Join us on First Friday December 1st 5–9pmin SoFA District (& beyond!) for an inspired evening of amazing art, live music, and holiday cheer! All ArtWalk venues are free admission and family-friendly.
SoFA District
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 S. First St. map
On view in galleryONE:
Language of the Birds Céline Lyaudet (France) solo exhibition
Anno Domini is proud to welcome the return of Céline Lyaudet from Nantes, France to San Jose for her second solo exhibit “Language of the Birds.” Since her successful debut exhibit “Map of the Path,” Lyaudet has continued her exploration of the mystical and the hidden realms of the psyche. The title and current works in this series refer to secret, coded, and mystical language used in alchemy and poetry. Lyaudet draws inspiration from nature, ancient civilizations, and the wisdom of mystical artists; she infuses her creations with spirit, symbolism and profound meaning. Her paintings are rich with pigments she crafts herself incorporating natural materials (such as wood ash or clay) as part of her image-creating ritual. These very materials used imbue the painting with its own unique magic and vibrations, embodying the spirit within the physical matter of her art.
On view in galleryTWO: Today is going to be fuckin great Bortusk Leer (Netherlands)
Since bursting onto the street art scene of East London in 2007 with his bright coloured characters painted on newspaper.
His work has appeared on and livened up numerous streets, gallery and home walls in places all around the world. From all over Europe, Argentina, the USA, India and Australia to name but a few. He is now living and working mainly in Amsterdam.
Fed up with people being angry, disappointed, sad and disillusioned with life, Leer sees it as his duty to brighten up the world and spread some happiness.
Over a decade Bortusk has developed a signature voice and style, creating manic, euphoric creatures (his monsters) plus other lively abstract pieces, videos, TV shows and numerous psychedelic assemblages of Neo-Pop-Art-Brut.
Fascinated by the Cobra-movement, inspired by futuristic heroes and influenced by all the children of the world,
His aim is not only to create as much art as he possibly can, but also to put a smile on everyone’s face and spread some positive emotions whilst doing so.
Living as we do now in a world of division, suspicion, potential lockdowns and endless bad news. Bortusk looks beyond this, some say his mission is naive while others bless him for it. Leer himself does not fear naivety, he fears cynicism. Loudly and gamesomely Leer attempts to question our mental, social and political barriers.
He tries to disrupt our fears and our expectations.
Finally, his effervescent work challenges the inner child in us all to come out and play.
“I just want to cheer people up a bit, as there’s far too many miserable bastards out there!” ~Bortusk Leer
KALEID Gallery – 320 S. First St. map
HARK! Annual Holiday Art Show & Sale
KALEID Gallery is thrilled to once again host its much anticipated HARK! Annual Holiday Show & Sale.
Featuring over 60 talented artists and showcasing an impressive collection of 250+ unique artworks, this event promises a celebration of creativity, community, and the joy of giving for art enthusiasts and holiday shoppers alike. Participating artists include KALEID resident artists as well as invited creatives from our broader San Jose arts community.
Join us opening night (during First Fridays ArtWalk) where you’ll find a diverse array of artistic expressions including paintings, sculpture, photography, poetry, textiles and jewelry, all priced from $12.– $250. so all can find unique and meaningful gifts for their loved ones.
HARK! Artists:
Deborah Anderson, Ed Attanasio, Purl Bailey (aka Marilyn Roaf), Deb Barba, Sandi Billingsley, Julianne Bonnet, Steven Borelli, Julie Bouvee, Jeffrey Bramschreiber, John Cambra, Emmanuel Cervantes-Mejia, Robert Chavez, III, Bre Contreras, Jonathan Crow, Jennifer DeChenne, Jemal Diamond, Mario Dimas, Doug Edwards, Jannis Espinoza, Force129, Heiko Greb, Katherine Green, Ken Harmount, Kyle Harter, Diana Hartman, Matty Heimgartner, Xuan Ho, Jonathan Kermit, David Krase, David Leder, Trudy Levy, Angela Light, Liquid Brains, Sarah Loyola, Joe Mandrick, Mark Martinez, David Mejia, Julie Meridian, James Mertke, Jorge Mieses, Lourdes Morante-Mieses, James Morgan, Laurus Myth, Karen Oeh, Gianfranco Paolozzi, Jean-Luc Pedanou, Joe Perea, Micaela Peterson, Betty Proper, Robertino Ragazza, Francisco Ramirez, Steven Reece, Jenifer Renzel, Joseph Richardson, Mason Roberts, Michael Rogan, Suha Suha, Kevin Tschaen, Sujata Tibrewala, Joseph Vasquez, Yeon Warner and Heylu Wheat
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 S. First St. map
ENVIANDO FLORES A MI TIERRA
Featuring: Sofía Córdova, Delvin Lugo, Christian Rodriguez
ENVIANDO FLORES A MI TIERRA, loosely translated to “sending flowers back to my homeland”, features the works of Sofía Córdova, Delvin Lugo, and Christian Rodriguez. Honoring their origins while embracing the journey of the Latino diaspora, all three artists capture similarly unique stories about the transformative nature of immigration. What happens when one leaves behind the familiar for the unknown? How does one choose their new place of belonging? How do we continue to appreciate the memory of what once was, while living through all that was left behind?
Performance by Batey Tamb 7:30pm & 8:30pm
Batey Tambó, a women of color-led cultural group in Oakland and San Francisco, is deeply rooted in the Afro-Indigenous Puerto Rican Bomba tradition. Co-director Denise Solís, founder of the all-female ensemble Las Bomberas de la Bahia, is a pioneer as one of the first women to play the Subidor (lead drum) in Bomba. Julia Caridad Cepeda, also co-director, comes from the esteemed Cepeda Family with an 8-generation history in Bomba. Together, they lead Taller Bombalele Bomba Classes, fostering the tradition in the Bay Area.
Batey Tambó’s mission is to engage in discussions on racial, gendered, and geopolitical contexts through Bomba. This musical tradition, born from the transatlantic slave trade, served as a tool for survival and communication among freed Africans and indigenous peoples in Puerto Rico. Batey Tambó, through Taller Bombalele, offers classes, workshops, and performances to honor the diverse histories of the Latinx Diaspora, promoting healing and liberation. “La Bomba es Vida.
PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
Past Present Future Journals Gianfranco Paolozzi Solo Exhibition
“Marking on surfaces moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, month by month, year by year…Creating a journal.”
Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose – 560 S. First St. map
Heesoo Kwon, Leymusoom Garden: Following Naked Dancing and Long Dreaming
In her first solo museum exhibition, Leymusoom Garden: Following Naked Dancing and Long Dreaming, Heesoo Kwon explores her spiritual journey connecting Korean shamanistic and indigenous perspectives to the land with her female ancestors. Her multimedia installation extends the queer feminist utopian digital space of Leymusoom to the mysticism of the garden, deepening her connection to the land and women’s freedom and desire.
Adia Millett, Wisdom Keepers
Wisdom Keepers, a solo exhibition by Adia Millett, explores the parallels and interplay between a craftswoman and a warrior. In both cases “martial arts” is an intricate set of techniques and skills used with the intention of protecting, preserving, and building a community and its culture. While the tools used in this process differ for the soldier and the quilter, put side by side a shared story is revealed, providing a new perspective of our ancestral past, and perhaps our future. Millett’s new work is a response to an in-depth look at the African-American quilt collection at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA). The four quilts on loan from BAMPFA present the viewer with a foundation for which Millett’s lineage of fabric, formal composition, and use of color palette derive from.
San Jose Jazz – 310 South First St. map
Holiday Concert with the SJZ High School All Stars and U19s
7pm–8:30pm: San Jose Jazz Break Room hosts a “drop in” evening of big band arrangements and Christmas favorites, including “O Holy Night,” “Carol of the Bells” and “This Christmas!”
Directed by respected saxophonist Oscar Pangilinan, the audition-based High School All Stars (HSAS) is designed to help students achieve mastery of improvisation techniques while advancing their knowledge of music theory, arranging, composition, performance and jazz history. The U19s small combos are student-driven groups with members selecting and rehearsing their own setlists and arrangements.
Symphony San José at California Theater – 345 S. First St. map
Open Rehearsal: American Portrait with Symphony San Jose
Attention all music lovers! Symphony San Jose cordially invites you to a special event — an open rehearsal for their concert American Portrait.
Experience the magic of a symphony orchestra as we open our doors to the general public for a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Witness the behind-the-scenes process of how our orchestra brings together beautiful melodies and harmonies to create a breathtaking performance.
Come and join us we will be rehearsing pieces from Ives, Shaw, Copland and others. Feel the power of the music as it fills the auditorium and watch in awe as our talented musicians perfect their craft. This is a unique chance to see the inner workings of a symphony and gain a deeper appreciation for classical music. And the best part? Admission is free!
Bring your family, friends, and anyone who loves music for an evening of musical brilliance. Don’t miss out on this one-time and free opportunity to witness a symphony in action.
Open Rehearsal: 7:30pm to 10pm
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St. map
Excellence in Fibers VIII
In support of Maui and homage to Hawaiian culture, SJMQT will be exhibiting quilts from our collection and objects on loan with support from our community.
Excellence in Fibers VIII features a diverse array of artworks that masterfully mix techniques of sewing, weaving, crocheting, quilting, embroidery, basket weaving, knotting, papermaking, felting, beading, dressmaking, upholstery, wrapping, while addressing some of the most pressing social issues of our times.
Performance by Paulina Acosta and Ian Carl.
SoFA Market – 387 S. First St. ma
DAYDREAM by Akeemraheem
Funky, colorful graffiti-art angle on pop culture and good vibes.
Fountain Alley Area
Chopsticks Alley Gallery – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Ăn Chơi | Eat & Play
Đi Ăn Chơi / Let’s go eat and play — a Vietnamese phrase that encapsulates the audacious spirit of gastronomy and the pulsating undercurrents of leisure. Ăn Chơi brings together 24 artists representing the Bay Area’s creative community to explore an eclectic blend of multicultural influences that portray the fun food scene. Embrace the spirit of eating well and playing hard.
Participating Artists: Hadi Aghaee, Melan Allen, Estefania Bautista, Yvonne Bellido, Cynthia Cao, Buppydogs (Alicia Cardell), Vanessa Callanta, Julie Cardenas, DACBEET (Betty Nguyen), kaory (Kaory Santillan), Wednesday DeGuzman, Terry Kreiter, Saraswathy Lakshmivaraham, Josie Lepe, Angelo Lopez, Addi Miyako, Minhquang Nguyen, Mariel Paat, jumdropz (Pauline Phan), P.LOCZ, Kurt Salinas, Harumo Sato, Eileen Arts (Eileen Wong Cervera), Jax Yao
6:30pm–7:30pm: Chopsticks Alley is proud to host a book reading and intimate conversation with Author and Artist Julianne Kanzaki
Her new book Food For Thought: Simple Ways to Nourish Your Body and Soul features over 20 whole foods interwoven with art, nutrition facts, timeless wisdom, original poems, and practical tools to support and nourish your physical and mental well-being. Join us for a conversation with Esther Young about her creative process and what she’s learned through this experience of writing and illustrating her first book.
Works San Jose – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Homecoming: the 2023 Works member exhibition
The member exhibition returns after pandemic and our move to a dramatic new space in downtown San José! Nearly a hundred artists who help support your community art and performance center demonstrate and celebrate the myriad artistic expression in our region. Don’t miss this impressive salon of local talent in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, digital art, sonic AI, and more.
Martha Gardens District
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 S. Sixth St. map
More the Merrier
Join us for our annual exhibition and art sale! Come support local artists and enjoy live music and great company!
Participating Artists: Nona Weiner, Francisco Ramirez, Marcus Ruiz, Sarthak, Prachi Joshi, Sebastian Jimenez Collado, Jennie Villanueva, Emily Kampa, Marvin Velasco, Jacey Bullock, Ketaki Adi, Miguel Espinosa, Mark Martinez, Mashaal Sheik, Carol Woodard, Rosa Bar, Lynn Aisawa, Tom Shulruff, Gianfranco Paolozzi, Shannon Knowlton, Jelbert Karami, Liz Godbey, Moeka MACHIDA, Claudette McDermott, BiNK, Rafael DeSoto Jr., Caden and Jaben, Sher, Linnea Rae, Nina Ulett, Erin Salazar, Janet Appleton, Chieko Shimizu Fujioka, Belladonna La Botanica, Lauren Wilson, HDR Photography, Sandra Murphy, Dwayne Ludwig, Janice Lambert, Marilynn Host, Nicholaus James Dalton
Live music by Gianfranco Paolozzi & Griff
FUSE presents at the Citadel Art Gallery- 199 Martha St. map
Opening reception: Art Gallery Exhibition & Open Studios
Featuring artwork from Gianfranco Paolozzi, Francisco Ramirez, Wisper, Cova, Sylvia De La Garza, Lucia M., Manik & FUSE artists.
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
Holiday Gift Ideas from Latin America
Latin American artists, including Indigenous artisans from Mexico, Central and South America with creations in textiles, ceramics, sculpture, watercolors, oil paintings and more!
South 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