Please join us Friday, APRIL 5th for an inspired evening of arts, culture, and community at the FIRST FRIDAY ArtWalk SJ in SoFA District (& beyond!).
All ArtWalk venues are open 5-9 pm, are free admission, and family-friendly.
SoFA District
ANNO DOMINI // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 S. First St. map
Dark Bird Palace Kelly Moore (New Mexico) Solo Exhibition
10 years of Painting and selling my art at the Tesuque Pueblo flea market in New Mexico gave birth to my ongoing story of Dark Bird Palace. It’s a place at the foot of a magnificent volcano in the High Desert of where the Dead Cowboy, Lost Child, the Naked Assassin, Dark Birds, White Buffaloes and Alchemy Wolves to name just few of the mythological characters first poured into my Art.
When the flea market closed, I moved my studio to an open air barn at my home but worried my story was over. I soon realized I was surrounded by Snakebite Chupacabras and Tricksters there as well! Dark Bird Palace lives on and goes wherever I go. Welcome to Dark Bird Palace.
these are my words
eye was born a Dark Bird
much to my parents dismay
on the 13th day of a Scorpio Moon
in the Arkansas Ozarks
Nonetheless
they took me in
fed me, clothed me,
and sent me to school
eye attempted to live a normal life
finding employment, trying to marry
& even voting regularly
but mostly failed
until I realized
eye could no longer
deny my true nature
And began flipping the tables
& rattling cages
folks sayd eye was crazy
And told me to Stop
(those are the folks who will
let you know your doing rite)
but eye knew this
was an important breakthrough
and immediately began looking
for matches and kerosine
and
have been settin fires
ever since
~Kelly Moore
KALEID Gallery – 320 S. First St. map
Opening reception: INNERMOST Julianne Bonnet solo exhibition
Julianne Bonnet uses the layering of imagery in digital and encaustic collage to create a visual depth that is representative of the human emotional landscape.
Each image is a unique meditation on a deeply personal memory, thought, or idea that gets the core of experiences both painful and revelatory. Julianne’s work touches on concepts of trauma healing, a very important and increasingly visible part of our social fabric.
The images in “Innermost” elicit hugs, tears, and the sharing of stories. Her work helps people to feel seen and understood and encourages them to embrace, and even celebrate, the hiddenmost parts of themselves and the experiences that have shaped them.
“Innermost” takes you on an emotional journey of the deepest parts of the human psyche and unites us in our combined understanding of what it means and feels like to be human.
Art is not always about pretty things. It’s about who we are, what happened to us, and how our lives are affected. – Elizabeth Broun
About the Artist:
Julianne is a nationally published poet, photographer and artist who draws inspiration from nature and concepts of emotional healing. She holds an MFA in English and Creative Writing from Mills College as well as a credential to teach college composition.
Julianne grew up in Canada, New York and Palo Alto, and has lived all over California but was never home until she moved to 5 acres in beautiful Ben Lomond where she lives with her chickens, ducks, cat and dogs as well as her human family. She can often be found wandering the hiking trails of Santa Cruz County with her camera slung across her back looking “micro” for breathtaking moments of quiet discovery.
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 S. First St. map
MACLA’s 2024 Latinx Art Now! Exhibition & Auction is back! Our annual curated exhibition surveys the very best of contemporary Latinx Art from the Bay Are and beyond. Check out incredible work by 30 California based artists at our opening during South First Friday, April 5. The exhibition culminates with our Live Auction, May 18, MACLA’s signature fundraising event.
FREE performance at our Castellano Playhouse: Bululú (noun. Venezuelan “alboroto”, a gathering or crowd with excitement, fuss) This dynamic Latin music band showcases a flavorful repertoire deeply immersed in the rich influences of Venezuela and the Caribbean. Their performances encompass an exciting array of styles, including calipsos, salsa, sones, cumbias, merengues, guarachas, gaitas and more. Bululú is a San Francisco Bay Area ensemble.
Opera San José at California Theater – 345 S. First St. map
Florencia en el Amazonas presented by Opera San José
Join us for an unforgettable evening as Opera San José presents a sneak peak of our April production of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas. Experience the magic as the lush landscapes of the Amazon come alive through Catán’s breathtaking music, the glamorous Florencia and the other passengers go on a life-changing adventure. This opera blurs the boundaries of the real and the fantastic to explore and reveal longing, grief and love.
We are opening the doors to the California Theatre for an evening filled with music featuring singers from the production, our California Theatre Wurlitzer Organist- Jerry Nagano, a mariachi band and lastly a beautiful folklorico dance group. Throughout the night there will be a station to create origami Butterflies along with face painting
PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
Inspired! Natural Forms, Layers and Flowers Mason Roberts Solo Exhibition
Inspired! Natural Forms, Layers and Flowers are part of a series of paintings and drawings that are inspired by natural forms of rock, soil, energy, flowers, sky and movement. They tell the story of times past and time present and the consistent motion that is generally imperceptible to most of us. Perhaps a reminder that much has come before us and that much is still to come. Color and line are meant to engage the viewer and expose the energy, movement and sanguine balance between abstraction and recognizable form.
About the Artist: Roberts seeks out and finds inspiration through travel and encounters with new people. He endeavors to create innovative and inspiring works of art based on his love of drawing and creating something tangible, which, in turn, allows him to share his most innermost thoughts and feelings with the surrounding world. The artist strives to find balance between recognizable shape and abstract form and to tell a story through their interaction and juxtaposition.
These forms and connections often take the shape of the natural world and its inhabitants and perhaps highlight the increasingly complicated relationship we have with each other, along with the numerous connections we all share. Intersection of line and shape creating form and figure. Introduce color—intense color, tones that scream or sigh when viewed. Vibrant color! For Roberts, line + color becomes a language that can create innumerable engaging and interesting narratives that can be experienced throughout this exhibition.
Sacred Heart Community Service – 550 S. First St. map
Volunteer Appreciation Celebration featuring Tryn x Mayx & poetry by Quynh-Mai
Join us for exclusive live performances, including music by Tryn x Mayx and poetry by Quynh-Mai! Vocalist and lyricist Tryn teams up with alternative guitarist Mayx for a journey into their worlds, offering a mix of original tracks, covers, and experimental instrumentation. Through her poetry, storytelling, music, and directing, Quynh-Mai is shaping culture and constantly questioning who gets the mic and why. At this free event, enjoy light snacks while perusing handcrafted artwork by local artisans and vendors.
In appreciation of all the wonderful volunteers who make Sacred Heart’s anti-poverty work possible, we will have a brief program recognizing the impact of our volunteers starting at 5pm!
Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose – 560 S. First St. map
P L A C E : Reckonings by Asian American Artists
Participating Artists: Phung Huynh, Adrienne Pao, Robin Lasser, Ranu Mukherjee, Wanxin Zhang, Mail Order Brides/M.O.B. (Eliza O. Barrios, Reanne Estrada, and Jenifer K. Wofford), Namita Paul, Related Tactics, Bruce Yonemoto, Stephanie Syjuco, Valerie Soe, Christy Chan, and Christine Wong Yap.
The ICA San José and Montalvo Arts Center jointly present an exhibition entitled P L A C E: Reckonings by Asian American Artists. Selected for their powerful voices, all of the participating artists have been artists-in-residence of the Lucas Artists Program at Montalvo Arts Center. Villa Montalvo was the former home of California Senator James Duval Phelan who is remembered for his nativist and racist politics, especially his virulent opposition to Chinese and Japanese immigrants, and his active endorsement of multiple Asian exclusion acts. This exhibition intends to honor and uplift the diverse voices of contemporary artists of East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander ancestries who have had to contend with this racist history. Each artist in the show considers their complex relationship and their own agency in association with the spaces that they have inhabited, embedded with histories of exclusion or violence, and how this in turn affects, challenges, transforms, or inspires their artistic practice.
San Jose Jazz – 310 South First St. map
SJZ U19s at the SJZ Break Room
Join us at the SJZ Break Room from 7-8pm on First Friday to hear the SJZ U19s Combo A playing fresh tunes and arrangements!
The SJZ High School All Stars are a pre-professional group of high school jazz musicians, selected by audition, who rehearse and perform jazz pieces across the Bay Area. The SJZ U19s are a small breakout group from the High School All Stars that rehearses repertoire chosen by its members and gets specialized instruction and coaching for performance within this format.
San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St. map
Yvonne Porcella: A Look Back
Yvonne Porcella: A Look Back exhibits objects from the late artist’s personal collection, which are now part of the permanent collection of the Museum. These include folk art costumes from around the world, art quilts from other artists, and her own work. She is known for her bold use of color!
Jonathan Shannon: Creativity, Collecting & Controversy
Jonathan Shannon: Jonathan Shannon was the first male winner of the American Quilter’s Society Best of Show Award in 1993 with his quilt, Air Show (1992). Both Air Show and Amigos Muertos are considered among the 20th century’s 100 best quilts in The Twentieth Century’s Best American Quilts by Mary Leman Austin (Primedia, 1999). Upon his death in 2017, the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles acquired the Jonathan Shannon Collection, donated by the artist’s long-time partner Jeffrey Ross.
SoFA Market – 387 S. First St. ma
Anime Influenced: The Art of Richard Hoffman
Richard Hoffman makes art inspired by comic books, cartoons, neo-expressionism, and Black culture. Typically with acrylic paint, and mixed media techniques, Richard attempts to delve in between “pop art,” “expressionism” and “traditional animation.
Fountain Alley Area
Chopsticks Alley Gallery – 38 S. 2nd St. map
Mythological Icons and Fresh Ink
Participating Artists: Eva Argus, Thai Bui, Low Le, Michael Nguyen, Nessa Nguyễn and Kenneth Tan
Myths are as relevant to us today as they were to our ancestors. These sacred tales explain our experiences, instill pride in each generation, and inspire our artists’ works.
Today, the use of ancient iconographies has grown in popularity, yet it has not stopped tattooing from becoming taboo in contemporary society. The Asian communities’ feelings towards tattoos changed from respect to disdain, but even that can be overturned. Getting inked, as it was in the past, is a chance to honor ourselves, our cultural heritage, and artistry by displaying what we love on our skin.
Works San Jose – 38 S. 2nd St. map
The Community Art Auction
Join us this South First Friday for the final evening preview of The Community Art Auction! Start and build your local art collection while supporting your community art center! More than 100 artists and 150 artworks are in the South Bay’s most accessible art auction, with starting bids at a fraction of retail value. From relative newcomers to artists in art museum collections, the Works auction is a true survey of local art. The Exhibition is free and art is also available to ‘buy it now’ during the exhibition. Exhibit continues to the exciting Auction event on Saturday, April 6—doors open 5pm and lots begin closing at 6pm!
Martha Gardens District
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 S. Sixth St. map
Opening reception: Maverick Photographers
Participating artists: Alex Baranda, Annette LeMay Burke, Michael L. Boyd, Dan Fenstermacher, Dan Forzano, Agnieszka Jakubowicz, Jacque Rupp
A photography collective exhibits work from all over the world.
MACHU PICCHU Gallery of the Americas, Est 1974 – 199 Martha St. map
Route of our native & cultural traditions within the Wayuu & Zenu tribes of Colombia
Renaissance of the ethnic peoples and their conservation efforts within the Caribbean region of Colombia . Including the Climate Change and the effects on our culture.
Cultural Presentation and talk 5:30pm & 7:30pm: History of Ethnic Cultures: the Wayuu & Zenu y tribes of Colombia” by Anderson Garcia, Wayuu Indigenous artisan from Colombia
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