Dishes Washed and Uncles Chosen: A photo essay

A century of dishwashing photos at Local Economy

On Tuesday, September 8, Local Economy in Oakland hosts Justin Limoges for a slide talk built around a strange and very human archive: snapshots of people washing dishes, gathered from across the last one hundred years.

Limoges, who curated the Idora, Idora exhibition about Oakland’s old amusement park, has a good eye for the small details that tell bigger stories. Here, the subject is kitchen sinks, sleeves rolled up, family rooms nearby, and the quiet theater of everyday labor.

The setting should fit the material well. Local Economy has the feel of a neighborhood room where people can sit close, look carefully, and actually talk afterward. This is the kind of event where the best part may be the conversation after the slides are done.

The photos open up questions about family, chosen family, art history, and gender without making the evening feel heavy. If you like found images, Oakland history, or talks that make ordinary life look a little stranger, this one is worth putting on the calendar.

When: Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: Local Economy, Oakland, California
Details: <a href="https://planetzoop.com/event/dishes%2Dwashed%2Dand%2Duncles%2Dchosen%3Aa%2Dphoto%2Dessay%2Dsep%2D08%2

Justin Limoges, curator of the Idora, Idora exhibition about Oakland’s early 20th century amusement park, shares a collection of snapshots of people washing dishes, taken over the last one hundred years. What sorts of patterns and variations can be gleaned from looking closely at these enigmatic images, fished out of the pre-digital river of detritus and lost loves? And how might this vernacular archive connect to questions around family (whether by blood or chosen), art history, and the performance of gender? Come for a talk with slides, and stay for a discussion afterward.