You know a gallery is a nexus of civilization when the Minister of Culture himself exhibits there. In June, Joyce Gordon Gallery hosted the prints of graphic artist Emory Douglas, who held that title in the Black Panthers and was responsible for the artwork in its newspaper in the 60s and 70s.

A black-waistcoated, ponytailed man pulls a ball of light from his assistant’s ear. He pulls more glowing orbs from his forehead and hands, then makes his glowing wand appear to levitate.

Unworthy, Zooburbia, and This Is Oakland get mentions in Media Shelf.

Robots, National Poetry Slam, Independence Day, Supermoons, and Classic Films.

A roster of events going on this month.

John Francisco works hard to keep the legacy of his brother, Mike “Dream” Francisco, alive. Dream, a prolific Oakland graffiti artist, was the fatal victim of an armed robbery in Oakland in February 2000. His murder left behind a hole in the Bay Area hip-hop community and also an infant son, Akil.

Miriam Infinger’s family loaded up their trailer and headed West from Illinois, finally settling in Alaska, where she grew up alongside the boy who would eventually be Sarah Palin’s pastor.

Kyung Lee, like countless people before her, was more than impressed by her first encounter with one-of-a-kind East Bay architect Eugene Tssui.

In one video, Bochan Huy puffs a cigar and sings soulfully about luxury cars. In another, she wears shimmering traditional Cambodian costumes in scenes cross-cut with photographs of people executed by the Khmer Rouge.

A Q&A with the Virago Theatre Company maven.