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South First Fridays Art Walk & Street Market | San Jose

Every 1st Friday
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Friday, August 2, 2013 - 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Cost: FREE
SoFA District (San Jose) | South First Street and William Street, San Jose, CA

Event Details

South First Fridays Art Walk (San Jose)

Join an eclectic evening of arts and culture in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district (and beyond) every first Friday of the month. Please note that South First Fridays is typically canceled in July and January due to the holidays.

South First Fridays hours depend on the gallery. Facebook seems to have the most updated information.

Come check out nearly 20 galleries, shops, bars and even a yoga studio  — all venues participating in South First Fridays, a free monthly art walk on and around First Street in San Jose.

South First Fridays presents Street Mrkt, a nighttime DIY urban fair during the art walk that brings together local artists, creative indie retailers, and a live music stage with performances by The Trims, French Cassettes, and Shovelman with Emcee Avery Burke (of Corpus Callosum) out on South First Street between San Carlos and San Salvador streets.

Anno Domini // The second coming of Art & Design – 366 South First St.

Anno Domini presents Wes Smoot and the 49ersFeaturing: Mark Pavlovits, Shaun Roberts, Michael Linton Simpson, Wes Smoot, Patrick Thompson, Derek Weisberg, & Lulu Yee.
From the beginning of time, people have tried to grasp and express the mysteries of the universe. Cultures and societies have developed traditions and stories in attempts to explain the dualities of the world. This exhibition offers insight into one of those societies, the E.O. 49: their members, practices and great legends.

Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery – 499 South Market St.

This August, Jill Getzan shows how it’s done. Getzan’s beautiful and often whimsical raku-fired vessels sport striped, high-contrast patterns, and deep metallic patinas. Stop by and watch a live raku firing demonstration in their warehouse this Friday. Other featured gallery artists include Phyllis Lee, Frank Arroyo, and Anthony Rollins. They’ll also be at STREET MRKT with their renowned big-bargains tent selling affordable treasures from more than 15 artists.

KALEID gallery – 88 South Fourth St. map

KALEID Gallery is proud to present two new solo exhibitions by gallery artists Nadja Martens and Joe Perea. In addition to these solo exhibitions, the work of 60 other talented artists are on view in the gallery. When Aristotelian logic is not enough and the linear thinking dissolves, quantum thinking rises out of the new and into the old.

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

Work by Mitsy Ávila Ovalles, Carolyn Castaño, Las Hermanas Iglesias, and Ana Serrano. Artist piñata beating at 8 pm. The exhibition summons Latina popular culture strategies and aesthetics to deal with chaotic environments. On August 2, Las Hermanas Iglesias invite MACLA visitors to beat up two piñatas that look like the artists.

Phantom Galleries – 95 South Market St.

Phantom Galleries presents Window Shopping, recent works by Fernando “FORCE129″ Amaro Jr.. Phantom Galleries transforms vacant storefronts into vibrant art exhibitions by regional artists. These temporary installations, which are viewable 24/7 from the sidewalk, add a jolt of visual stimulation to the passersby and gives wider exposure to independent artists. Fernando Amaro, Jr. is a San Jose artist that exhibits widely on the west coast and keeps busy in between shows with his graphic design company.

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles – 520 South First St.

Collecting New York Beauty Quilts: Bill Volckening’s passion focuses on the evolution of a unique quilt pattern—New York Beauty—and shows its many variations and modifications throughout the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries. Collecting New York Beauty Quilts traces the life story of an extraordinary American quilt pattern and a collector’s singular pursuit and fascinating research surrounding quilts made with this complex and graphic design.

First Friday Art Walk Fiber Salon: Etsy Meet & Make

Join SF Etsy member Armani Mondragón in making felt note cards at the next Etsy Meet & Make Fiber Salon. Not only does Armani believe in art and color, but she also believes in the beauty and power of the written word with these felt note card all three come together. Upcycle index cards with felt, decorative papers, and perhaps even a few designs inspired by the current New York Beauty quilt exhibit. Your finished note card will inspire you to bring pen to paper, and if they inspire you, imagine the magic for those who receive these thoughtful, handmade messengers.

Seeing Things Gallery – 30 North Third St.

Each artist brings their unique expression inviting the viewer into the union.

  • Cythoth’s handmade book, Eye Baths for Raven Pupils, entrances the reader in its chanting rhythmic existence.
  • Brandi Fabricius’ work envelopes the willing participant with visually inviting narratives through 3 dimensional assemblage and photography.
  • Kenneth Mendoza’s pieces open forgotten realms with discarded found objects reassembled into 3 dimensional ideas of wonderment.
  • Andre Cornejo’s drawings expose the stumbled upon muse exposing the human condition through the study of one man named Craig.
  • Nick Sunshines’ drawings and paintings drench the eye with the subconscious space through lines and shapes.

Works San Jose – 365 South Market St.

Works’ Benefit Auction is the most eclectic and accessible in the area. The exhibition and August 17 auction feature dozens of established and emerging regional artists—the most recognizable names to new discoveries. Join them with your bid to support Works—your community art and performance center.

ZERO1 Garage – 439 South First St.

ZERO1 is excited to have artist Karolina Sobecka at the ZERO1 Garage for this month’s South First Fridays showcasing Cloud Machines, a public hearing, presentation, weather balloon launch and workshop. As a part of ZERO1’s summer program Bring It,the ZERO1 Garage will be transformed into a Cloud Lab where the public can examine the Cloud Machine, a personal device for weather modification, based on a geo-engineering technique to create brighter, more reflective clouds to counteract climate change, and the Cloud Collector, a device for collecting cloud moisture. A highlight of the project is the launch of two weather balloons.

The public is invited to come take part in a public forum from 6-7 pm and participate in a discussion of the social and ethical aspects of human attempts to counteract the human impact on the planet. Afterwards, you can explore the exhibition, which includes a screening of a documentary.

Cafe Stritch – 374 South First St.

No Walls Between Us: An Exhibition of Jazz Photographs by Kathy Sloane

An opening reception of work culled from over 30 years of jazz photography by Kathy Sloane, including images from her 2011 book Keystone Korner: Portrait of a Jazz Club. Also enjoy live music by San Jose ska band, Monkey.

Caffé Frascati – 315 South First St.

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.

Discover San Jose – 150 South First St., Suite 103

Discover San Jose is proud to be added to the South FIRST FRIDAYS Art Walk. This month they will feature Michael Myers of Appletats: laser etching that personalizes your technological world.

Watch serial entrepreneur and laser artist Michael Myers use his talents on iPhones, iPads, iPods, glassware, vases, and other exotic items, making them uniquely yours. Michael will be on hand for live demonstrations of his craft at Discover San Jose for this exclusive, one night on-site demonstration engagement during the Aug. 2nd art walk. Refreshments will be provided.

Downtown Yoga Shala – 450 South First St.

Downtown Yoga Shala presents The Shores Wither the Storms Tossed Them by James Dewrance, photographer

This show features abstract forms derived from the natural scene in the shape of sea rock, sculptural driftwood, the flowing tide and land into seascapes. All the images were captured on large format film, and most of the photos on display are printed on a rare silver gelatin paper no longer in production. On the local scene James makes pictures around his neighborhood and professionally for artists, architects and artisans.

Good Karma Vegan Café – 37 South First St.

Omar is an artist; he lives and works in the Bay Area. A former native of Mexico City, he migrated to the U.S. at the age of 9. His desire and passion for art started at a young age, sketching and drawing characters out of comic books. His art-work would be best described as a “beautiful mess of colors” deeply rooted from the​ soul. ​

​Omar’s artistic aberration is still evolving rapidly, along with countless goals and aspirations, that he hopes to conquer as an artist. Omar’s goal is soon to expand his network of artistic consciousness throughout the U.S. and eventually focus all his time and energy to his arts as a full time artist.

The Metro Gallery – 550 South First St.

Mr. Jeremiah Harada has been drawing since he was a young child. A skateboarder growing up, the artist within, was greatly influenced by the graphics and design work in skateboarding. Another form of artistic influence for him was graffiti, which during his adolescent years he became involved in, but never took too far. His paintings and photographs have been in multiple group shows in the Silicon Valley and Santa Rosa, CA and a few in New York City. He designed a skateboard deck series (the Scribble series) for Enjoi Skateboards. He has also designed band shirts for Ugly Winners & Witches Titties, flyers, chalkboards (for a coffee shop in NYC), etc. As of lately Mr. Harada has been making hand drawn postcards and mailing them to whom ever shows interest.

Mezcal Restaurant – 25 W. San Fernando St.

Mezcal Restaurant presents an art exhibition by J. Danniel

“My Last Frida” is the title of one the latest pieces by the Mexican painter and sculptor J. Daniel. The works displayed conformed of six paintings in oil and a few in acrylic medium. J. Danniel’s Frida illustrates a classical and traditional pose of the well known Frida Khalo, but at the same time, he presents a Frida that very few painters dare to expose.

Pho69 – 321 South First St.

Phantom Galleries presents Everyone Gets a Piece! by Bryson Bost at Pho69.

If people really are easier to acquire than objects, then we certainly live atop an intriguing planet. The hope is, that these images are, ‘accessibility,’ in it’s truest form.

Psycho Donuts – 288 South Second St.

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.

South First Billiards & Lounge – 420 South First St.

All in One is a collaborative art exhibition between three members of a family. In their first family show, this unit of artists—mother, son, and father utilize different media and expressions, which is evocative in their artwork. Cristina Velazquez (mother) is a mix media seeker. Pedro A. Alvarez-Velazquez (son), at his early 15 years of age has accumulated a vast portfolio of images captured through his different lenses. Efren Alvarez (father) is a painter, who uses the traditional medium of oils to expose highly satirical messages on border issues.

Studio Climbing Gym – 396 South First St.

The Studio Rock Gym presents Untitled Works by Kyle Huntington

“I paint on a flat surface, mostly pouring the paint onto the canvas, layer after layer. The paintings are not meant to be a representation of anything, although they often do end up resembling something: geography, topography, microbiology, even geology. In the end, I hope to create a work that is an eye-catching piece of color and pattern, which might resemble something in the world, or might resemble nothing one has seen before, but because of that, appeals to us even more.”

TechShop San Jose – 300 South Second St.

YWCA-Silicon Valley and TechShop San Jose have partnered for the South First Fridays Art Walk to create an exhibit that presents the idea of trafficking to our community in an accessible but thought-provoking way. The art, created by local artists, both professional and amateur, addresses the themes of freedom and enslavement and aims to show that even today, in the twenty-first century, slavery is still rampant.

Art Ark Gallery – 1035 South Sixth St.

Love in a Time of Robot Apocalypse Film and poetry by David Perez

Writer/filmmaker David Perez uses projected video and a touch of theatrical caprice to explore new ways of performing poetry. The show takes its title from his recently published collection “Love in a Time of Robot Apocalypse” and features a series of poems that he performs against a multimedia installation. Perez is a winner of the Arts Council Silicon Valley Fellowship for Literary Arts and once finished an Iguana’s Burritozilla all by himself.

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.


Cost: FREE
Categories: *Top Pick*, Art & Museums, Live Music, Recurring - Monthly, Shopping & Fashion, South Bay
Address: South First Street and William Street, San Jose, CA