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Artists from around the East Bay open their doors this weekend and let the public in to see their work during the first two days of East Bay Open Studios 2000. 

Open Studios, an event now in its 18th year, is put on by an organization called Pro Arts, whose purpose is to promote and advocate for the visual arts and artists in the East Bay. This year there are nearly 400 artists taking part, covering the entire spectrum of media. 

Juana Alicia is one of these artists. She is a mural painter who recently moved to Ninth Street in Berkeley from San Francisco. She has done murals for Whole Foods in San Francisco and has one in the new San Francisco Airport terminal. 

“One of the benefits (of Open Studios) is that people become familiar with your work,” Alicia said. 

As a few faces appeared at her door and hugs and greetings were exchanged all around, she added, “It also gives my friends an excuse to come see me.” 

Paintings of a smaller scale, though no less impressive, were being shown by Debbie Moore, who has been painting in her studio next to Freight and Salvage for 15 years. 

“I felt like I wanted to open up the doors,” she said. 

Moore calls her work Erotic Art Paintings. The pieces are largely interpretations of nude performances of the X-Plicit Players, of which Moore is an active member. Moore’s son Horizon had photos on display alongside his mother’s work. His work was of the X-Plicit Players’ performance at last year’s “How Berkeley Can You Be?” parade. 

Moore said her work evolved from painting super heroes for her children. Now, she “enjoys the idea of children seeing the nude body as super heroes.” 

At the West Berkeley Senior Center, 11 artists were showing their work as a group. They came together at a Pro Arts meeting called Sharing Space, meant for artists who do not have studios of their own to open to the public. Through the help of Curtis Billue, one of the artists, and Councilmember Kriss Worthington, they were able to get the City of Berkeley to donate the space. 

Linda DeLaurenti is one of the artists displaying her work at the senior center. This is her second year showing her oil paintings with a group at the center. 

“You get a lot more people (visiting) if you have a group of artists together,” DeLaurenti said. 

Last year the center got 200 to 300 people a day showing up to see artists’ work. Though Saturday’s turnout seemed a bit slower, things are expected to pick up as the event goes on. 

DeLaurenti pointed out that the benefit of Open Studios is not just in getting the public to see your work, but in hearing about your art from them. 

“The thing I like best is you get feedback,” she said. “You get to find out what they like in your work.” 

The Pro Arts gallery at Ninth, near Broadway in Oakland, is showing a sample of each artist’s work through the 11th. That exhibit runs Wednesday through Sunday and is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

East Bay Open Studios 200 continues next weekend, June 10 and 11. Artists open their doors at 11 a.m. and close them again at 6 p.m. 

Maps showing the locations of all the artists are available at various cafés and businesses around Berkeley and the East Bay, as well as all branches of the Berkeley Public Library. 

For a complete list of places you can pick up maps, see the Pro Arts web site at http://www.proartsgallery.org.