for Japanese antiques, however, they have a large collection of not only…read moreJapanese, but Chinese, Korean, etc. items. The warehouse is huge. It's kind of appointment-only, but they're easy to reach. I have purchased a few unique items from here, and the owners are very sweet.

I'll start by saying I showed up with my friend, and I was "underdressed" for sure for this place…read more Think graphic t-shirt & jeans. My friend (Japanese woman) was tastefully dressed and put together. The front door is not marked, like you have to know where you're going in order to enter. So we missed that. I was trying to find the entrance and found their larger bay door with metal gate across. I almost walked past, then walked back. Two Asian men were inside and seeing me stop, they struck up a conversation. I don't think they wanted to let me in, but asked how I found the place and I told them we were searching for antique shops and this was one on our list to visit. They let us in and made us feel welcome. My friend and I browsed the entire ~3500 square feet of their collection, which was very dense and hugely impressive. Mostly East Asian antiques, even my friend (who prefers European) was fascinated and we both agreed it felt like we were walking through a museum, but up close. The least expensive thing I personally saw a price on there was a small bird figure I really liked at $600. I also overheard a man try to bargain on something that was 15,000 and I saw many items in that range and above. One of the garden statues I really loved was $9,000. The man at the desk encouraged me to also see their website, where some of the pieces are listed (with prices, if applicable). Some items were only "price on request." Later in our browsing, a Caucasian woman approached us and wanted to find out more about us. I got the feeling she didn't think we belonged. She kind of stuck around us, and then asked if I owned any Asian pieces already. When I told her we'd bought a house in Japan she softened slightly, and recounted her years living there. I'm not the target client for this shop (yet), but perhaps someday. I will definitely not forget them.

Bought a Woody sofa. The seat cushion was not holding up. Cushion was replaced with one that was…read moreuncomfortable from day one. Sobu has refused to do anything about this. Terrible customer service. Do not recommend.

Love Sobu so much that our friends think we somehow share in the ownership structure ha! We…read moreparticularly love the oak pieces and have had a few for quite a long time but their rug collection is also very nice and we have two. Even though we've moved out of Oakland we still come visit whenever we are in town and regularly order to LA where we currently live. So glad to have discovered this store many years ago when we were living there and I think folks in other cities are missing out if they haven't discovered it too. I can't wait to buy my next piece - we have like 3 that were just waiting on a sale to buy :-)