The "Sweet West Oakland" series was commissioned by Tanya Holland and Phil Surkis, owners of Brown Sugar Kitchen. They wanted me to capture what was sweet (and bittersweet) about the West Oakland neighborhood where the eatery is located, and where I have an art studio. Like so many other neighborhoods across the country, West Oakland finds itself in the midst of gentrification. It is caught between the need to maintain its historic and cultural richness while trying to define a new path of economic growth and prosperity. The series is on permanent display at the restaurant.