It's going to be a huge FIRST FRIDAY this month, rain or shine. Check out an in depth list of the artists being featured and participating venues below:
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JOIN US for the next South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk on April 4th from 7–11pm. RSVP
The South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk is a self-guided evening tour through galleries, museums, and independent creative businesses featuring exhibitions and special performances.
NEW EXHIBITS…
Anno Domini // the second coming of Art & Design – 366 South First St. map
Artist’s Reception: Millions of Colors in the Shadow by Joe Kowalczyk (CA)
Kowalczyk’s ceramic sculptures are the celebration of the irrational; a celebration of ideas, impulses, and desires that spring from the darker side of the subconscious. When the quiet thought: “Why did I think something so strange?” arises, Kowalczyk celebrates it and turn it into a drawing or translates it into a sculpture rather than pushing the thought aside.
“Much of my sculpture explores aspects of the human shadow; those which we deem improper, primitive and ultimately “unfit” for modern society. These are aspects of ourselves we’ve learned to restrain in our youth, and continue to intentionally suppress as adults in order to create a more “ideal” person,” says Kowalczyk. “I highlight these aspects and put them into the physical world; to give them a face and a set of eyes, so we can confront and better understand them. As a result I better understand myself.”
Joe Kowalczyk is an award winning sculptor, painter, and illustrator that has been creating in the California Bay Area since he received his BFA in ceramics from California College of Arts and Crafts in 2006. Along with his studio practice, Joe fixes kilns, teaches ceramics, and cofounded a fine art gallery within the Oakland Art Murmur district.
On View: We’s Gone Be Fine by Jeremiah Maddock (OR)
On view in galleryTWO: We’s Gone Be Fine by Jeremiah Maddock (OR)
“because I have said that verbally more times this year than ever before…and we are always gone some place rolling the dice. It’s been a nice vagabonding period.” ~Jeremiah Maddock
All new works from our favorite hyper obsessive nomadic artist from the Pacific Northwest (this time.)Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery – 499 South Market St. map
Melvin by Lisa LaRocca
Higher Fire Gallery presents: Spring Mud-Fling
Spring brings good mud-gazing! Feast your eyes on sculptural flowers, ceramic bird houses, totems, bird baths, bird feeders, Easter eggs, clay baskets, garden art, flower pots, fountains, planters, ice tea sets and oh so much more. We’re featuring cool clay items to make, take (and hopefully not break) at the Higher Fire Gallery this April.KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map
Artist Reception: The Key to Technological and Spiritual Renaissance new artworks by Joe Perea
Nature’s organizing power is infinite and we are apart of nature. Our creativity and analytical urges exist in our society as separate entities. But according to the Ancients and Quantum Physics this is a mirage. All the great thinkers in the likes of Jung, Einstein and Tesla retained both beautiful sides. Let us open ourselves to our highest potential and Combine our two infinite sides.
Perea’s personal Mythology is channeled information, regurgitated knowledge from every single soul he meets. “There’s a mythological formula to creativity and the key to open it is our passion. We’re all masters, use The Key.” ~Joe Perea
Artist Reception: CONNECTIONS mixed media work by Valerie Runningwolf
Being human is to reach out and find connections. To link with other people, to attach ourselves with things, and join together within common beliefs. Our lives are a series of connections. Each one helps to shape who we are and define all the parts and pieces that construct our individuality and uniqueness. “As an artist I explore and create what I feel, see, and experience, always reaching out to others through artistic expression in hopes of evoking a sense of connectedness.” ~ Valerie Runningwolf
To create this series, Runningwolf looked into the layers of connections and asked many questions, such as:
What pieces fit together in our lives and what connects us to others and events?
How do we stay connected ?
Who do we feel bound to and linked together in our hearts and souls?
What connections are visible and which ones are hidden and concealed?Seeing Things Gallery – 30 North Third St. map
MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES works by Lance Cyril Mountain
What is force? Driving human emotions? Love. Change. Fear. Achievement. Recognition. Challenge. Excellence. Responsibility / Contribution & Passion
All these are driving forces for Lance. With an unorthodox upbringing, one only has to have a single conversation with this artist, to see his passions & goals are much greater than your average 28 year old living in Southern California. Being well travelled & well educated may contribute to his longing for more substance & disdain for modern complacency (i.e. stucco buildings & strip mall business greed). With the ability to detach himself from an average way of living that has become acceptable to a generation, he is truly unique. With a generous heart & a burning contempt for lazy conformists, not much has changed in the world of Lance since he was a child.
Often misunderstood, like all great artists, Lance showcases his passion & attention to detail in all the works he involves himself in. Whether its painting, photography, writing or screen printing, all these emotions show through. All the viewer has to do is open their eyes and be willing to see its all there…Thought Informed By Passion & Conditioned By KnowledgeSilicon Valley Music Festival at Sliding Door Company – 355 South First St. map
Pianist Nichole Boaz will be featured at The Sliding Door Company this month at part of the Silicon Valley Music Festival South FIRST FRIDAY Art Walk! Performance Series. She is a distinguished Jazz musician and alumni of San Jose State University.
One Thousand Thousand Project by Jason McHenry
The Silicon Valley Music Festival (SVMF) invites you to attend this month’s performance as we continue our theme of musically inspired visual artwork. Jason McHenry has been working with the Silicon Valley Music Festival over the past few months, creating works inspired by the South FIRST FRIDAY SVMF performances. In February audiences were captivated by the flawless beauty of harpist, Anna Maria-Mendieta and in March charmed by the solo guitarist, Antoniy Kakamakov. This month Jason will be on sight once again capturing the colors of jazz pianist Nichole Boaz. We invite you to participate in this drawing project along with Jason. This series is part of Jason McHenry’s One Thousand Thousand Project, an ongoing and frequently collaborative effort to produce an edition of one million hand-made, original works on paper. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute in such an epic artistic endeavour, please join us! .Works San Jose – 365 South Market St. map
art by Carolann Espino
Works / San José presents Shelter
25 South Bay artists explore their views of shelter in a wide range of medium and installations. Curated by Alfred Preciado, the work takes a worldly yet often sublime view of the very universal concept of shelter, making political, cultural, issue oriented, poster-like, text, video, and other statements.Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St. map
Opening Reception 6-9pm: Silicon Valley Open Studio Preview Exhibit at Art Ark Gallery. An art exhibition featuring the work of local artists participating in this year’s SVOS in the central San Jose area on May 17th and 18th 2014.
Silicon Valley Open Studios is an organization of artists in the bay area that are fluent in all mediums of art from painters to photographers to 3D. This group of artists are innovative and emerging on the scene with fresh new ideas and wonderful new works to share. This preview is an opportunity to see some of their art and meet the artists prior to the Open Studios beginning the first week of May. Live music performed by Freya Seeburger
Participating Artists: Susan Babbel, Debbie Bakker, David Braunstein, Jennifer Carrier, James Derieg, Liz Fennell, Rachel Greenberg, Rose Hagan, Inge Infante, Elaine Jek, Bharati Kshirsagar, James Lee, Lynn Elliott Letterman, Alyssa Levitan, Oleg Lobykin, Kenneth Mahar, Andrew Muonio, Nassim Nouri, Christine Oliver, Abbas Orumchian, Mary Paquet, Jim Paradis, JoAnne Perez Robinson, Marina Povalishina, Mohana Pradhan, Sally Rayn, Cynthia Riordan, Masha Schultz, Sue Serrone, Arena Shawn, Joan Sparks, Pooja Subramanya, Karin Taber, Rachel Tirosh, Valerie J.A. Vandermotten, Mishel Vanderten, Shweta Vijayaraghavan, Bill Voight, Cathy Zander, Carrie ZeidmanDiscover San Jose – 150 South First St., Suite 103 map
DSJ proudly presents the work of Jim Watkins in April. His interest in photography began on the streets of Paris in 1991. Armed with 11 disposable cameras, he explored the City of Light to document his lifelong dream of visiting the city. Two years later, he revisited Paris with a real camera – and he was hooked. Jim’s focus is now on landscapes, cityscapes and street photography. He has been published in magazines, newspapers, books and travel guides. Jim will be on hand during South First Fridays to autograph his works for collectors.Downtown Yoga Shala – 450 South First St. map
Opening Reception: Jonathan and Joella Kermit are back at Downtown Yoga Shala, with their exhibit Light + Wire + Thread. This time, they incorporate LED lighting into their wire and paper assemblages and textile hangings. The effect creates a sense of depth and serenity in the eye and mind of the viewer. Join us after our 5:30-6:45pm Yoga Pilates Fusion class with Deepa, as we open our doors to the Art patrons and downtown SJ community to host the creative and collaborative work of husband and wife team of Joella and Jonathan Kermit. See you at the Shala!First to Market Restaurant – 399 South First St. map
Portraits of Things by Samantha Yee
An exploration of character, perception, and humanity through painted portraits of people and other inanimate objects. Classic examples of the portrait genre from the Renaissance through the age of Napoleon inspired the re-imagining of our modern selves and our spaces out of the skyscraper and back to the manor house.Street Eats & Live Beats at Parque De Los Pobladores – South First St. at William St. map
South FIRST FRIDAYS presents: STREET EATS & LIVE BEATS!
Streaming live from Parque De Los Pobladores in the SoFA District El Otto Munro (EOM) on Common Ground- Radio feauturing DJs El Gato, Jswizza, Paul Leath & Notorious PI.G.. Also featuring great street eats provided by: MoGo BBQ, Quick Dog, MoBowl, Paddy Wagon Sliders and Twisted Chill.The Soundtrack of Cinequest at South First Billiards – 420 South First St. map
Meshy sans Fleshy: Guitron, with a splash of Paeste. Chilled. Mario Guitron Solo exhibit, Also, the South First Billiards Dee Jae Paeste permanent collection.
Live Music 9:30pm by Love Stoned (Top 40 Cover Band for your dancing pleasure)Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St. map
World of Color by Joe Decker (Rockslide Photography)
Navigating the colors of air, water and earth in locations from around the globe. Joe has explored both polar regions and the western United States in search of the incredible beautify and variety of nature. He’s been awarded artist residencies by the National Park Service, Gullkistan (an arts organization in Iceland), and Hurtigruten (a cruise line based in Norway). Joe is also the author of “The Tuesday Composition”, a best-selling photographic ebook on the topic of composition in photography.TechShop San Jose – 300 South Second St. map
Scrap Yard Printing by Colin Drake Jaramillo
Colin Drake Jaramillo has been photographing since 12 years of age and continues to try and intertwine his work across the different fields he works in. Starting with aspirations to be a National Geographic photographer, straight photography has fallen by the wayside as the focus is on completing a degree in Anthropology. Rather than taking photos, experimenting and concentrating on existing images to create something greater has been occupying Colin’s time for the past two years, such as his work of Ecuador where he has photographed the people and the street art of the region. This series of photographs on metal is one way that this trend has manifested itself, combing work conducted at TechShop with various other photographic projects.
CONTINUED EXHIBITS…
MACLA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana – 510 South First St.map
Samuel Rodriguez, Notes, 2013. Spray paint and ink on wood. 13 x 36 inches.
LATINO ART NOW! 16TH Annual Art Auction + Exhibition
View and buy work from established and emerging artists from the Bay Area and beyond! Stop by the gallery to buy directly or participate in our auction on April 26. Auction supports MACLA’s programs. These and other artists have generously donated selections from their current work, including paintings, light installations, sculpture, collage, mixed-media work, and photography, reflecting the breadth of visual arts media for which MACLA is known.
8-9:30 pm Music performance by PAOLOZZI TANGO TRIO. Feel the passion as this Bay Area trio performs original and traditional tangos.Phantom Galleries – 95 South Market St. map
art work by Dee Dee Torre
FRPArt (Functional Restoration Program Art) uses the creation of art as a catalyst for physical, spiritual, and cognitive rehabilitation from various injuries and afflictions. In conjunction with releasing stress and anxiety through the mindful process of creation, promoting an overall sense of positivity and well being.
Featured artists: Brandon Anderton, Carla Bolden, Betsy Braun-Kernaghan, Anthony Campisi, Liz Conklin, Chasity Washam Finney, Dyanne Hofstad, Sedara Olker, Laela Ramos, Michele Rice, Michelle Rourke, Dee Dee Torre, and Ann Wilcox.ZERO1 Garage – 439 South First St. map
City to City, (2013) Paula Levine, ZERO1 Fellowship/x
ZERO1 Fellowship/x
Featuring: Cecilia Galiena, Simon Geilfus (ANTIVJ), Paula Levine, Daniela Steinsapir
Tapping a new source for disruption and recognizing the inherent innovative power of the artistic process, ZERO1 launched its Fellowship Program one year ago. The inaugural class of Fellows was presented with individual innovation challenges and have spent the past year researching, prototyping and producing outcomes in response to their respective challenge. From a cooperative urban experience, to a new messaging app; from a web platform facilitating social practice art to an unveiled presence of public network connections, ZERO1 is proud to present the results of these Fellow’s year-long journey. Come down to the ZERO1 Garage and discover each of the Fellows’ unique responses to their innovation challenges.Cafe Stritch – 374 South First St. map
Information not available at time of posting.Caff̩ Frascati Р315 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!Pho69 – 321 South First St. map
Phantom Galleries presents JOURNALS by Gianfranco Paolozzi
Marking on surfaces moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day.Psycho Donuts – 288 South Second St. map
Art by Valery Milovic
Psycho Donuts in downtown San Jose is a quirky donut shop and art gallery. The gallery displays top local artists and has an ongoing exhibit featuring the work of John Renzel, Lacey Bryant, Nicolas Caesar, Murphy Adams, Christine Benjamin, Michael Foley, Michael Borja, Valery Milovic, Carlos Villez, Eric Joyner, Laura Callin Bennett, John Hageman and Robert McColley!
