The South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk invites you to a unique evening of great exhibitions in galleries, museums and art supporting businesses. ArtwalkSJ hours are 5–9pm, free admission, all ages welcome, rain or shine.
NOVEMBER EXHIBITIONS
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 South First St. map
Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design is proud to present:
Artist reception | galleryONE: Things we thought we heard. Denis Korkh, solo exhibition
Things we thought we heard are the whispers at the penumbra of our perception where objectivity fades and hallucination dawns. Without this boundary into the spiritual, we might go too long without actualizing our immense capacity for inversion. These are the words of creation which call out to us with an intimacy of a dream in its nascence or capture us with paralysis that lingers just before the dream fades back into oblivion. They are the unknowable symbols of a journey far more ancient and ever more enduring than one we are afforded by our flesh. Things we thought we heard came here long before us and they built the sun and gave us names and filled every lake with our reflection.
I’m pursuing the kind of work that has a heart and mind of its own. A case can be made that everything already does, but my goal is to give genesis to a narrative that’s simultaneously external and one in which I can meaningfully participate. A key function of this relationship is to become possessed by the spirit of the work as much as be its author. Myth and (by extension) ritual encompass the principles behind creating such work and these topics are the locus of my concern. To an outside observer, I hope my art adds an interesting metaphor to their unique reality or in the best case to be so taken by it as well.
Things we thought we heard is Denis Korkh’s second solo show at Anno Domini.
Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design is proud to present:
Artist reception | galleryTWO: Apkallu (The Seven Sages) Zero Cents solo exhibition
Ever since I was a young kid, I’ve been amazed by past cultures and civilizations. The ancient Egyptians were definitely one of my favorites. I remember going to the library and grabbing all the books they had on the subject, and just getting completely lost in the pages of pyramids, mummies, obelisks, and hieroglyphs. I was captivated by the theriocephaly gods like Ra, Anubis, and Thoth. They were a lot more interesting than the old man in the sky story I was taught in religious school. I’d get so excited imagining what life would have been like back then, what the cities of Memphis and Thebes looked like during the time of Ramesses and Tutankhamun. As I got older, I began to dig deeper into the subject of our ancient past, not just in Egypt, but all over the globe especially those of early Mesopotamia.
We have been gifted with the ruins of gigantic megalithic structures and sculptures as well as other magnificent artifacts in Egypt, Mexico, Turkey, Peru, India, and Iraq… the list goes on and on. These ruins are scattered, broken and buried by the hands of time, man and Mother. We are left baffled by the size, precision, beauty and complexity of these seemingly impossible ancient stone marvels, some of which have been dated much later than what conventional archaeologists have claimed. The Sphinx enclosure at the pyramid complex in Cairo is a good example which shows evidence of thousands of years of flooding and rain erosion, none of which was present during the time it is currently being dated by mainstream Egyptologist. There are still major holes in our past, like how we quarried huge blocks with just simple copper chisels and transport them sometimes miles in some instances even up mountains. It feels like there was a great wealth of knowledge we have forgotten through time. Since the discoveries of these ruins left behind we have been trying to piece together the fragments of the great mysteries of our ancestors lives. Countless connections keep emerging. Many images, symbols, and stories from these ancient cultures are repeated over and over such as The Great Flood, pine cones, a headless human figure with its arms raised, and this intriguing bag that shows up in Mesopotamia, Guatemala, India, and even in Turkey at the amazing megalithic site of Gobekli Tepe which has been dated between 10,000 to 11,500 years ago. This massive site contains huge stone circles surrounding massive T shaped Pillars some weighing up to 20 tons beautifully decorated with reliefs of abstract anthropomorphic details like clasping hands (reminiscent of Moai on Easter Island) clothing, animals as well as this mysterious bag. Many consider it the First Temple. All of these cultures separated by long stretches of time and great distances all containing the same symbols and stories among so many other connections leads one to consider a lost epoch of human history a global civilization that existed before the Great Flood.
As an adult I am still getting lost in the pages of the past imagining what life was like in that world before the flood, and how humans rebuilt civilization after. The images of strange Gods, ancient symbols, structures, and the beautiful stories make their way into my dreams. I can’t help but to allow them to make their way into my work. The paintings for this exhibition at Anno Domini are reflections of my dreams and thoughts pertaining to our deeply strange, magical and mysterious ancient past.
Apkallu (The Seven Sages) is Zero Cents’ third solo show at Anno Domini.
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map
Opening reception: More the Merrier
A salon style exhibition and art sale. All artists receive 100% of commissions! Please come support local art, buy amazing art for the holidays and enjoy live music!
Participating artists: Tony Adamich, Claire S Burke, Duncan Cook, Joshua Curry, Cyanhit, Rafael DeSoto, Eames Tillson Collective, Jr., Maggie Erez, Carolann Espino, Miguel Espinosa, Force129, Michael Friedland, John Gayler, Gloria Huet, Rachel Karklin, Amanda Kritzberg, j.b. lambert, Stacey Laskin, Albert Harold Lewis, Richard Man, Jaben Melville, Christine Oliver, Gianfranco Paolozzi, Tori Powers, Sarah Prosetti, Quality HDR Photography, Lynn Rogers, Sandra Murphy Studio, Eunice Cotter Schreck, Bhawna Seth, Rachel Tirosh, Toaf Art, Shriyutha Udayashankar, Nina Ulett, Isaac Villanueva, Jennie Villanueva, Mirabella Villanueva, Yuting Wang, Nona Weiner, Jessica Winter, Laamsha Young
FUSE presents at the Citadel Art Gallery- 199 Martha St. map
Opening reception: Flowering of Life by Kristin Bucci
FUSE presents will be featuring artist Kristin Bucci, using oil on canvas and pastel on paper to represent some of the bouquets and blossoms from the last two years.
KALEID Gallery – 320 South First St. map
KALEID Gallery is proud to present two new feature exhibitions by resident artists Mariya Milovidova, and Alfred Preciado for the month of November.
Artist reception: Circle of Life by Mariya Milovidova
This collection of artworks represents past, present, and the future with some of the design elements chosen from previous current collections as well as the one I been working on during the Pandemic. It consists of original artworks and one of kind hand-painted garments and objects.
The Pandemic made me realize that we can never be certain about anything as we live in times of uncertainty. However, it always continues because uncertainty is a part of life. Which makes me think that we need to be adaptable to changes and this is what I did with this collection by incorporating designs from past collections along with more current pieces from newer collections including one which I started working on during the Pandemic. It represents the lessons from the past that we learn, and bring into the future which becomes the present and continues with the circle of life.
Artist reception: Landscapes by Alfred Preciado
Landscapes is a transformation of my art from women and Ballerinas to the objective beauty I find in trees and fauna having the same dancing and trembling beauty of my former focus on the figurative. My inspiration draws from the parallels I see between both entities.
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
On view: Remembering Our Loved Ones Annual Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Celebration
In the spirit of this Latin American tradition, a special OFRENDA (Offering) has been constructed by Olga Enciso Smith and her son Brian M. Smith with a dedication on October 30th. A magnificent display of colors, aromas and typical artifacts including fresh marigold with papel picado (delicate cut paper), corn stalks, candles, gourds, and handmade skeleton figures that border on the humorous representing the occupation of the deceased loved ones.The Ofrenda serves as a process of healing for those who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one.
Olga Enciso Smith, the gallery’s founder built the first altar in 1986 and added the photos of the tragic loss of three local families. Her original intention was the sharing for the community. A moment and space to remember the loss of our loved ones.
First Friday hours: 3-8pm.
RSVP by calling 408 529 2296 or email MachuPicchuGallery@hotmail.com
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 South First St. map
On view: All our Senses
Participating artists: Dimebag Darla, Felix Quintana, Wulffvnky
California culture, family, intersectionality, vulnerability, and an ever changing landscape is at the forefront of the exhibition, All Our Senses. Bringing forth the work of artists Dimebag Darla, Felix Quintana, and Wulffvnky all of whom are inspired by their surroundings, family, and culture, the exhibition will offer the viewer a glimpse into the artists’ world and what they hold near and dear.
Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose – 560 South First St. map
On view: Conrad Egyir: A Chapter of Love and Chapters of Light
The ICA San José is excited to show Conrad Egyir: A Chapter of Love, a large-scale commission of new work from artist Conrad Egyir presented in partnership with Facebook Open Arts. Egyir is a Ghanian artist based in Detroit, who creates bold, bright, graphic narrative paintings and portraits that stylistically pull from Pop Art, political propaganda, and religious art. The imagery in A Chapter of Love will center around community, family, and child-rearing inspired by Egyir’s experience growing up in West Africa.
The Facade Project installation will coincide with a major solo presentation, Conrad Egyir: Chapters of Light within the ICA San José. Chapters of Light will premiere a series of monochromatic works in which Egyir blends the subject’s clothing, surroundings, and background with a nod to the graphic style of Pop Art. These ambitious projects open October 1, 2021 at the ICA.
On view: More Impact: Climate Change Tapestry Weavers West
More Impact: Climate Change, curated by Deborah Corsini and Alex Friedman, features tapestries from members of Tapestry Weavers West that reflect on our changing global environment and the detrimental consequences of climate change, woven in a variety of tapestry techniques and styles.
On view: Layered & Stitched: 50 Years of Innovative Art
Layered & Stitched: 50 Years of Innovative Art, by Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), is a showcase of 50 art quilts by renowned master artists around the globe. Seminal works show the evolution of the art quilt from the earliest pioneers to contemporary artists experimenting with new forms, materials, and digital technologies. This exhibition traces the development of this exciting art form as it started with isolated makers, primarily in Ohio and California, into an international movement involving thousands of artists. Featuring a balance of abstract and representational styles, these artworks represent the extraordinary range of talented artists working in contemporary quilt art.
SoFA Market – 387 South First St. map
Born in Mexico city and raised in Oakland, Jorge Bejarano, also known as abstract Oakland, has adopted the culture and vibrancy of the bay and gives us a brilliant display of his perspective on the diversity and pulse of the city. Using a technicolor pallette that ignites a fire and excitement in his audience, he shows a distinct aesthetic in his urban style that is unmistakably mirrored to him as an artist and as a person.
Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map
Afterlife: the video installation
Following the Works and School of Arts & Culture exhibit “Afterlife: celebrating life and remembrance” at Mexican Heritage Plaza the week before, Works presents a video installation on South First Friday inspired by the artworks in the exhibition. This will be the first indoor exhibit at Works’ location on the Market Street edge of the San José Convention Center since early 2020. This one-night installation will feature more than 30 local and regional artists. Come to see the art, share a remembrance, and help us look to the future.
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The South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk is produced by CURATUS in collaboration with the participating art venues, local artists, musicians and independent businesses.