The Gnomes of Oakland

by C.J. Hirschfield

This is a column that originally ran on January 30, 2013, when the mysterious “gnomes of Oakland” appeared on PG&E poles all around the city. Fairyland did make contact with the anonymous artist, who told us he used walking his dog late at night as “cover” for attaching the tiny wooden canvases.

At our recent Turn the Page! children’s book authors and illustrators event, we featured one of our favorite local authors, Kamaria Lofton, and the new book in her “Kids Love Oakland!” series, “The Gnomes of Oakland.” The book tells the story of what the gnomes do at night. “They hide in plain sight and can only be seen by those whose hearts are filled with Oakland things.”

Local author Kamaria Lofton at Fairyland’s Turn the Page! children’s book authors and illustrators event reading from her new book, "The Gnomes of Oakland." 

Original column:

About a week ago, I discovered that another Fairyland employee and I shared an obsession. With gnomes. In Oakland.

There are exactly 11 gnomes between my house and Fairyland. I’ve counted. I first discovered them when I observed a young neighbor giggling in delight as she ran from telephone pole to telephone pole, her dad tagging behind. She was squealing and pointing to the base of each pole. Her dad observed my questioning look, shrugged his shoulders and said with a big smile: “Gnomes.”

My co-worker Emily first noticed them in December as she was walking to work. “My first sighting was on Park View, across the street from Fairyland,” she recalls. “Then I noticed another. And another. That’s when I became really curious and started keeping my eye out for them.”

Gnome and toadstool on a telephone pole | photo by Gene via Oakland Wiki

I did some research. Here’s what I learned.

The gnomes seem to be multiplying daily, spreading all over the city of Oakland. They are painted on pieces of what appear to be recycled wood, about five inches square. The little plaques appear at the base of telephone poles but not trees. Some of the gnomes are wearing pants; some are dressed in kilts. Occasionally there will be a drawing of a mushroom next to the gnome. The artist, who so far has chosen to remain anonymous, paints in what could be described as a folk art style, colorful and childlike.

According to rumor, the artist may have begun the project near a pizza joint across the lake from Fairyland, since there seem to be so many gnomes there. But Emily, who now goes on expeditions to search for them, is convinced that they’re on the move. “I’m so into them,” she says. No kidding.

You shouldn’t be surprised that Fairyland workers are happy about the gnomes. We follow the park founders’ credo of “a surprise around every corner” as we look to enhance the experience of our guests, and the gnomes represent the continuation of this spirit outside our fairy gates. As a matter of fact, one of our art department employees, Shannon, recently came up with a prototype for small “fairy doors” that we will be placing at various locations around the park, encouraging kids (and their adults) to engage in some interactive and imaginative play. The doors could open into gnome homes, couldn’t they? Or as Emily puts it, “Gnomes obviously fit in at Fairyland. That’s just a given.”

Which I’m sure is why, just as I was preparing to write this column, a reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle called me to say she was writing an article on the phenomenon. Who better to comment on the whimsical and wonderful side of Oakland than a Fairyland spokesperson?

Here’s what I told her, and what I’ll tell you now.

We celebrate the spirit of whoever went to so much effort to create happiness-producing art all over our urban neighborhoods. This isn’t just about kids: My white-collar husband got just as excited as our young neighbor when he discovered the little guys. Like me and Emily, he was tickled by the mystery, and by the gnomes’ effect on his imagination. Who painted them? One person, or a team? Do they work under cover of darkness? And the most basic mystery of all: Why gnomes?

We don’t mind if the artist or artists remain anonymous. But we do want to show them some Fairyland love by offering them one of our new gold-plated Magic Storybook Keys. There’s a great knothole in an old tree just outside Fairyland’s gates. We could arrange to leave it there.

If you’re reading this, Mr. or Ms. Gnome Painter, we hope you’ll decide to take us up on our offer. And we seriously hope you keep the gnomes coming. Because right about now, Oakland can use a little more art, a little more whimsy, and a little more community.

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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 17 years as executive director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation’s oldest storybook theme park.

Citizens By Choice

By C.J. Hirschfield

Three years ago, Children’s Fairyland was approached by the federal government with an offer we just couldn’t refuse. Could we host a special citizenship ceremony, one solely for young children? Faster than you can say “happily ever after,“ we were in, agreeing to provide a day’s worth of fun for the families afterward too. Our Aesop’s Playhouse was packed with family members and well-wishers; there was music, speakers, an oath, as well as some tears, including my own. Twenty children, ages 3-9, from nine different countries were sworn in. We loved it. We repeated it the next year, and are so happy to say that we will be hosting the event once again, in July.

With Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf looking on, a new U.S. citizen, born in Nigeria, reads the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2017 children's naturalization ceremony held at Children's Fairyland.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ San Francisco Field Office explained that while adults and teens typically have ceremonies dedicated to them, it’s far less common for the younger kids to have a celebration of their own. Oakland’s Paramount Theatre holds two naturalization ceremonies for adults every month, swearing in approximately 1000 at each event. I’ve been to a couple, and they are both beautiful and inspiring.

The 2017 children's naturalization ceremony at Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California.

When I was asked last week if I would be interested in being a featured speaker at one of the adult ceremonies next week, I couldn’t say no. But I did request that a box of tissues be available at the podium, just in case.

My remarks should be less than five minutes, and should not be political. I will be speaking to immigrants representing 80 different nations. I intend to tell the story of my immigrant grandfather Morris Hirschfield, who came to America from what was then Austria-Hungary right around the turn of the last century when he was only 16. He sailed alone, came through Ellis Island, and settled in the Lower East Side of New York, which was both the center of the nation’s garment production, and a focus of its immigrant life.

Anna and Morris Hirschfield, 1923

If you’ve ever visited the Tenement Museum in New York and taken the Sweatshop Workers’ tour, you’ll see how my grandfather lived, working as a tailor. He later started his own garment district operation, and when automobiles became a thing, he made his living by selling used cars. He and my grandmother, who was from the same town in Europe, never attended college, but all of their kids—and grandkids—did. As it turns out, it was a good thing they left the old country, because in World War II they lost nearly every family member to the Nazis.

My other grandfather was born in England.
My in-laws were both born in the Czech Republic.
You get the idea.

I’m still working on my remarks, but I think I know what the ending will be like.

Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with over 27% of our residents foreign-born.

Our diversity is our strength; what our mayor calls part of the “secret sauce” that makes our city great.

I work in a storybook theme park—I understand the power of stories. Each of you Americans by choice have a very special story; you’ve worked toward this day for years. Share your stories, your talents, and your dreams with us; we’ll be better for it. Now you can vote, serve on a jury, and even run for office—and I hope you’ll take full advantage of these and so many more opportunities that will be open to you.

We see you, we welcome you, we thank you, we love you.

(Pass that box of tissues) and congratulations!

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C.J. Hirschfield has served for 17 years as executive director of Children’s Fairyland, where she is charged with the overall operation of the nation’s oldest storybook theme park.