South FIRST FRIDAYS presents ArtwalkSJ
First Friday, April 5th 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
The “Making of Open Source Magazine” discussion and live performances.
Join us at
On view in galleryONE: “Grand Grey” by Faring Purth (NY)
“Grand Grey” is a collection of works on paper completed between 2016-2019, ranging in medium and scale, from
The most recent of this collection was created in the “Tablada Studio,” our new home in the Catskills mountains, that once hosted the late Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo. The presence in these walls is undeniable and, I believe, nourished the work in many ways. This exhibition is a celebration of work that is not often seen in a gallery setting, pulp
On view in
Since bursting onto the art scene in 2007 his work has appeared on and livened up numerous streets, gallery and home walls in places around the world and beyond.
Fed up with people being angry, disappointed, sad and disillusioned with life, Leer sees it as his duty to brighten up the world and spread some happiness.
Over a decade Bortusk has developed a signature voice and style, creating manic, euphoric creatures (his monsters) plus other lively abstract pieces, videos, TV shows and numerous psychedelic assemblages of Neo-Pop-Art-Brut.
Fascinated by Picasso and the CoBrA-movement, inspired by futuristic heroes and influenced by all the children of the world, Leer became the founder and leader of Art Comedy.
He’s still the only member though as far as we know. His aim is not only to create as much art as he possibly can, but also to put a smile on everyone’s face and spread some positive emotions whilst doing so.
“I
Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map
On view: “Ambient Dew Point”
Participating artists: Allison Leigh Holt, Cheryl E Leonard, Christian Farrell, Jim Haynes, John Davis, Keith Evans, Kerry Laitala, Lisa Mezzacappa, Loren Chasse, Mark Wilson, Rae Diamond’s Long Tone Choir, Suki Okane, Thingamajigs Performance Group, Syrnx
Ambient Dew Point is the temperature needed for condensation of atmospheric water vapor to occur; the changing of state and phase. This exhibition includes a number of primarily media performance artists and groups showing works that are an extract of some process or outgrowth of their
Art Object Gallery – 592 N. 5th St. map
Artists’ reception: HIKARIGAMA: an exhibition of wood-fired ceramics
Participating artists: Hiroshi Ogawa, Sam Hoffman, Diane Levinson, Jenny Klein, Naohiro Matsuzawa, Jordan King, Amy Fields, Natalie Warrens, Misako Kambe, Thomas and Kathy Arakawa, Jayme Allen
Contemporary ceramic artists worldwide are embracing a millennia old technique called wood-fire. The exhibition Hikarigama brings together eleven accomplished artists in an exhibition that explores the subtleties, beauty and complexity of wood-fired ceramics. A full range of art from traditional Japanese pottery to contemporary sculpture will be featured during the First Friday Art Walk SJ reception 5:30pm–8:30pm.
Gallery Suha Suha – 45 E. Williams St. map
Artist reception: “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
Let me correct: they are in fact unacceptable even to the anorexic. Paintings cannot save us. We are already neck-deep in the swamp.
Pictured artwork: “
KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map
KALEID Gallery is proud to present two new feature exhibitions by gallery resident artists Mariana Barnes, and Leah Jay.
Artist’s reception: “Nature is Calling” new works by Mariana Barnes
From whimsical sea creatures to charming trees, this exhibit is inspired by Mariana’s love of nature. And like nature, her paintings ignite a spark of joy and wellbeing in the viewer.
A
Her unique and recognizable painted mosaic style has appeared in numerous galleries and venues, including museums and TV shows. She has won various
Artist’s reception: “Topographic Flux” an abstract series by Leah Jay
Watercolor, free and organic, followed and bounded by precise opaque lines — wandering the boundary between freedom and restraint, order and chaos, control and letting go.
Leah Jay has been a working artist in a variety of mediums in San Jose for 20 years. She recently returned to her first love, watercolor, for its healing and therapeutic effects on both mind and body.
The first Friday reception features the musical talents of DJ Ageha Mist (LA)
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 South First St. map
In the DMC Studio: Youth Culture Open Mic
Hosted by Anouk Yeh, Emma Rheams, & Bryan Gutierrez-ArroyoLive Youth Poets, Musicians, and a photo exhibition produced by the DMC Studio Youth.
Opening reception: Latino Art Now! Auction & Exhibition
The auction is Silicon Valley’s premier showcase for established and emerging Latino artists, featuring 30-40 original works of art which are available to the public. Now in its 21st year, the Latino Art Now! Auction & Exhibition consistently attracts more than 200 novice and seasoned art collectors and enthusiasts for an evening of food, spirits, and friendly competitive bidding (live auction May 18th). With work ranging from sculpture and paintings to mixed media, the auctioned work provokes thought and conversation to celebrate the diversity of Latino arts and culture.
In the Castellano Playhouse: Taller Bombalele, 8-10pm
Taller Bombalele was founded by Julia Cepeda (granddaughter of Puerto Rican Bomba Patriarch Don Rafael Cepeda Atiles) and Denise Solis (founder/director of Las Bomberas de la Bahia). The Taller Bombalele community in the diaspora is committed to the Bomba values and practice that
Phantom Galleries at Culinary Corner Bistro – 321 South First St. map
Artist reception: “Seen through Lines” by Taryn Curiel
“Painting is an incredible adventure that starts with an idea and a simple line,” ~Taryn Curiel,
I started drawing and painting when I was very young because it came
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
As a subject, I have always loved the human figure, every
This Phantom Galleries exhibition curated by Robert Ragazza.
PhantomGalleries at The Pierce – 2 Pierce Ave. map
On view: “San Jose Journals” by Gianfranco Paolozzi
Last chance to take a personal tour of “San Jose Journals” with artist Gianfranco Paolozzi during ArtWalkSJ. A new addition to the exhibition will be Gianfranco’s “Journal: March 7–10 2019,” the finished painting of his feature participation in this year’s Cinequest x Phantom Galleries Live Painting Event.
Gianfranco’s works are considered “journals” because they are never finished until they are sold. In this way, Paolozzi’s work is ever-evolving… until it is yours; once you have it, it is completely evolved…or…back in the studio they go where they continue to be added to or edited.
The works also have no “correct” top, bottom or sides when it comes to hanging the work. Paolozzi designed the frame with hardware so the collector can hang a piece in any orientation they’d like. Use your imagination.
Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map
and hanging installation by Bill Gould.
Closing Party: “Evocation Made Real”
An immersive installation by Bill Gould with paintings by Gloria Huet and Judy Rookstool reveal conscious and unconscious collections of memories and reminiscences from parts of their lives to demonstrate the lasting power of stored images and experiences. Each artist evokes elements of reminiscence to focus on the importance of the past to their everyday actions and interactions. The combination of the artists’ recollections is designed to create responses to those memories and to generate recollections of visitors, which can be shared in an evolving installation of responses. This First Friday night will be the closing party for this exhibition!
Caffé Frascati – 315 South First St. map
Opening reception: “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
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
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
Artist reception: MOMENTS by Mel Chircop
By presenting these images, I want to show the beauty in things unseen. Little things from the everyday. Small movements that compose a person. Hidden thoughts in split seconds of stopped time. Time moves so fast when you are not paying attention. As my images are seen, I challenge the viewer to pay attention and be present
SJSU Muse Night at Hammer Theatre – 101 Paseo de San Antonio map
Closed this evening.
Social Policy – 200 South First St. map
Artist reception: Zach Bohny a solo exhibition
This series of abstract paintings and collages
Live music at
SoFA Market – 387 So. First St. map
Artist reception: “The Girls” by Amanda Kritzberg
“The Girls” is a series that celebrates diversity in the form of a collection of unique women wearing colorful, vibrant flower headdresses. The accompanying floral pieces tie “The Girls” together and symbolize the beauty found in celebrating our differences.
Amanda Kritzberg was born and raised in Los Angeles County, and currently lives in San Jose, CA. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music from UC Santa Barbara in clarinet
Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St. map
Artist reception: “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
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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.