Color of Life NightLife

There’s more to color than meets the eye—see why in the Academy’s brand new, eye-popping exhibit Color of Life.

Come decked out in your favorite colors (the brighter the better!) and discover a world of dazzling live animals and shimmering scientific specimens.

Take a cue from nature and learn how animals use color to communicate, attract, and repel mates.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Talks on Color (African Hall)
7:30 pm, Learn about botanic color and the differences between natural dyes and synthetic dyes in the garment industry with a presentation by Rebecca Burgess, founder of Fibershed.

8:00 pm, Learn how our brains associate colors with specific numbers and letters through experience during a talk by Bryan Alvarez of UC Berkeley and Lauren Traetto.

Late Nite Art (Children’s Gallery)
8:00 & 9:00 pm, Join Oakland’s Late Nite Art and make a new friend while participating in a large-scale group art experience.

Pigments in Nature (Swamp)
6:00-10:00, Get face-painted with Circus of Smiles and learn about the origins of pigments in nature with a display from Sinopia Pigments.

Check out a display of naturally dyed textiles while picking up tips during an indigo dye demonstration with Fibershed. 

Want a world of color you can carry in your pocket? Head to the Piazza to create your own kaleidoscope with Green Art Workshop.

Color Adaptations (Project Lab)
6:30-9:00 pm, Check out color adaptations in amphibians and reptiles with UC Berkeley’s Alex Krohn and Karina Klonoski.

Whales Exhibit (Level 2)
6:00-9:30 pm, Marvel at colossal whale skeletons in the Academy’s exhibit Whales: Giants of the Deep.

Music in the Piazza (Level 1)
6:00-10:00 pm, Get down island style with DJ Mark Gorney, who will spin “vintage tropical 45’s.”

Food & Drink
A variety of food options are available at NightLife from 6-9:30 pm, including The Academy Cafe, The Terrace located in the West Garden, and The Academy Cafe Food Cart located in the front lobby.

Enjoy a different fresh seasonal "craft on draft" cocktail at each NightLife bar area designed by our resident mixologist Shane McKnight!

All bars accept cash and credit cards.

Exhibit Times
6:00-7:45 pm, Osher Rainforest—explore a lush, four-story rainforest that's teeming with life.

Note: Planetarium passes are distributed to visitors on a first-come first-served basis. Special programs and lectures may have limited seating and admission will also be made available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.