One of my favorite events in the Bay Area is First Friday's in Oakland! This monthly event is an evening street festival charged with art and culture. Six blocks of Telegraph St. in downtown Oakland are closed for pedestrians and a huge number of artist booths, food trucks, and live music. Galleries, artist studios, restaurants and bars are opened up on Telegraph St. and beyond for the night and thousands of people come from all around for the event.

I have always enjoyed attending as a spectator, but this last First Friday I was invited to contribute to the magic of the event by painting a live mural with my good friend, Max Ehrman (EON 75)! Max and I have collaborated on paintings a handful of times, but the piece we created for First Friday I would say is my favorite. Max has an incredible style of painting which folds linear line and organic flow into cohesive imagery. Combining some of my stencil portraiture and patterning, I would say we have begun to set a strong foundation for collaboration between the two of us. I greatly look forward to more painting with Max!