Features

Donations to the Oakland Museum White Elephant Sale will be accepted at the Warehouse on Saturday November 7 and December 5, and the van is available for pick-up of large items. 

The annual sale, slated for March 5 and 6, last year raised over $2 million for the Oakland Museum, an educational and cultural center that serves the community not only with exhibits but also parties and events year-round, including Friday nights that feature music and Off-the Grid food trucks and half price admission to the Museum. 

Artists are encouraged to donate inventory that is cluttering up closets and studios, works that haven’t sold but deserve to be treasured by new owners, especially young and low-income city dwellers who otherwise could not afford original art. The donation of art work is tax-deductible and will probably be snatched up at the Preview Sale on Sunday January 31, which is a ticketed event that attracts collectors who have an eye and a purse for quality originals. 

Artists who are planning to donate should ensure that your work is clearly marked with name and date to establish provenance and attribution. A frame ensures a higher price at the sale as well as for the tax-deduction. 

All gifts allow the donor entrance to the warehouse on the days just prior to the March White Elephant Sale, avoiding the long lines. If you have never experienced this high end garage sale, it’s a treasure trove and a hoot! They don’t take everything, so be sure to check the list of items that are not accepted before packing your boxes. 

Toni Mester is a member of the Oakland Museum Heritage Society.