Island City Waterways Art Walks
Honoring Alameda’s cultural past and present, Island City Waterways Art Walks utilized the arts as a vehicle to celebrate and share Alameda’s unique community history by connecting people to each other and the place they live.
Six Island City Waterways Art Walks were presented on Alameda’s historic main streets and new development sites on Alameda Point, celebrating Alameda’s cultural past and present with music, art and stories, honoring the community’s inhabitants, creating opportunities for social engagement and offering a positive outlook for the future.
As part of the Island City Waterways project, Rhythmix presented Island City Waterways: Uprooted on May 20-22, 2022, at the site of the former Naval Air Station on Alameda Point. The theme “uprooted,” refers to the young draftees, military families, and workers who pulled up roots to follow the war industry, as well as those of Japanese ancestry who were forcibly removed to WWII internment camps.
Previous Art Walks
Rhythmix Cultural Works’ first ICW Waterways Art Walk was scheduled in 2020 at the site of Alameda’s Chochenyo Park. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this event was re-envisioned as a public art installation and virtual reception celebrating the renaming of the site formerly known as “Jackson Park”.
The artwork was purchased in July 2021 through a community led GoFundMe campaign initiated by City Councilmember John Knox White and is now part of the City of Alameda’s permanent art collection on display at City Hall.
Bringing the artist’s voice to the renaming of Alameda’s first park, Rhythmix invited artist Stephen Bruce to curate a temporary art installation to replace the park’s signage during the renaming process. In this important moment of change, the installation brought together the work of six different African American artists, Stephen Bruce, Abi Mustapha, Andrea McCoy Harvey, Ashlei Reign, Tiffany Conway and Zoë Boston, to create a vision of our future.
Webster Street has slowly overcome the fall out of being the site of off-base Navy recreation and is currently being revitalized by local businesses into a vibrant, thriving commercial district in Alameda. The 2nd ICW Art Walk presented local musicians on Webster Street, representing the diverse population of Hispanic, Eastern European and African Americans, that came before or live(d) next to the NAS, invigorating the streets with vitality and a reminder of the West End’s changing demographics.
Featured Artists:
Trio Sin Lio (Latin music) at the Al Fresco Dining Park
Karamo Susso & Nicco Tyson (West African Kora & guitar) at Feathered Outlaw / Pacific Pinball Museum
Kelmo! (Roma music) At the former US Bank
Youth Expressions of Unity through the Arts (spoken word, poetry, song) with Alameda youth facilitated by Robbie Wilson, Unite Alameda for Change and the Black Achievers Alliance at Feathered Outlaw / Pacific Pinball Museum
Honoring Alameda’s Japanese American community with traditional Japanese folk arts, contemporary dance, traditional taiko and world music in Alameda’s historic Japantown district, the Japantown Art Walk observed the memory of Alameda’s Japantown that was lost during WWII.
The Rhythmix Island City Waterways Japantown Art Walk was presented in conjunction with Tonarigumi – Alameda’s Historic Japantown Neighborhood, a partnership between the City of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, The Buddhist Temple of Alameda and the Alameda Free Library to raise awareness and reclaim the memories of the past, remember the Issei elders and all they endured, and be uplifted by the strength and resilience of a community.
Featured Artists / Speakers:
ODC/Dance at the Alameda Free Library with speakers Janet Koike and Reverend Michael Yoshii
Ensohza Minyoshu, TaikoPeace and Jane Suiei Naito at the Buddhist Temple of Alameda
Maze Daiko at Buena Vista United Methodist Church with speakers
From the marshlands and forests of the Chochenyo, Muwekma and Ohlone people, to railroads, bathing resorts, saloons and tattoo parlors; from Neptune Beach, the Aerodrome and the Naval Air Station to the large-scale commercial and housing developments we see today, Alameda’s West End has always been home to a vibrant mix of people, cultures and traditions.
Live performances of music and dance from Zimbabwe, Colombia, Oakland and Alameda, celebrated where we came from, where we are today, and where we’re going, invigorating the streets with vitality and recognition of Alameda’s ever-changing West End.
Featured Artists:
Mbira dzaSoko (Zimbabwean Music & Dance) at the former US Bank
Youth Expressions of Unity through the Arts (Spoken Word & More)
Bryan Dyer Live w/the 505! (World-Flavored Vocal Soundscapes) at Feathered Outlaw / Pacific Pinball Museum
Los Bahianatos (Colombian Music) at Al Fresco Dining Park
The Rhythmix Island City Waterways Art Walks and Animate Dance Festival combine forces to celebrate the opening of Alameda’s new Waterfront Park with performances by Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble, Fog Beast, Axis Dance Company, Maze Daiko, 13th Floor, and more.
Featured Artists:
Axis Dance Company, Crosspulse Percussion Ensemble, Fog Beast, 13th Floor, Maze Daiko, Animate Alameda, College of Alameda Dance
Featured Activity:
Aeolian Installation curated by Thingamajigs
A sonic journey down Park Street, connecting cultures through the sounds of Zimbabwean mbira, Puerto Rican plena, American Tribal Style belly dance, Detroit blues and students on strings for the final installation of Island City Waterways Art Walks. Featuring music by Piwai, La Mixta Criolla, Jake Sampson and the Bay Area Music Project, with dance performances by Sandi & Yuka, each group presents a mix of styles, combining traditional and modern elements with a unique Bay Area twist.
Featured Artists:
Piwai at Karibu Lounge
Bay Area Music Project at Twirl
Jake Sampson/Matt Baxter Duo at Daisy’s
La Mixta Criolla and Sandi & Yuka at Alameda Ave
Press
Alameda Sun, May 5, 2022. Connecting Cultures and Community Through Music. By Sun Staff Reports.
Alameda Sun, April 14, 2022. Waterfront Park Opening Celebrates Climate Change Theme. By Richard Bangert.
7×7, April 4, 2022. Alameda Point Waterfront Park opens with a free performance arts festival. By Shana Bull.
Alameda Sun, March 31, 2022. Music and Dance Festival Scheduled for the New Waterfront Park. By Sun Staff Reports.
East Bay Times, March 29, 2022. Alameda Point dance, music fest set for April 9 at new Waterfront Park. By Lou Fancher.
Broadway World, March 9, 2022. Alameda Launches Much Anticipated New Waterfront Park At with Kickoff Event. By A.A. Cristi.
Alameda Sun, September 29, 2021. Rhythmix Art Walk Honors Alameda’s Historic Japantown. By Karin Kay Jensen.
Newsbreak, September 9, 2021. How Rhythmix Art Walk Honored the Haunting History of Alameda’s Japanese American Community. By Karin K Jensen.
Alameda Sun, September 9, 2021. Honoring Lost Japantown through the Performing Arts. By Tina Blaine.
Alameda Sun, November 12, 2020. Time for Change: ‘Creating Our Future.’ By Sun Staff Reports.
Island Waterways Art Walks are made possible with support from:
Foundations
Arts Angel
$25,000
Impresario
$5,000
Visionary
$2,500
Innovator
$1500
