Join us for an inspired evening filled with exciting new exhibitions, live performances and the amazing creative community as they roam through our city’s best galleries and performance venues in SoFA District (& beyond!). All First Friday ArtWalk venues are free admission making it a perfect outing with friends and family!
See you downtown Friday, November 1st 5pm–9pm!
SoFA District
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 S. First St. map
Artist’s reception in galleryONE:
Arbitrary Holiness Heiko Greb solo exhibition
Heiko Greb is a conceptual artist, sculptor and molecular biologist based in Santa Clara, CA. Greb’s artwork challenges the viewer to reconsider their initial perceptions and encourages us to broaden our curiosity and imagination by finding personal meaning and connection with his creations. Greb is a fascinating thinker and creator and we are looking forward to some very interesting conversations and revelations around his work in this exhibition. ~Anno Domini
“Abitrary Holiness is as much about what happens when you create the ‘same’ sculpture every day for a year, as it is about facilitating the exploration of your inner cathedral.
In this exhibition, over 300+ wood-spirits watch over a diverse collection of evocative pseudo-Christian ARTefacts. These ARTefacts invite the viewer to stroll through our collective memory of thousands of years of spiritual iconography. I invite you to take that stroll and explore that memory.” ~Heiko Greb
On view in galleryTWO:
Triumuti: a Love Supreme
featuring tattoo artists: Salty Walt McDonald, Djene Toure Lerma & Kirk Wilken
This exhibition brings together the work of three visionary artists: Salty Walt McDonald, Djene Toure Lerma, and Kirk Wilken from the Lifetime Tattoo Shop in Denver, CO. Each channel spiritual and creative energies in their unique artistic practices. Like the Hindu Trimurti representing the three aspects of the divine, these artists form a trinity exploring the mysteries of creation, preservation, and transformation through their art work, each tapping into primal and universal forces while remaining deeply personal.
“Sometimes it’s a direct channel to the source of absolute truth and creation and the mystery behind the art and the process of uncovering or allowing that mystery to unfold is as important as what it might look like; other times it is just like taking a shit or something you do every day involuntarily..
“The Primitive gets to the essence of the spiritual.
“”Art can be like music and affect us profoundly, yet seemingly be meaningless…
To make the Soul vibrate ,, the rule of the surprise move,, to make a painting of something that doesn’t exist. To listen to the windless wind that blows 4 ways. Art is a cosmic vision of Everything and Nothing.” ~Satly Walt, D’jene, and Kirk
KALEID Gallery – 320 S. First St. map
Meditations Leslie Ann Rice Bock solo exhibition
Each piece acts as a meditation on the time, location, and people that make up the firing celebration. This ongoing art project started in 2014, capturing my journey and joy learning the wood fire process at Spring Valley Anagama.
Wheel thrown, altered, then wood fired, each piece is unique in its formation, its placement in the kiln, and the firing which is showcased upon the surface.
The deposits of ash that turn to glaze, the pathway of the flame upon the surface serve as a reminder of the process and community built during the firing.
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 S. First St. map
Exhibition on view: Un Puente Sobre el Río San Juan: A Story of Borders
Un Puente Sobre el Río San Juan – Featuring San José-based artists, Irene Carvajal and Imara Osorno, this exhibition examines the overlooked conflict between Nicaragua and Costa Rica’s border along the San Juan River. Their collaborative work transcends divisions through painting, video, and site-specific installation.
Bocafloja is performing two free 45-minute sets November 1st starting at 7:30 pm and at 8:30 pm in our Castellano Playhouse.
Bocafloja is an interdisciplinary artist of afro-indigenous descent from México City. His body of work addresses topics such as the Global South, decoloniality, critical race theory and the African Diaspora in Latin America. Bocafloja is recognized as one of the first artists in Latin America who utilized classic hip hop structure and poetry as an effective model of critical pedagogy amongst impoverished communities. He has been featured in PBS, NPR, BBC, OnceTV, Canal Catorce, Folha de S. Paulo, Afropunk and Okayplayer, amongst other media outlets globally.
Opera San José at California Theater – 345 S. First St. map
Opera San Jose presents: La Bohème
An Enchanting Evening Awaits at the California Theatre! We’ve got a night full of fun, music, and a touch of holiday magic—perfect for all ages.
The evening kicks off with a fantastic Wurlitzer organ performance by Jerry Nagano! Then, be swept away by the beautiful voices of our amazing opera singers from La Bohème. Adding to the festive atmosphere, talented carolers will fill the air with beloved holiday songs, creating a warm and cheerful vibe throughout the night.
There’s more to enjoy beyond the music! Let yourself get creative with a fun button-making activity hosted by Local Color. Santa himself will be there to say hello, take photos, and hear your holiday wish list. You can also learn how to make beautiful origami roses at our origami station. Join us for a night of music, creativity, and holiday cheer. We can’t wait to see you there!
PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
Phantom Galleries is proud to present:
The Women Judy Rookstool solo exhibition
For San Jose-based artist Judy Rookstool, art-making is a means of exploring what she observes and communicating her observations to others in conversation with paint. Her art encourages the viewer to see beyond their personal realm to engender empathy for and understanding of the human journey – especially womankind.
Whether combining joyful colors or moody chromas, her paintings transcribe emotions and render a history of unexpected elements in a manner that elicits thoughtful introspection and compassion.
For The Women, Judy probes multiple aspects of what it is to be female: celebrating their public strength in the In Her Element series, illuminating their private struggles in her Faces series, and depicting their resolve to transcend earthly restrictions in BirdWoman.
These are women who will be heard.
About the Artist:
Judy is active in the local arts community. Her work is held by private collectors and over time exhibited at: The Triton Museum, Mineta San Jose International Airport Showcase, Kaleid Gallery, WORKS Gallery, Mexican Heritage Plaza School of Arts & Culture Gallery, Phantom Galleries, Campbell Museums, San Jose Jazz Public Art Gallery, Cathy Down Gallery, University Arts, Evergreen Valley College Library Gallery, San Jose City College Gallery SVOS, Silicon Valley Virtual Open Studios, Marin Society of Artists Online Gallery, O’Hanlon Center for the Arts Online Gallery, Las Lagunas Online Gallery, and ArtFluent Online Gallery.
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.
Image Transfer Workshop with Shirin Towfiq 6-8pm
During this drop-in style workshop, you can cut out symbols, shapes, and images to create collaged magic carpets using an alternative photographic transfer technique with artist Shirin Towfiq
San Jose Jazz – 310 South First St. map
U21 Youth Jam, opened by the SJZ U19s
Join us for a great night of youth performances and improvisation!
The SJZ U19s will open our youth Jazz Jam at 5:45pm, with classic jazz standards from legendary originators and modern masters.
Then, the Michael Webster Trio will perform at 6:20pm.
The jam starts at 7pm and goes until 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. Pop in and out anytime from 5:45pm-9m 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
25 Million Stitches: One Stitch, One Refugee
Created and curated by Jennifer Kim Sohn
25 Million Stitches was initiated and conceived in May 2019 by Jennifer Kim Sohn, a multimedia artist and activist, to visually document the enormity of the number of refugees in the world and to sustain the concern for the refugees in the minds of global citizens.
Historic District
Chopsticks Alley Gallery – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Under One Moon Immersive Video Mapping Exhibition
Chopsticks Alley Art is pleased to present Under One Moon, an immersive experience celebrating the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This unique blend of contemporary visuals, poetry, and music highlights the moon’s significance among various cultures and histories. Featured artists include Illuminate SJ Now!!!, Cynthia Cao, Sabrina Kwong, and Robin Lasser, with an original score by Troy Truong.
The storyline highlights our connection to the earth, moon, water, animals, plant life, and each other, and calls viewers to take action and protect our water, juxtaposed with animations from Moon Festival folklore and myths from various cultural traditions. Personal narratives are synthesized with iconic folklore – we have collected stories from the San Jose community in person and via social media to infuse our community’s lived experience into the exhibition.
Artists talkback from 7-8pm, moderated by Executive Artistic Director Trami Cron
Participating artists: Robin Lasser, Patrol Paule, Cynthia Cao, Sabrina Kwong, Troy Truong (Onbar)
Hammer2 Gallery – 101 Paseo de San Antonio map
Beginnings group exhibition
Featuring artists: Jackelin Solorio, Robynn Smith, Dottie Lo Bue, Lani Viet, and Jason Adkins
Experience the grand opening reception of the Hammer2 Gallery featuring the work of San Jose State University Students, faculty, and local artists as part of South First Fridays ArtWalk SJ.
Located on the 2nd floor of the Hammer Theatre, the Hammer2 Gallery will feature a continuously rotating fine art gallery. The gallery will be a site to exhibit artists’ work, support artists financially through art sales, as well as foster young artists’ work.
Moreover, the gallery will provide a unique opportunity to marry the visual and performing arts and to provide exposure to these artists to an audience that may not normally frequent an art gallery.
Works/San Jose – 38 S. 2nd St. map
VOTE!
South FIRST FRIDAYS sends us into the final viewing of “VOTE!” an open community exhibition with 90 artworks conveying viewpoints, hopes, and fears for election 2024. Artworks range from charged topical views to simple urging to vote, in painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, collage, video, and digital art. In this exhibit, South Bay artists urge you to VOTE!
In our Studio Hall Gallery, Works presents the opening night of “Blast it Out: Broadside Art and Poetry Project” with guest curator Deborah Kennedy, a 2024 San José Creative Ambassador. Deborah invited community members to create art and poetry for her year-long Creative Ambassador project with dozens of poetic broadsides in this exhibit.
The entire space around Works in Open San José will be activated for South First Friday with Works’ famous Button Booth—make your own campaign or any other buttons for free, and with two more exhibits and many more activations from Works’ six nonprofit partners!
Martha Gardens District
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 S. Sixth St. map
More the Merrier
featuring: Jan Aiello, Irene Berrones-Kolb, Jacey Bullock, Chris Cassell, Jennifer DeChenne, Megan DeLeon, Miguel Espinosa Studio, Vera Fainshtein, Roberto Fierro, Will Francis, Branden Frederick, Gabe Galen, Gianfranco, Liz Godbey, Sher Harvey, Jaben Hastings-Melville, Roberta Kiphuth, Ally Kraus, J.B. Lambert, Kevin Luck/ghost, Hargun Mahal, Sandra Murphy, Christine Oliver, Jim P., Francisco Ramirez, Conreis, Tom Shulruff, SIMPLEREASON, Michael Stewart, Nina Ulett, Isaac Villanueva, Jennie Villanueva, Nona Weiner, Robert Windle, Eileen Wong Cervera, Rosa Younessi
Join us for our annual exhibition and art sale! Come support local artists and enjoy live music and great company!
Live Music by Gianfranco and Griff
FUSE presents at the Citadel Art Gallery- 199 Martha St. map
FUSE presents: Incessant Cycles by Yuting Wang & Francisco Ramirez
Incessant Cycles is a duo exhibition that delves into the recurring patterns of life, where personal growth is often met with familiar struggles and history repeats itself.
The works reflect the generative and destructive abilities resulting from the interplay of opposing forces —entrapment and liberation, hope and despair, decay and regeneration. The exhibition highlights the shared human experience across cultures, from the Daoist idea that ‘Yin and Yang gives birth to everything,’ to the biblical creation story, to Día de los Muertos, and beyond. Incessant Cycles captures the transformative essence of life’s ebb and flow, inviting viewers on a thought-provoking journey through the cycles that shape us.
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
Annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration
featuring: Olga Enciso Smith & Brian M. Smith (mother/son) & Umbelina Garcilazo & Alejandra Salas (mother/daughter)
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) along with All Souls Day, celebrated throughout Mexico and Latin America in early November, is a heartfelt tradition dedicated to remembering the deceased and honoring one’s departed family members and friends. It is a time to share the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one and to celebrate the joy of the happy memories their lives brought us.
This year, we remember our beloved friend Christ Esparza, a prominent promoter of the arts in San Jose. The gallery’s original Ofrenda was held in 1986 at El Paseo Court in downtown San Jose, dedicated to two Latino children and a college student who tragically passed in car accidents that year. As life and death remain constants in humanity, we will also honor Lazaro Garza, the cherished Los Gatos High School Spanish teacher, and whose son was remembered in 1986.
We will feature vibrant sugar skulls, handmade by local leader Umbelina Garcilazo and colorfully painted by her daughter, continuing the tradition learned from her loving mother.
Relatives and friends are welcome to bring a photo of a loved one for the Ofrenda’s dedication, taking place on First Friday, November 1st, from 5 PM – 8:30 PM at Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas, established in 1974. Join us in this meaningful celebration and help keep the memories alive.
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