JOIN US for the next South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk on April 2nd!
8pm ’til LATE — ART WALK venues are free and open to the public
SoFA District (So. First Street between San Carlos and E. Reed streets)

• Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 South First St. map

  

  Opening Reception: Cloud Empire solo exhibition of Dimitri Drjuchin (NYC)

  Drjuchin’s art is a hyperdimensional machine that invokes creatures who come bounding forward with affection and recklessness. These are not the Icons of the Byzantine Church—they are the new Incarnated Symbols of the Multiverse. Drjuchin allows us a glimpse into a fractulated moment of cultural hypnagogic modality and an opportunity to alter our perspectives of reality.

  Featuring live music: Jhameel presents a blend of orchestral instruments, makeshift percussion, pop vocal melodies, and ambient synthesizers that creates an unfamiliar yet warm atmosphere. At live performances, he utilizes violin, trumpet, glockenspiel, percussion, guitar, and vocals to create intricate arrangements through a loop station.

  Drop in via Ustream

• Art Glass Center of San Jose – 465 South First St. map

  

  Lionel Chapital explores the experience of African women in his live torchworking demonstrations during the art walk at the Art Glass Center of San Jose. Kisima carries a vessel of water, held precious and valuable in the dry areas of that continent. Lori Peterson will create various flowers in soft glass as a preview to the Glass Flower Show coming in May.

• KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map

  [7-9pm] Opening Reception: Featured Exhibitions by Kurtis Rykovich, Kate Saturday

  
  art by Kurtis Rykovich

  WANDA new paintings by Kurtis Rykovich

  This show is a tribute to Breast Cancer survivors and casualties. Each piece represents a battle in search for a cure, they emanate hope that a future is not far in the distance.

  
  art by Kate Saturday

  Speaking Lines stories about people and their places by Kate Saturday.
  A chair, table and drawing materials will be provided. To read a story is to tell a story.

• MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 South First St. map

  
  Image credit: Indira Báez

  The gallery is closed for installation of the 12th Annual Latino Art Auction opening April 14, 2010. Check out the black box for free MACLA performances.

  I’m Still Jenny from the Block: A tribute to Latina pop stars featuring TurboMex video party, resident drag queen Donna Persona and sidewalk fire eater Ram Shackle Nicolas.

• Phantom Galleries – temporary exhibits in vacant storefronts

  386 South First St: Miguel Machuca — TBA

  
  Andy Gouveia

  388 So. First Street: Fault-lines an installation by Bay Area artist Andy Gouveia.

  A spray can and house paint mural painted live in Golden Gate park as part of the Indy Arts Fest 2009. This exhibition also hosts an array of his smaller paintings dealing with the myth and mystery of the ancient world.

• San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St. map

  
  Dinner at Eight by Joan Schulze
  2008, 48” x 91”, Silk, paper, Collage, glue transfer process, machine quilted.

  In the Main Galleries: Poetic License: The Art of Joan Schulze is a retrospective of the prolific 40-year career of innovative Bay Area collage artist Joan Schulze. Also on view: Navajo Weaving in the Present Tense: The Art of Lucy and Ellen Begay, a rare collection of a remarkable body of work by two contemporary Navajo weavers, a mother and daughter, whose work is deeply rooted in the traditional lifestyle they still lead.

  Special event: Reading of original poetry by featured artist Joan Schulze, 8-9pm.

• SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery – 577 South Market St. map

  

  GIANT MONSTERS!!!!! — SLG presents artwork from one of it’s newest graphic novels, Doris Danger: Giant Monster Adventures. Artist/author/creator Chris Wisnia will be on hand to sign books, draw monsters and otherwise talk about the coolness that is (are) GIANT MONSTERS. Artist featured in the show include Wisnia, Simon Bisley, Neal Adams, Mike Allred and a whole lot more.

  Live music featuring Boozewackers. Doors open at 8:00 for the always fun and interesting Art Boutiki.

• Works San Jose – 451 South First St. map

  
  art by Dennis Champion

  Artist’s Reception in P2 Gallery — Image and Abstraction by Dennis Champion reflects the translation of unconscious thought and image into 2D abstracts. Some pieces are a combination of figurative images of unconscious origin and of totally abstract renderings of “thoughts unknown.”

  On view in the main gallery—Female Found Mixed Media Contemporary Art, curated by Terenia Offenbacker, presents the work of eight women that create art together through weekly sessions for the past seven years.

• Caffé Trieste – 315 South First St. map

  

  Opening Reception: Venice Squared A Photographic Comparison of Venice, Italy and Venice, California by John Eric Paulson, Master Photographer. Photography has been both John’s passion and profession for the past 34 years. He has a B.A. degree in Art from San Jose State University and has been awarded both the Master of Photography and Photographic Craftsman degrees from the Professional Photographers of America.

  In 1997 John began pursuing digital images in his work. John’s current works have evolved from his travels in the Mediterranean. Capturing the basic beauty of the land and enhancing it’s drama is what he enjoys best.

  First Fridays are Opera Night at Caffe Trieste, with some of the Bay Area’s best opera singers performing your favorite arias and duets.

  Drop in via Ustream

• Downtown Yoga Shala – 450 South First St. map

  

  Downtown Yoga Shala is proud to feature native American artist Paul Rubio. A San Jose native, Paul’s sculpture and pottery is both contemporary and original, not connected to any one culture or historic period. Each piece speaks of the inherent magic in life intuited by our primitive ancestors, and the value in our efforts to understand our deep bond with nature. Join us in celebration of our One Year Anniversary for a special Candlelight Yoga class at 6-8pm followed by a Private Artist viewing from 8:00-8:15pm, before we open our doors to the art patrons and downtown community for the South First Fridays Art Walk from 8:15pm till late.

• Good Karma Vegan Café – 37 South First St. map

  

  Opening Reception: Biomechanical Works Recent paintings, sculptures, prints and apparel by Ron Earhart (Analog Tattoo)

• METRO Photo Exhibit – 550 South First St. map

  

  Opening Reception: oooohhh Dios mio photos by the First St. Photo Collective

• South First Billiards & Lounge – 420 South First St. map

  

  Opening Reception: Bringing Back the Color! featuring: John Cloud, Mike Kjolhaug, Nicolas Caesar, Lina Ruelas

  A group art exhibit celebrating color. showcasing four artists who know how to use color to its full potential. They will show you how beautiful color can be. This exhibit is sure to lift your spirits and open your mind. Live art and live music by: Frail Soul, INFM, and Ghost Town Hangmen.

• Art Ark – 1035 South Sixth St. map

  

  6-9pm Opening Reception: Live From the ARKives This group exhibition is comprised of twenty local artists working in a variety of mediums; some of which have chosen to exhibit works from their archives while others have reached into the recesses of their memories to create new works that address the concept of stored content.