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888 Pieces of We: A Photo MemoirPost an Event »

Oakland Art Gallery

July 30 - September 9, 2008

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199 Kahn's Alley Oakland, CA 94612
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888 Pieces of We: A Photo Memoir
The Oakland Art Gallery is pleased to present 888 Pieces of We: A Photo Memoir by Keba Konte. The exhibition will consist of 888 wooden photographs by Konte, taken throughout his life and depicting a variety of subject matter from all over the world. The number 8 is of particular significance to Konte because he was born on August 8th, (8/8). A San Francisco native, Konte has been taking photographs since the age of 8 when he was inspired by watching his mother work in the dark room. Since then Konte has traveled around the country and the world, photographing his experiences along the way. The 888 photographs to be shown in this exhibition will be of a variety of subjects; as Konte puts it, “ images of protests and portraits, street movements and political moments, freaks, friends and family members…” Konte explains that the common thread running through his works is that each makes up part of his life’s journey. Keba Konte received degrees in Photojournalism and Black Studies from San Francisco State University and in Digital Photography from San Francisco Multimedia Studies Program. He has exhibited his work in numerous solo and group shows throughout California and the United States. Konte has graced the covers of such prominent Bay Area publications as East Bay Express and City Flight while appearing within the pages of Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Upscale, Colorlines, SFSU, Code, Oprah at Home, Oakland Tribune and Oakland Magazine as well a myriad of journals and books including The International Review of African American Art, Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers; 1840 to the Present, Hands by Bernard Dadie and Nueva Luz Photographic Journal. Accolades include the 2006 Alameda County Art Commission Public Art Mural Award, Jack London Square Public Art Awards, SOHO PHOTO Alternative Processes Competition Exhibition Award, The En Foco New Works Photography Award and the prestigious commission to create the artwork for the 2003 Amnesty International/Sierra Club 'Defending the Defenders' poster campaign to raise awareness of the human rights of international environmentalists.