Join us on First Friday February 7th as we kick-off our 19th year of ArtWalk SJ bringing our community together through arts and music in downtown San Jose!
The February FIRST FRIDAY ArtWalk event will showcase an extraordinary lineup of exhibitions and special performances across multiple galleries and venues in SoFA District (and beyond!).
Our excellent participating organizations will be featuring hyper-local to global artists conveying their unique talents through the visual arts, live music, dance, and theatre performances. All participants are deeply committed to our creative community making the FIRST FRIDAY ArtWalk a cornerstone of San Jose’s vibrant artistic and cultural landscape.
We look forward to seeing you Friday, February 7th, 5pm–9pm.
Free admission and all ages welcome.
SoFA District
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 S. First St. map
Artist’s reception: Divine Intervention
Vermin Graffiti by Dale vN Collins (Ireland)
Dale Collins, an internationally recognized contemporary artist based in Ireland, bridges the gap between negativity and positivity through his art. His work explores the tension between despair and hope, drawing inspiration from his own life experiences and the story of Vermin, an infamous graffiti artist from 1990s Bristol, UK.
Collins’ latest series, “Divine Intervention,” channels subconscious energies through intuitive mark-making techniques, embedding layers of graffiti tagging poetry as a transformative force. Each piece begins with a central horizontal line, rooted in Vermin’s iconic graffiti tag, and expands through improvisation. The artist blends influences from Impressionist masters with the raw energy of Neo-Expressionism, reflecting the concept of divine intervention where instinctive creativity transforms pain into beauty.
The artwork serves as both a personal meditation and a tribute to resilience, honoring Vermin’s voice while manifesting positivity. Collins’ practice becomes a process of reconciliation and healing, creating a space where minds, stories, and struggles collide in an effort to transform and transcend the lingering shadows of mental illness. For Dale, art is not merely expression; it is a process of healing, connection, and transformation.
Dale Collins holds a BA honors in fine art from Coventry University, UK, and is a former student of the MA abstract painting program at California State University, Long Beach, CA. His upcoming solo exhibition, “Divine Intervention,” at Anno Domini features his most intense works to date.
KALEID Gallery – 320 S. First St. map
All are invited to join us for the opening of DEBUT presented by KALEID resident artist Jennifer DeChenne. We are excited to share the gallery in an effort to encourage and support these talented young artists in their first exhibition.
Debut an exhibition featuring the Art Students of Jennifer DeChenne
This is a collection of pieces created by young and budding Artists. Even though they’re different ages and levels of experience, they share a curiosity for Art, and the gumption to experiment and take risks.
Each Artists’ individual collection of pieces is a small window into their personalities and artistic journey. Hopefully, you’ll not just see them developing their technical skill, but you’ll see them developing their individual point of view.
I truly admire my students’ stick-to-itiveness and pure creative spirit. This is something all of us can access readily when we‘re young, but it can get buried with passing time. I like to think we all still have access to this creative spirit, and I hope nurturing this from a young age will help them broadly in their lives, beyond their artistic pursuits.
Jennifer DeChenne is an Artist living in Pleasanton, California. Jennifer has been teaching Art for 15 years in various settings, all across the Bay Area. The students in this exhibition work with Jennifer one on one, for about one to two hours each week. Her approach to teaching varies with each student, as everyone has very different experience levels and goals. Jennifer believes Art is about the Artist’s intention and message, and helps students develop their technical skills to be able to communicate their messages clearly.
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 S. First St. map
Mírame
Abby Aceves (Los Angeles), Tiffany Alfonseca (New York), Ruby Bloo (San José), Monica Hernandez (New York), and Elba Raquel (San José) examine how cultural beliefs have shaped and constrained women’s roles. Through painting and mixed media, the transformative power of breaking societal confines celebrates a collective movement towards liberation.
FREE performance at our Castellano Playhouse: ¡AZUCAR! Cuban Cabaret with DJ Leydis & Latin Bay Ashe
Join us in celebrating the vibrant cultural and artistic traditions of the Caribbean and its diaspora. The evening will feature a dynamic set by the renowned DJ Leydis and a high-energy dance performance by Latin Bay Ashe. Performing at 7:30 pm and at 8:30 pm in our Castellano Playhouse. Photo by Tommy Lau, courtesy of DJ Leydis.
Opera San José at California Theater – 345 S. First St. map
Bluebeard’s Castle A Night of Mystery and Intrigue Awaits at the California Theatre!
Prepare for an unforgettable evening filled with music, creativity, and interactive fun—all free to the public, with the aim of uniting and engaging our community.
The night begins with a captivating Wurlitzer organ performance by Jerry Nagano, setting the stage with suspenseful and romantic melodies. Then, be transported by the haunting voices of our opera singers as they perform the dark, passionate, and eerie music from Bluebeard’s Castle.
Enjoy fresh popcorn and hot beverages as you immerse yourself in the performance. The experience doesn’t stop at the music! Get creative with Local Color’s interactive activity, where you can express yourself with temporary tattoos inspired by the artwork from Bluebeard’s Castle. For the curious, embark on a scavenger hunt that leads you through the theater and lobbies, uncovering hidden surprises. And for a touch of mystery, Yuliya, our tarot card reader, will offer a glimpse into the unknown.
Join us for a night of music, mystery, and discovery, where every activity is designed to build community and create lasting connections. We can’t wait to see you there!
Phantom Galleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
Phantom Galleries is proud to present:
Beyond Borders Natasha Kramskaya Solo Exhibition
Ukrainian-born Californian artist Natasha Kramskaya’s first solo exhibition Beyond Borders, showcases a broad collection of vibrant paintings ranging from portraits to abstracts.
Cultural identity, kindness, and the fragility of life are central to Natasha’s work, reflecting the human experience in its most profound forms. In her recent works, Natasha explores the fusion of ancient symbols and traditions with contemporary elements and unconventional colors, creating a unique visual narrative.
Recurring motifs of sunflowers, both realistic and stylized, symbolize Ukrainian resistance and appear throughout her work, embodying strength and resilience. Natasha creates a unique blend of Ukrainian heritage and contemporary American art. Her ability to balance realism and abstraction offers viewers a captivating visual experience that transcends cultural boundaries.
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art– 560 S. First St. map
Allegedly the worst is behind us
featuring: Razan AlSalah, Demetri Broxton, Arleene Correa Valencia, Paola de la Calle, Mik and May Gaspay, Pantea Karimi, Suchitra Mattai,Tricia Rainwater, Trina Michelle Robinson, Shirin Towfiq, Livien Yin
Allegedly the worst is behind us highlights the practice of twelve contemporary artists who pursue personal and collective acts of rebuilding fractured memories and stolen histories. Positing the body as an archive with generations stored achingly inside, the exhibition prompts examination on the toll of historical trauma and how to recover fragments of disrupted pasts.
Join us for the First Friday of 2025 for a movie night. This screening will be of “Missing from Fire Trail Road” directed by Sabrina Van Tassell. “Missing from Fire Trail Road” dives into the case of Mary Ellen Johnson-Davis, a Native-American woman who disappeared in 2020, exposing how hundreds of Indigenous women continue to go missing in the US, perpetuating trans-generational trauma on Indian reservations. The entire film is 1h 41m and will be playing throughout the night.
San Jose Jazz – 310 South First St. map
SJZ Break Room Jazz Jam
Join us at the SJZ Break Room for our First Friday showcase of youth talent, featuring our elementary and middle school musicians from our Progressions program, our High School All Stars U19s combo and our house band, the Michael Webster Quartet.
Progressions play from 4:50pm–5:20pm, U19s play from 5:30pm–6:10pm, and Michael Webster Quartet play from 6:20pm–7pm. The open jam goes from 7pm–9pm, during which time we’ll cover jazz standards, Real Book charts, and the good old 12-bar blues. Admission is free. Don’t forget your instrument! We’ll have a drum set, a piano, and amplifiers for bass and guitar players. Drop in any time from 5pm–9pm to hear the future of jazz! Intermediate and advanced youth musicians in their teens or early twenties are invited for this jazz jam, free and open to the public in conjunction with South First Fridays ArtWalk SJ.
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St. map
sustainABILITY by Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
How do we balance humanity’s needs and desires against preserving our planet for future generations? This question is at the heart of sustainABILITY, which addresses some of today’s most pressing environmental issues, such as the effect of plastic pollution on our oceans and the immense amounts of waste generated by the fast fashion industry.
All of the artwork, in some way, illustrates our complex interconnectedness with nature. Some pieces expose the ugly and often unnoticed impact of our present way of life; others capture the essence of what makes our world so beautiful, reminding us of the irreplaceable treasures we could potentially lose forever.
Historic District
Chopsticks Alley Gallery – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Lành: A Healing Journey
Participating artists: Angelina Melchor Nguyen, Jayann Bella, Jonathan Perea, Hang Huynh , Hargun Mahal Mann, Lailani Africa
A vibrant tapestry of personal narratives, each piece reflecting a unique vision of healing. Through diverse methodologies—spanning traditional, experimental, and everything in between—our artists reveal the varied and winding paths they’ve traveled to mend, restore, and transform. May their works inspire you to explore, reflect, and uncover your journey toward healing.
Hammer2 Gallery – 101 Paseo de San Antonio map
Perspectives
Featuring: Carlo Ricafort, Tovah Cheng, Dani Torvik, Peter Moen, Josie Lepe, Ian Fabre
The Hammer2 Gallery features a rotating display of artwork by San José State University alumni. The current exhibition brings together the work of five alumni artists: Carlo Ricafort, Dani Torvik, Peter Moen, Josie Lepe, Tovah Cheng, and Ian Fabre. These artists explore work in a variety of media, including watercolor, oil paint and mixed media, and diverse subject matter, including personal identities, cultural symbols, family history and abstract forms.
Works/San Jose – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Back to Square One
Participating artists: Irene Carvajal, guest co-curator, Adrienne Defendi, Nina K Ekman, Victoria Heilweil, Pantea Karimi, guest co-curator, Deborah Kennedy, Jessica Kwong
Back to Square One presents the grid and pattern in a story of conquest, erasure, and appropriation. Through the cultural and archival research of artists Pantea Karimi and Irene Carvajal the beauty of decorative tile-work gets deconstructed and investigated as a carrier of historic and cultural narratives. For this exhibition, through printmaking, drawing, installation, and social practice, participating artists engage with traditional and historic tile-making methods, representation and iconography. Back to Square One unpacks historical narratives that are embedded in the decorative. Visitors on First Friday can participate by contributing to an art making project and become part of the exhibition!
Martha Gardens District
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 S. Sixth St. map
Tree of Life by Jelbert Karami
The Tree of Life collection portrays fragmented trees, isolated and abandoned in an uncertain space. Devoid of shadows beneath them and no longer swayed by the breeze, these trees symbolize the troubled individuals of our world, advancing towards an ambiguous future, burdened by loneliness and troubled thoughts. Yet, despite their wounds, these trees remain steadfast, standing tall.
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
The History of the Peruvian Poncho by Indigenous Master Weavers
The Peruvian textile art is one of the oldest in human history. Ancient civilizations of present-day Peru long before the Incas have woven ponchos in the multicolor fibers made of wool, vicuña and alpaca, including other natural yarns dyed with colors acquired from plants or other organic materials from nature.
The poncho is used by the man. It has an opening for the head and worn like a long tunic. Some ponchos are woven so finely that it is used as a raincoat. When not worn, the poncho is used as a blanket.
Some ponchos are multicolored. Others are made of natural colors of the alpaca or sheep wool, browns, tans, and even black. Regions are recognized or distinguished by the styles and the colors of the ponchos. About 1,000 years before Christ, finely woven ponchos were used to bury the dead for the afterlife.
Some archeological researchers have found that the ponchos geometrical designs have historical significance because they tell the history of celebrations, lineage of the rulers, and even tragic events by Indigenous leaders who fought for independence from Spain. An old Peruvian poncho will be exhibited including one from Ecuador.
“Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story” -Mason Cooley
FIRST FRIDAYS ArtWalk SJ is produced by CURATUS in partnership with the participating galleries, museums and independent creative businesses.
Join us on Facebook ArtWalkSJ
South FIRST FRIDAYS
366 S 1st Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408-271-5155
info@southfirstfridays.com