JOIN US for the next South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk + STREET MRKT featuring San Jose Jazz Summer Fest on August 7th from 7–11pm. RSVP

The South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk is a self-guided evening tour through galleries, museums, and independent creative businesses featuring eclectic art exhibitions and special performances. All art venues are FREE & open to the public.

Thank you to our Sponsors and Partners:
San Jose Downtown Association, Metro Newspapers, San Jose Jazz Summer Fest, TechShop, City of San Jose, South FIRST FRIDAYS and Two Fish Design.

NEW EXHIBITS…

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

  
  

  Artist Reception: We Are Savages solo exhibition of sign painter Ken Davis

  Our mainstream society has developed into a culture that among many other things, praises the shortcut and enjoys the illusion of luxury in their everyday. If there is an easy way out of a long trail, it is most certainly more popular of a route than the traditional trail. In the shadows of the mainstream there is a small percentage of holdouts. It is these Individuals that see the trails walked for generations as ideal routes to live their lives. Those of us with firm roots in traditional crafts are typically viewed with intrigue as modern Savages by the masses glued to their devices of instant result. The Savages are the ones who refuse to conform to the new norms that exponential technological growth has created. We generally are content with creating what we do for the sake of the pursuit and nothing more. Anything that comes from that is merely a bonus. ~Ken Davis

  Ken Davis is a traditional sign painter in the purest sense of the word and is fiercely committed to keeping the craft alive. The by-gone days of signs being hand painted, due to necessity, is now an almost lost art. This solo exhibition of new works by Davis is one of his most personal. The works in “We Are Savages” are directly from, or inspired by, the inner thoughts and experiences from Davis’ day to day life as a craftsman artist.

• Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map

  
  Artwork by Thong Le

  East Valley Artists: A group exhibition of Silicon Valley artists working in a wide variety of mediums.

  East Valley Artists is a Meet Up Group that has been in existence for over 50 years. Its members meet monthly for critiques, workshops, demos and camaraderie to support and enhance each others’ art practice. Featuring live music by Jon Rubin.

• Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery – 499 South Market St. map

  
  Shino-Glazed Pottery by Steve Maas.

  For August First Friday Art Walk, come see us at STREET MRKT. A huge vendor faire with artists, live music, food trucks, independent retailers, and all sorts of neat stuff! Higher Fire presents our renowned big-bargains tent with affordable treasures from our studio artists & instructors. See you there!

• KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map

  Join us at KALED Gallery for the opening reception of two new feature exhibitions by Nicole Linde, and Joe Perea.

  
  

  “Visual Spectrum” new paintings by Nicole Linde

  “Visual Spectrum” is a series of paintings inspired by things unseen. It is a collection of oil paintings Linde has been working on this last year influenced by the notion that there is a world that is seen with the eyes and five physical senses that makes up the fabric of our Visual Spectrum. These paintings are an exploration of another world; a more subtle dimension that can be seen or felt with the sixth sense of intuition. The process of these paintings have been in correlation with Linde’s own daily meditation and spiritual explorations.

  
  

  “QuantumActivism” new works by Joe Perea

  What the ancient knew, we are slowly re-discovering. Subtle energies that exist in us, exist in all of us; from the humblest grain of sand in the ocean to the massive galaxies mirroring a non local connection, where language or math is different but the universal archetype is the same. This physical world that runs on laws is very dependent on energies unseen. The technological advances like teleportation, quantum biology, and quantum nano technology, is only a small portion of our future reality. But where I lean towards more is the self realization that every single soul is connected, a genius acknowledging our true potential –that we have control over our reality in the physical, emotional, mental and metaphysical journey. If a scientist can manage to affect reality just by observation, imagine what a pure and happy thought might be? ~Joe Perea

• Seeing Things Gallery – 30 North Third St. map

  
  photo by Mark Nisbet

  “Late July” photography by Kyle Camarillo, Matt Price and Mark Nisbet

• Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map

  
  Lenticular art by Becca Smidt

  Artists’ Reception: “Over the Top”

  The annual salon of art from members of Works is a startlingly inclusive overview of regional artists, from the most experienced and accomplished to emerging artists you might discover for the first time. “Over the Top” recognizes individual artists who choose to support community art and performance through Works.gh Works.

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library – 150 E San Fernando St. map

  
  Artwork by Rajiv Khilnani

  Visual Journeys by Donna Orne and Rajiv Khilnani

  Two artists, Donna Orme and Rajiv Khilnani, members of the abstract7 group will show small and medium-sized acrylic pieces of contemporary,abstract artworks during the 1st Friday, August 7 artwork. The public will be invited to return to the library to view the group exhibit on the 2nd Floor titled “Visual Journeys.”

  Founded in 2011, abstract7, united by their passion for and involvement in contemporary art, meets monthly to support one another, share artwork and consider venues for group exhibits. This collective of seven artists creates artworks in several media, including watercolors, acrylics, oils, printmaking, photography, assemblage and sculpture.

• LGBTQ Youth Space – 452 South First St. map

  

  The Art of Protest 1960s-1970s

  Twenty-Six original silk screen poster prints documenting social protest movements of the 60s and 70s. Mostly the work of students at the University of California campuses at Berkley and Santa Cruz; the posters depict a wide range of opposition to the Vietnam War, the military draft, racism, state repression, and environmental pollution.

• Phantom Galleries at SoFA Market – 387 South First St. map

  
  

  Phantom Galleries presents: “String Theory” an installation by Anabella Piñon and Frances Marin at SoFA Market.

  Taking a nostalgic form of communication, the game of childhood game of ‘telephone’, “String Theory” conveys the dense, voyeuristic and sometimes overwhelming nature of modern connectivity where everyone is talking, listening and knowing what one another is doing at all times. Viewers are invited to play telephone with the set of cans displayed beside the artwork.

  
  Acrylic on 100 x 4 ft. Walmart cotton scroll (now torn), methylcellulose, hide glue, marble gesso and gouache on wood panels.
  

  Also on view: Phantom Galleries presents “Broken World” by Briana Lyon at SoFA Market

  Native Californian artist Briana Lyon brings us her massive installation “Broken World”. This 12-piece series explores the fractures hidden in our rural landscapes and the vision of a world being torn apart by synthetic living. Created over five years of residence in rugged British Columbia, “Broken World” combines Lyon’s intensive studies in Chinese literati painting with modern art. The pieces play plastic, factory-intensive materials directly against all natural, handmade painting mediums.

• TechShop San Jose – 300 South Second St. map

  

  “Microcosms” by Kent Blakey

  Since the Victorian era, the aquatic scenes captured by aquariums have mesmerized countless viewers and allowed us a unique peek into the watery worlds they withold. When one acknowledges the aquatic origins of life, and our connection to nature, it is easy to see why humans have a cardinal attraction to aquariums and other vivaria. Remember, all humans have gills if not for a brief moment during embryonic development!

  Enabled by technology, it has never been easier to keep both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems that are healthy, vibrant, and abundant in biodiversity. Furthermore, there is a recent movement to elevate the aquarium to an object of art or design that is part biological and chemical, part mechanical and electrical, but entirely beautiful. The aquarium system as a whole should be as exquisite as at the life it contains within.

  Spurned on by great European and Asian aquarists like Takashi Amano, the “high-design” aquarium is only starting to reach an American audience. After decades of experience with a variety of aquariums, terrariums, and vivariums, Kent has developed his own designs, methods, and techniques for creating healthy enclosed ecosystems that are beautiful both inside and out. The current exhibit showcases a variety of styles. Enjoy.

• Third Space Fitness – 550 South first St. map

  

  “Collage Transformations” by Jane Elliot

  By its very nature collage is a transformative work – more so than any other practice of art making. Yes indeed, the paint in its tube, now brushed onto a canvas, becomes something else entirely – and has fulfilled its purpose. Collage on the other hand, is made from a collection of otherwise unrelated pieces that have already fulfilled their original purpose – and are now coaxed into a new finality that is altogether different.

  These works are culled from such disparate sources as couture fashion rags, art magazines, and vintage photography monthlies. The actual doing of the work of collage is very much a nonverbal game of mix and match – why this spiral motif here exactly and not over there, I could not really say – just a feeling I guess.

  I begin with laminating a sheet of acid free card stock to thin plywood and then set to scraping – or ‘pulling’ as I call it – acrylic colors across the panel until I see something I like. Then I cut out a pile of interesting images, patterns and parts – – and that’s when the fun begins – to see which bits want to be with which bits. I’m always intrigued by the stories that can be found in the finished work.

  Made in an almost dream state – they are much like dreams themselves.

• Vyne Bystro – 110 Paseo de San Antonio Walk map

  
  “One” 2015 Watercolor on Arches – 8×10 inches

  “Inner Space” by Jasmin Alconcher

  I can’t recall the first time I fell in love with the night sky, but not a night has passed where I did not look up. My first feelings, without fail, is amazement, wonder, and admiration in its purest form. Then comes the sense of home, a deep feeling of oneness, a lasting sense of belonging. I’ve spent many nights searching for answers from the Universe, but it was only recently I grew to realized the importance of looking inward. This is when I discovered my inner space and the comparisons it has with outer space; the mystery, the complexity, the vastness, the humbling of the ego, and the answers waiting to be discovered and decoded.

  These paintings are reflections of my intimate journey into the mystery and wonderment of my inner space. I hope to inspire the viewer to look inward to their own skyspaces and landscapes, to boldly explore the abstract universe they hold within. Enlightenment is just beyond the mist.

CONTINUED EXHIBITS…

• Downtown Yoga Shala – 450 South First St. map

  
  

  Featured artist: Jewelry Designer BECCA CUELLAR

  Becca Cuellar ias a local artist and jewelry designer. She will be joining us as an accomplished contributor to this month’s First Friday Art Walk.

  Becca studied Spatial Art at SJSU (2012) and minored in Costume Design. She always had a passion for fashion, collecting textures and loud colors, using herself as a live canvas for assemblage. She incorporated her love for clothing in all of her art classes, making her own interpretation of her degree. One of the highlights was making corsets out of clay, metal, and fabric. After school she spent a brief time in Los Angeles, from where she hails, as a set decorator, costume and wardrobe stylist, and a radio commercial producer. She continues to work in marketing for her family business, The Radio Ranch: Creative Services, and her mother’s comedy blog HonestlyLisa.com and podcast Men are People Too. She now rallies rocks to aid in healing and positive energetics while making semi traditional, but all stylish prayer beads, and forges metal in fire to make individual sculptures to be worn as rings. Becca continues to over-accessorize and spring with joy over any small animal that may cross her path.

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

  
  Image credit: Viva Paredes, The House That Tequila Built, recycled Patron tequila bottles

  MACLA presents, Breaking Point

  Artists Jaime Guerrero and Viviana Paredes use glass as a vehicle to explore and critique issues as diverse as the effects of over-hunting to the extinction of dialects and cultural customs.

  
  Image credit: Patrick Hickey

  8pm: The Flamenco Society of San José will present the best of flamenco in its traditional and modern forms. Experience the art, music and culture of Andalucía, Spain.

• Phantom Galleries at Pho69 – 321 South First St. map

  
  (Lt) Devon McKnight, (R) Lindsay Montgomery

  Lift Off 2015< + Phantom Galleries at Pho69 presents “Star-Crossed Lovers”, an exhibition celebrating the work of San Jose State University MFA graduates Devon McKnight and Lindsay Montgomery. The work of these three artists interact with the lively and hip downtown Pho restaurant, exploring themes of tragic destinies and doomed lovers.

• Caffé Frascati – 315 South First St. map

  

  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!

• Psycho Donuts – 288 South Second St. map

  
  art by Kori Thompson
  Tiki Time at Psycho Donuts
  Group exhibition featuring: Christine Benjamin, Nicolas Caesar, JayCee, Michael Foley, JoJo Perea, Kimi Star, Kori Thompson, Chris Ralski Amesquita and Bishop Marlowe

• South First Billiards – 420 South First St. map

  
  
  “Clear” is a multimedia collaborative glass exhibition by artists Elizabeth Torrance, Scotty Gorham, Stephen Jacklyn, and Kevin Chong. With an emphasis on neon signage, these artists celebrate the cultural range of glass by combining the dark, the everyday, and the divine.

• Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St. map

  
  
  “The roads less traveled” by photographer Sergei.Pecherskyy
  Sergiy’s passion for photography is fueled by the beauty of nature and especially destinations that require physical strength and emotional investment to reach them. His camera and tripod are usually the first items he packs when going on backpacking trips in which he searches for magnificence of the nature in rarely seen conditions. For this show he selected photographs from known and less traveled places to stir up feelings and awaken thoughts about the incredibly wonderful yet fragile world we live in.

• 

  South FIRST FRIDAYS presents STREET MRKT featuring San Jose Jazz Summer Fest with 40 exhibiting artists, three stages of live music and a variety of gourmet food trucks.

  First Friday, August 7, 2015, 7-11 pm
  S 1st Street in the SoFA District
  (btwn San Carlos & William Streets)

  The STREET MRKT stage will feature Doug Ellington’s N.U.G. (New Urban Groove), The Wild Reeds, and Cado. More info…

  San Jose Jazz Summer Fest will present two additional stages of music as part of the August 7th STREET MRKT during the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk. The Jazz Beyond Stage will host The Internet, and Will Sessions. The SJZ Boom Box Stage will feature Sonex and Jesus Diaz Presents Rumba Cubana/A Cuban Rumba.

  The Art Walk and STREET MRKT are free and open to the public.