Drive, She Said
It's urban, it's carless, and it's free.
East Bay Express, Stefanie Kalem -
May 28, 2003
It's summertime, and the Nonchalance Collective makes subversive socializing easy (Or, if you prefer: Nighttime/summer in the city/Nonchalance makes sure it ain't too shitty). This Friday and Saturday night, the group celebrates the start of its second official summer event series with a brand-new Liberation Drive-In. The guerrilla film events continue on the last weekend of every month, but with a slightly different MO and mission this summer.
"We're in our warrior stance, aggressively pursuing this," says Nonchalance's Jeff Hull. "Some of the teammates have changed, and there are new challenges with doing stuff in public space ... but there's more collaborations." For the June drive-in, Nonchalance is partnering with the Church of the SubGenius, and the kickoff party gets a hand-up from some members of local laptop jam band CatFive. This weekend will be all-music-oriented, or, as Hull puts it, "It's gonna be a party this time. We're going to bring back some memories with some of the videos. It's less conscious, more unconscious." In addition to videos by Fela Kuti, Gil Scott-Heron, Minor Threat, Gary Numan, Bon Scott-era AC/DC, Fila Brazilia, Daft Punk, and more, they'll be screening John Heyn's paean to the goat-throwing '80s, Heavy Metal Parking Lot, and last year's musical travelogue, 1 Giant Leap. Bum's Paradise will be screened first thing Saturday night.
This weekend also serves as a release party for the second volume of Nonchalance's zine, the OAKSLANDER Lakeside Gazette, featuring articles on Gravy Train!!!!, sideshows, subterranean waterways, and many more things Oaklandish. Later in the summer they'll be showing the sideshow doc Sidewayz, but Nonchalance is still looking for films. So bring your short-format, mini-DV, or VHS masterwork to the event (they're that friendly) or send it to PO Box XXXX, Oakland, CA
The party starts at 9 p.m. and winds down around 2 a.m. at Douglas Parking Lot on Harrison between 15th and 17th streets. Bring a chair or blanket to chill on and some refreshments to keep your mouth busy. The festivities are free. Visit www.nonchalance.org for more details.
THE PUNK-PLANET INTERVIEW
The Definitive Story of Oaklandish
Oakland Artists Celebrate Ignored Beauty
SF Chronicle, Aug. 23, 2002
Best Public Art: City of Dreams
Best of the East Bay Award (Express), May 8, 2002
Working the Grime Sublime
East Bay Express, August 21, 2002
There, There, There - New zine celebrates our local "ghost town."
East Bay Express, 2003-01-15
Oaklandish Gallery Opens Downtown
Oakland Tribune, Nov. 29, 2003
Oakland Loves Outlaws
East Bay Express, Feb 11, 2004
Proudest Hometown Merchandise
Best of the East Bay Award (Express), 2005-04-06
Oaklandish Gallery Forced to Close as City Mysteriously Clamps Down
Oakland Tribune, September 5, 2005
Lake Merritt Merriment: Regatta Event Promises Fun on the Water
San Francisco Chronicle August 23, 2007
Also featured in Juztapoze, Art Papers, Vibe, Readymade, New York Times, and Kitchen Sink Magazines
