JOIN US for the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk AND the 10th Annual SubZERO Festival
First Friday JUNE 2nd & Saturday JUNE 3rd from 6–Midnight
SoFA District (& beyond) downtown San Jose
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. The SubZERO Festival is a DIY, artistically bent, hi/lo techno mashup where street meets geek.
All Art Walk venues & the SubZERO Festival are FREE admission & great for all ages.
NEW EXHIBITS…
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Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 South First St. map
Artist in Residence in galleryONE:“I am losing control of the language.” by William Schaff (CA) solo exhibition
William Schaff has been a working artist for over two decades. Known primarily for his mastery at album artwork, (Okkervil River, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Brown Bird, Songs: Ohia, etc) Schaff is also the founder of Warren Rhode Island’s “Fort Foreclosure.” The building, lovingly named without the least bit of irony, serves as Schaff’s home and studio as well as home and meeting place for other artists (most notably resident musicians MorganEve Swain, and the Late David Lamb, both of Brown Bird). William, recognizing the importance of art in this world, recently expanded his community to the West Coast where he started “The Outpost” in Oakland, California. There–financial earnings be damned!–William fills his days drawing works of art for private commissions, bands, and his own examinations of human interaction.
Skull It Up by William Schaff
Schaff will be in residence at Anno Domini during the SubZERO Festival (both nights from 6pm–midnight). Bring him a photo, postcard, magazine page, etc and Schaff will custom “skull it up” for you ($40.–$80 depending on desired detail.)
Artist in Residence in galleryTWO: “Stay in the Light” by Ken Davis (CA), solo exhibition
Recognizing the oftentimes cryptic realities of the eternal battle between good and evil, Ken Davis creates a body of work meant to be shields from evils and negativity while acting as signals to attract like minded positive energies dead set on fixing the world around them. A sign painter by trade, Ken uses his skill set of single stroke brush calligraphy and line work to create a language of symbols meant to create an overall sacred piece. These paintings are heavily influenced from a sometimes disputed theory of the meanings behind Pennsylvania Dutch barn hex signs in which these colorful design intensive pieces of folk art are meant to ward off “hexes” or “bad luck”. Ken brings a modern dialogue to these in his work by referencing history, numerology, and symbolism relevant to his path and those groups he identifies with while mixing it with his own life experience in the worlds of punk rock, skateboarding, hip hop, and other creative subcultures. In the end, these works Ken creates are meant to ward off the ever creeping darkness in our modern times and attract individuals who are also intent on improving the world for all life.
I Will Sign Anything by Ken Davis
Davis will be in residence at Anno Domini during the SubZERO Festival (both nights from 6pm–midnight) to do custom signage on your personal belongings ($40–$80 depending on size.) -
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map
Bear Gulch Reservoir at night with Perseid Meteor. Pinnacles National Park, California, USA.
Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey through America’s National Parks
by artist QT LuongWe are pleased to welcome an incredible traveling exhibition to the Art Ark Gallery. The artist QT Luong photographed all 59 National Parks over the past 20 years. He is bringing his traveling exhibition back home after exhibiting in Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, and several California locations. With all the threats to our nation’s natural heritage by the Trump administration, this is a relevant exhibition and we’re honored to be showing it! The photographs are stunning and he also has a 7 minute video that will play in our newly built permanent projection room!
The companion book, “Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey through America’s National Park” has won not one, but two of the most respected book award competitions in the independent publishing world: Gold Medal for the category “Coffee Table Books” in the 2017 “IPPY” Independent Publisher Awards, and Gold Medal for the category “Arts and Photography” in the 2017 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards.
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Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery – 499 So. Market St. map
Look for HigherFire Clayspace booth out at SubZERO Festival.
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KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map
Closed this evening. (We’ll be enjoying our artists out at SubZERO Festival.)
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MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 South First St. map
In the Castellano Playhouse Theater 8–10pm
Established in 2009, Sonido Clash (SC) is a San José collective that explores the traditional, modern, emerging and the future latino sound diaspora. Celebrate the start of summer with Sonido Clash!
MACLA’s DMC Studio Youth Showcase & Open Mic 6–7pm
Champions from last month’s Grand Slam Finals prepare to represent the City of San José at Brave New Voices. The 20th Annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Festival, held Jul 19-22, 2017, will convene the most outstanding youth poets from around the world for a series of workshops, slams, showcases, community services and civic participation events.
“I Used to Live Here” (2017), Adriana MonsalveIn the visual arts gallery
From the current housing crisis to sanctuary cities and refugee communities, Shelter/Refugio (Refuge) looks at physical and conceptual spaces of shelter and refuge to call attention to the current crises redefining the American landscape. Artist talk at 7:30pm. -
Phantom Galleries at Pho69 – 321 South First St. map
The Freed Spirit by The Mester Family
Recognized fresco artists Peter Mester and his family fled their native Slovakia in 2014. They have painted and shown their art in Slovakia, England, Denmark, and France —at universities, churches, hospitals, public plazas, government buildings, and private homes.
In the midst of their struggles to establish themselves in a new country, the Mester family are now giving back to refugees through their art. Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement and Immigrant Integration program are the beneficiaries of all proceeds from works sold.
For 38 years, Catholic Charities has had the opportunity to assist in the care and comfort of refugees. To date, Catholic Charities helped resettle more than 7,000 refugees from around the world. Proceeds from The Freed Spirit exhibition will help Catholic Charities create new opportunities for refugees and immigrants who desperately need the help.
Curator Tierney Sneeringer remarks, “ The Mester family bring a long line of artistic expression to the United States. Painting and artistry have been in their family for hundreds of years. Each member of the Mester family was an artist in some form, including Peter’s parents, grandparents, and now his children. Today, Peter collaborates with his son Pavel on public frescoes and panel paintings full of dramatic brushstrokes and spirituality—as evidenced by the figures in the painting and by the Mesters’ desire to give back.”
Sneeringer continues, “The Mesters also look to international literary figures for inspiration. San Francisco Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s poem on artistic creation ‘Constantly Risking Absurdity (No. 15)’ inspired many of the artists’ large expressive panels included in the exhibit. It is this intersection of the arts and culture that shows how creative expression transcends boundaries. It also demonstrates how refugees and the exchange of ideas add to the richness and diversity of the American experience.”
All proceeds from sales will benefit the Catholic Charities refugee and immigration work.
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San Jose ICA – 560 So. First Street map
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Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map
artwork by Andy TranSystem OVERLORD group exhibition
Designers and artists from the Bay Area to around the globe who are pushing the limits of print and new media. Their visual communication explores unique techniques that reimagine form, color, space, and content. Curated by Bay Area designer Andy Tran, the exhibition will graphically navigate through highs and lows of human experience and emotion. System OVERLORD designers: Jimbo Barbu, Thomas Blankschøn, IsoPoly, Mars Maiers, Network Osaka, and Andy Tran. Presented by Works as part of San Francisco Design Week. Visit the exhibition and make your own designer button fro free at our SubZERO booth!
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Caffé Frascati – 315 South First St. map
Reclaimed by Elba Raquel Martinez
This body of work is part of a series exploring the ties between nature, artist, and colors. Each color symbolizes important events in my life, which coincide with a hair wrap I have been color coding in my own hair for the past four years. As life experiences shape the person, art and color begin to shift for the artist in a transformation of concept and style. The original series titled “Life Strings” keeps expanding with this 13th piece as the reclaiming of this sculptural art form of branches and yarn.
Elba Raquel was born and raised in San Jose. She graduated in 2005 from Evergreen Valley College with an AS in Design. Immediately following she moved to “The City” to study at the San Francisco Academy of Art University where she graduated in 2008 with a BFA in Illustration. Currently she runs the art department at Latino College Preparatory Academy and is pursuing her Master’s in Art Education at Santa Clara University. She is an active free lance illustrator and exhibiting artist in San Jose. As a 2-D and 3-D artist, Elba Raquel blends both realms in a playful manner. Her Mexican cultural influence reflects in her pieces through rhythm and color into what can be described as “fantastic realism.”
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.
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Downtown Yoga Shala – 450 South First St. map
DYS is proud to feature one of our own members, photographer Aimi Duong, with her exhibit, “Light in Mufindi”. Aimi spent a few weeks in the highlands of Tanzania as a volunteer photographer with Photographers Without Borders , documenting the work of Foxes’ Ngo – a nonprofit organization that provides shelter, sustenance, education and medical care for children in the remote yet breathtaking Mufindi district. Aimi’s task was to was to capture the wonderful work that the NGO does for the community and most importantly, to capture the joyful spirits of the children & people of Mufindi because despite their hardships; they manage to find the will to shine so bright! The show will consist of portraits taken from the project along with handmade yoga bags + baskets made by artisans in Mufindi. Donations to benefit Mufindi accepted during the Art Walk on First Friday, June 2nd.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library – 150 E San Fernando St. map
Arrived On Time by Girafa
“Arrived On Time” is a collection of work I’ve made over the last few years from my modest studio space in San Jose, CA. Known for illegally painting my giraffe character all over the Bay Area a decade ago I continue to use it in my work all while migrating into new territory painting new characters, abstracting forms and using patterns.These paintings showcase my growth as an artist and is a glimpse into the future of new works and possibilities to come.
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LGBTQ Youth Space – 452 South First St. map
We’re participating in SubZERO! Look for our booth in front of our building.
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Social Policy – 200 South First St. map
Joey Agcopra, “A Table Setting”, 2017Connections : A Ceramic Exhibition by local ceramists
Connections in life take many forms whether it be tangible or metaphorical. As we grow as individuals it’s important to access our connections to each other and our physical connections to the world around us. This exhibition of local artists, takes a closer look at a variety of ceramic approaches.
Live Performance entitled “A Coffee Break” by Joey Agcopra at 8pm.
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SoFA Market – 387 So. First St. map
Artist Suhita Shirodkar
My body of work varies widely in subject, but it all ties back to a single, underlying aim: to see and capture the world around me as a traveller would, viewing both the everyday and the exotic with fresh eyes. I am an urban sketcher, a watercolor artist, and a teacher. I work on location, often in sketchbooks, in watercolor, pen & ink. I love the immediacy and freedom to experiment that working small allows me: that first, quick, almost-calligraphic capture is the one that gets to the heart of my subject.
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TechShop San Jose – 38 South Second St. map
Please join us for the opening of “Dreamscape” by Rupy Kaloti at TechShopSJ. Kaloti is a local emerging artist fusing elements of realism, and fantasy, her work captures the whimsical aspects of life.
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Vyne Bystro – 110 Paseo de San Antonio Walk map
Almas Sin Hogar (Homeless Souls) by Vanessa Niembro de Paz
Vanessa: After arriving in the Bay Area, I discovered a city full of invisible wandering souls. It impacted me. This work is meant to approach, without fear, those who live on the streets. Hoping to recognize (to more deeply identify with) the homeless soul, in the deepness of their gaze.
Also on view: Art Hub: An artist collaboration from the Art Hub came together to depict a personal view of urban structure.
“Love, Inertia and the Pursuit of the Perfect Stance” by Shawn HimbaCronan
Inspired by our nation’s ongoing romance with automobiles, Shawn HimbaCronan has been working on his large-scale sculpture ‘Love, Inertia and the Pursuit of the Perfect Stance’ since 2014. The work aims to connect a surviving artifact of 1960’s idealistic Americana with the elements and gestures of a contemporary “customize everything” subculture. Over the past 3 years, he has been meticulously transforming a 1963 Ford Falcon Deluxe Club Wagon into a mobile street-legal sculpture. The vehicle, while a spectacle in itself, will perform and be used as a mark making tool. For June’s SoFa’s First Friday ICA Live!, HibmaCornan will activate his sculpture on wheels for the audience.
Shawn HibmaCronan is a Bay Area artist whose work utilizes both traditional and cutting edge processes to create elegant yet mischievous works that intrigue the viewer to pause, investigate, and be inspired to consider a new perspective. His intent is to create powerful sculptures using structural geometry and layered iconography in which the process is evident and the content is accessible to all walks of life. HibmaCronan’s work has been exhibited in a variety of galleries and institutions including a solo exhibition at the Oakland Museum Sculpture Court and 2 large commissioned pieces the San Francisco International Airport. He has been an Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Art and Design in NYC, the Autodesk Pier 9 Workshop, and the Oakland Museum of California. His work has been featured on ABC7 News, SFist.com, Woodwork magazine, Multilingual magazine, Glance magazine, and Craftzine.
Special permance: 8pm, outside ICA on S 1st Street during the SubZERO Festival
CONTINUED EXHIBITS…
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PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
A Sidewalk View by Valentino Loyola
An ongoing series of mixed medium works that aim to exhibit and share a visceral experience, which occurs within my emotive faculties, when passing a building that has since its architectural trend, become obscured standing next to modern developments. In some instances, these buildings are stand alone, semi-demolished, fragmented parts of lost infrastructure.
Discovering everyday beauty in the most mundane objects, sections or remains of a place from a previous era, it is my hope that a sense of place will emerge.
Sections of a wall, fixture or other feature of any given streetscape are chosen to render new forms, visually and lyrically to create an object of art.
My emphasis on using up-cycled material as a primary approach to constructing and completing a project, piece or work of art, lends itself to the aged and worn elemental components that are reflective of the brick and mortar inspirations for my work.
Loyola will be in attendance at The Pierce during the art walk.
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Psycho Donuts – 288 South Second St. map
artwork by Murphy AdamsSpring Cleaning group exhibit featuring works by: Murphy Adams, Christine Benjamin, John Hageman, Nik Caesar, Michael Foley, Veronica Casson and Celeste Young Moss
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Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St. map
Abstracts by Ayesha Samdani
My art is inspired by nature therefore I see my reflection in leaves, trees and branches that changes modes and colors with the seasons. I use a various limited color palette for each painting to depict different moods of nature. Through variations of lines, layers and color palette, I explore the sensitivity and delicacy of changing seasons. Some paintings reveal the beauty of spring and fall and some impression of summer and winter.
OTHER PARTICIPATING VENUES…
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San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 So. First Street map
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Focused on emerging and present subcultures thriving in our region; the SubZERO Festival is a DIY, artistically bent, hi/lo-techno mashup where street meets geek.
Come downtown on June 2nd & 3rd to San Jose’s SoFA District from 6pm ’til midnight for an inspired evening of arts & culture. In addition to the South FIRST FRIDAYS monthly art walk you’ll find outdoor stages of entertainment plus artists, performers & musicians all celebrating the indie creative spirit!
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You’re invited to join us for the dedication of the new shade structures entitled “Urban Rooms” by Estudio Teddy Cruz + Forman in Parque de los Pobladores with Mayor Sam Liccardo and Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco at 5:30pm preceding the 10th Annual SubZERO Festival.(6pm–Midnight).
The City of San José, MACLA and the NEA, invite you to the presentation of Urban Rooms by Estudio Teddy Cruz + Forman. This new public artwork shapes Parque de los Pobladores as a dynamic platform for cultural and economic production. Opening activation developed by SubZERO Festival and Mr. Cruz, with music by Sonido Clash. Dedication to precede SubZERO festival.
Parque de los Pobladores is located at the corner of S. 1st & William streets.