South FIRST FRIDAYS | An eclectic evening of Arts & Culture in downtown San Jose's SoFA district (and beyond) every First Friday of the month

First Friday, May 3rd from 7–11pm
SoFA District (& beyond) downtown San Jose
RSVP on our event page here.

The South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk is a self-guided, nighttime tour through galleries, museums, and independent creative businesses featuring eclectic art exhibitions and special performances.

All Art Walk venues are FREE admission & great for all ages.

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE at PARTICIPATING VENUES…

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

“Interloper” by Kevin Earl Taylor: x Gianluca Franzese,
oil, acrylic, glaze, enamel, 22k gold leaf on panel, 2019

Opening reception: DUAL DUEL international group exhibition

The dualistic nature of being is something we are born into. From the moment we are delivered in to this material world we struggle to see ourselves as anything but separate from all that we perceive. So if conflict is inherent in the act of comparison, how does one look out at the world and find harmony? Is it even necessary? It’s something our artists, philosophers, authors and poets have contemplated through the ages.

DUAL DUEL is an amazing group show of over 20 artists that were asked to pick an artist of their choosing to collaborate (or combat) with on a work of art. Some artists chose someone dear to them, while others chose an artist they always admired but had never met. And in some cases, the lead artist worked with someone they respect, but never seem to agree with. The exhibit is a palpable swirl of creative forces emitting the true nature of harmony and opposing forces.

Participating artists: Ken Davis x Ellen Murphy (US), Dimitri Drjuchin x Grace Lang (US), Thomas Ives x Alejandro Mono González (Chile), Leon Ka x Socatoba (Spain), Klone x Assi Meshullam (Israel), Denis Korkh x ZeroCents (US / Israel), Travis Lawrence x Drew Roulette (US), Joseph Loughborough x Mark McClure (UK), Jeremiah Maddock x Marty Anderson (US), ManOne x Victor Sepulveda (US), Pablo Martîn x Florencia Fernandez Frank (Argentina), Yasushi Matsui x Kelly Tunstall (US), Poesia x Sam Rodriguez (US), Jhovany Rodriguez x Dario Cruz (US), Satterugly x Play is Soul Food (Mexico), William Schaff x Mike Egan (US), Kevin Earl Taylor x Gianluca Franzese (US), Jessie Rose Vala x Kelie Bowman (US), Jake Watling x Mahtab Watling (US), Derek Weisberg x Shaun Roberts (US), Ian Wilkinson x Dale vN Marshal (UK), Yoshi47 x Ferris Plock (Japan / US), Zero Cents x Qingru Hu (Israel / China), Zezao x Zeh Palito (Brazil)

Live music by Cellista x Lucidbeaming

Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map

Opening reception: “Interwoven Time”

“Interwoven Time” is an exhibition that explores personal experiences, memories and the layers of time. The accumulation of daily life experiences and how these interweaving visual and non-visual moments travel into artwork.

Participating artists: Kyoko Fischer, Erik Friedman, Amy Hibbs, Monica Valdez, and Rochelle Youk

Gallery Suha Suha – 45 E. Williams St. map

On view: “Overlooked” by Sung Jae Bang

When it comes to Sung Jae Bang’s body of works, one thinks of a feast for the anorexic: they let you savor all the delicacies they offer without the obligation to actually eat them. Upon seeing them, your unconscious palate already charges forward, only stopping at the fact that they are merely painted objects–signifiers, not the signified. But Bang’s works go a bit farther than that, enacting in full the famous tale of a painting contest between Zeuxis and Parrhasius. If the illusionist appeal parallels Zeuxis’ incredible verisimilitude, Bang’s paintings turn that around once again and asks: what if the whole thing, not just its depictions, had been fake? A careful examination reveals impossible dishes, ill-matched colors, and uncanny situations, such as a plate of sushi and steak, arranged at an impossible scale, or a chopstick with a flower bouquet on one end. One painting depicts an eerily viridescent toothbrush, on top of which a strip of toothpaste sits glowing like the halo of a medieval Jesus. Bang pokes fun at the sheer religiosity with which we regard our ability to judge–a process which is growing increasingly swift today. The eventual letdown is painful, but forces us to pause before again letting ourselves be ceaselessly consumed by consumerism, as well as by technomancy and the worship of shallowness.

Let me correct: they are in fact unacceptable even to the anorexic. Paintings cannot save us. We are already neck-deep in the swamp.

KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map

Join us for two new feature exhibitions by gallery resident artists Fernando “Force 129” Amaro, Jr, and Bryson Bost.

Artist reception: “Mi casa es su casa” by Fernando “Force 129” Amaro, Jr.
In a time when we are being priced out of our own community, instead of spreading hate I prefer to spread creativity and welcome change and grow in many different ways from my everyday life and ever changing environment.

This new series of work entitled “Mi casa es su casa” translates to “my house is your house,” and in it I explore abstract creations on new & found objects.

Artist reception: “Hermits and Revelers” new work by Bryson Bost

Brightness, triumphs, celebrations, and the like, may be gathered in the quiets and among the crowds. A carmine red, for example, may feel loud on some days, and on others serene. This can be said of all the colors about the wheel. It is desired to share the many faces of shades and tints, and for one to speculate the decimal level of said color, as it speaks to each individual it crosses. Robust or timid, and in unison across the pieces exhibited, how high up, or how low is the volume of the combinations presented before you? Is it peaceful, is it frenetic? Reflect and enjoy!

Music: vinyl sets by DJ Akro1 & Ambitious Outsider

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

On view: LATINO ART NOW! Auction & Exhibition

View the very best in contemporary Latino art from the Bay Area and beyond and preview the pieces we’ll have up for auction on May 18th during MACLA’s annual LATINO ART NOW! Auction & Exhibition. Free and open to the public! Pictured artwork: “Las Olvidadas” by Berenice Hernandez

In the Castellano Playhouse Theater: Pan Dulce

Pan Dulce love making music and putting on a great show using a mix of diverse sounds and styles including rock with funk, punk, metal, ska, and latinx influences – a sweet variety! Move with us!

Phantom Galleries at Culinary Corner Bistro – 321 South First St. map

On view: “Seen through Lines” by Taryn Curiel

“Painting is an incredible adventure that starts with an idea and a simple line,” ~Taryn Curiel, abstract watercolor painter.

I started drawing and painting when I was very young because it came natural to me and I enjoyed it. Also, I like challenges, so after years of exploring and studying different mediums, I fell in love with the unpredictability of water color and it became my medium of choice. However, I refused to paint it in the traditional way. I tried new surfaces and ways to apply the paint. I want to rediscover watercolor and show the viewer what it can do.

When I started to work in Yupo paper (synthetic), my style started to develop. The more I freely painted, the more I discovered who I was as a painter. It became clear taht I had a passion for lines, geometric shapes, and organic textures. My geometric lines denote structure. Soft organic textures and muted color serve as a balance to the lines, therefore stories emerge inviting the viewer for a closer look.

As a subject, I have always loved the human figure, every curves or every wrinkles are part of the person’s story. I try to imagine their lives. I use those imaginary stories to get ideas for my paintings. In my current work, I use the human figure as part of my primary subject matter, but I don’t want it to be very obvious, I want the viewer to understand the story on their own terms, so I dd geometric elements, especially rectangles, to represent windows peeking through the human figures’s story. The audience can see through the windlow looking in or from the inside looking out. Each piece communicates an emotionless personal narrative that I hope intrigue the viewer.

This Phantom Galleries exhibition curated by Robert Ragazza.

PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map

Artist reception: “H2OInkArt” new works by Wilbur Hurley

Hurley’s minimalistic abstract paintings are the splendid results of using the least amount of materials to offer a wide range of expression.

Wilbur started his art career in a rather unusual way; through art therapy provided by the Veterans Association in 2009. Since then he has cultivated his own style through exploration and a lot of mess. Wilbur thanks his friends and family for their continued support.

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

“H2Oh! with Studio Art Quilt Associates”

Water is everywhere: the majority of the earth’s surface is covered by water, and more than half of the human body consists of water. Offering a variety of artistic interpretations, H2Oh! draws on a well of beauty, reverence, and contemplation as it invites viewers to consider the importance and the impact of water. H2Oh! is curated by Bay Area artist and environmentalist, Linda Gass, and co-organized with Studio Art Quilt Associates.

“Mustard Racer Back Suit, “2012 by Kristen Martincic

“Kristen Martincic: Swim Club”

Kristen Martincic uses swimwear as a surrogate for the female body, creating paper bathing suits that are a cross between a swimsuit and an underdress, skin and clothing. Social conventions and context play a significant role in how these garments are viewed by others and ourselves. These delicate paper suits talk about the awkwardness of vulnerability and exposure while maintaining a sense of levity.

“And The Living Was Easy” by Cher Cartwright

“The Marbaum Collection: Variations in Techniques”

This selection of quilts from the museum’s permanent collection celebrates a generous gift of eighty-seven art quilts donated in 2017 by Marvin Fletcher and his late wife Hilary, in honor of the museum’s 40th anniversary. The entire collection, acquired by the Fletchers over four decades, represents a chronological look at the studio art quilt from the early 1980s to the present. The works in this exhibition highlight the great range of techniques quilt artists have incorporated in their work, including meticulous piecing and hand dyed fabrics to create the illusion of three-dimensions, painting on fabric, the use of recycled materials and digital design.

“Momentary Connections,” 2019 by Alice Beasley

“Momentary & Timeless”

Momentary & Timeless invites viewers to join six Bay Area fiber artists – Alice Beasley, Liz Berg, Nancy Bardach, Karen Balos, Robin Cowley, and Denise Oyama-Miller – as they explore various ideas through a combination of haiku and the art quilt. Each artist presents a unique style, drawing viewers into the rhythm of the exhibit, as they are invited to write their own haiku and hang it on a “wishing tree” – a unique Japanese tradition.

Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map

Shifting Tides: convergence in cloth

Shifting Tides is presented as a world premier traveling exhibition in collaboration with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). Forty-six SAQA artists from the Bay Area to throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawai’i and British Columbia use fabric to express their anguish and hope for the Pacific Ocean. Exhibition Juror, Ann Johnston, offers a representative range of mainland and island habitats and issues, as well as an array of design approaches and construction techniques. Some works focus solely on one area of wildlife or human activity, while others integrate issues. Some artists reached for scientific research, while others drew on a personal memory of place or crisis. All deepen our understanding of fabric as an art form. On view through May 5, this South First Friday night will be the closing party for Shifting Tides.

Caffé Frascati – 315 South First St. map

On view: “La Bella” by Syl-vie Levesque

Many of my paintings are inspired by famous French songs and poems. For examples the lyric of Les Parapluies by G. Brassens really influenced my series of umbrellas, its meaning is that if you share your umbrella, you will be in heaven. Nothing to lose !

Un petit coin de paradis Contre un petit coin parapluie Je ne perdais pas au change, pardi.

Some of my painting are tall women with long dresses are inspired by the period of Baudelaire ( X1Xth Century). “La passante” is one of them. The poet is dazzled by the beauty and nobility of that woman alone on the street. Note that, at the time, it was immoral to have a woman walking alone in the street. As you can see I am avid painter of women in different settings and periods of time. I also find my ideas in my everyday life, whether I am in a café, walking my dog in the park , etc. “La Belle” means “The Beautiful” if you were referring to a woman. Today’s women have the same beauty, regardless of their social standing. I hope you will find that beauty in each one of the painting in my “La Belle” series.

First Fridays is Caffe Frascati Opera Night presented by First Street Singers, with the Bay Area’s finest opera singers performing your very favorite classical arias and duets live in the cafe! for the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk.

LGBTQ Youth Space – 452 South First St. map

Closed tonight.

SJSU Muse Night at Hammer Theatre – 101 Paseo de San Antonio map

Join us for the beginning of summer at SJSU! We’re going out with a bang before the semester ends with dancing featuring Grupo Folklórico Luna y Sol, live performances from some upcoming and very talented bands, and some art from the some of the best animators, jewelers and sculptors this side of the Guadalupe river.

Featuring: Jewelry and Ceramics Guild and Shrunkenheadman, Nanzi MuroGrupo and performances by Folklórico Luna y Sol, Carl & Karter, Schachar and the Band

SoFA Market – 387 So. First St. map

“Desert Modern” by Rudy Martinez III

“Desert Modern” sets out to capture the beauty of the seemly frozen in time Vista Las Palmas neighborhood in Palm Springs, CA. This Movie set-like set of homes with their perfectly preserved Mid-Century Modern aesthetic is the perfect setting for this set of portraits.

Rudy is a self taught film photographer based in San Jose, CA. In 2010 while looking for his creative voice, he stumbled upon the revival of Polaroid through The Impossible Project. Finding this resurrected film format, he was able to find his inspiration and starting shooting everything from landscapes to portraits. With this mindset, he sets out to compose his images, even of still life’s, with the care and composition of capturing someone’s portrait.

Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St. map

On view: “Embers: A Near View of Sierra Wildfire” by Jackson Yip

Jackson Yip is a wildland fire researcher with San Jose State University’s Fire Weather Research Laboratory. His work takes him to the front lines of some of the largest wildfires the world has seen to study the underlying weather phenomena that feed these monsterous infernos. “Embers: A Near View of Sierra Wildfire” is a photo essay exhibition of moments during the 2018 California wildfire season, with imagery from the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA and the Carr Fire in Redding, CA.

ThirdSpace Fitness – 550 South First St. map

Artist reception: “ Beyond the Shape and other Mysterious Encounters with Paint” new mural and exhibition by Sara Tomasello.

My work explores the relationship between the body and urban spaces. With influences as diverse as Kahlo and Kandinsky, new insights are synthesized from both opaque and transparent textures. I have been fascinated by the endless oscillation of relationships. What starts out as contemplation soon becomes debased into a tragedy of temptation, leaving only a sense of unreality and the inevitability of a new beginning. As wavering forms become distorted through emergent and critical practice, the viewer is left with an epitaph for the edges of our condition.

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The South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk is produced by Two Fish Design in partnership with the participating art organizations and independent businesses.