Shopping Stories: Arts and Crafts in Berkeley’s Labyrinthine Sawtooth Building

Painter Salma Arastu surrounded by paintings in her Berkeley CA studio. She wears a beige and red sari. Photo by BF Newhall — Salma Arastu in her Berkeley studio, surrounded by hundreds of paintings, prints and sculptures she has made over the years.

By Barbara Falconer Newhall

I caught the last minute of the last day of the annual San Francisco East Bay Open Studios on June 9. I didn’t go there intending to shop. My plan was to stop by painter Salma Arastu’s studio in the funky Sawtooth Building on Eighth Street in Berkeley. Salma is an Indian woman who converted from Hinduism to Islam — and I wanted to talk about interviewing her for my book.

As I left Salma’s studio, however, I realized that the Sawtooth Building was rabbit warren of

A painting tucked away in the back of Salma's studio. Red and green with human figures suggested. Photo by BF Newhall — I spotted this painting tucked away in the back of Salma’s studio.

tunnel-like halls and spaces packed with painters, textile artists, jewelry makers and sculptors. My trusty point and shoot in hand, I ducked in and out of several studios.

More than 400 artists and craftspeople participated in the East Bay Open Studios this year. Sponsored by Pro Arts, the annual event takes place in Berkeley, Oakland and other locations in the East Bay.

Next year I won’t wait till the last minute to stop by.

More East Bay craftspeople at “Sue Johnson Lamps and Shades — Works of Art in Berkeley,” “Amazing Clay” and “Ceramics Envy.”