New Mural in San Pedro Square

It has been a rough month and we could all probably use something colorful to brighten our day. The San Pedro Square Paseo next to the Modera apartment project has a beautiful new mural highlighting the buildings that make up San Pedro Square. Even the Old Spaghetti Factory has a spot.

Lila Gemellos is the muralist and it's worth checking out next time you are in the area.

Source: SJNewKid from the San Jose Development Forum

San Jose Arts Scavenger Hunt: Dec 1 - 12

A free scavenger hunt launches this Saturday and runs all the way until December 12th. All you need to do is follow the hashtag #12DaysofArt. Each morning at 8am, the San Jose Downtown Association will post a clue on Facebook and their website. The clue will have a photo and written hint and all you have to do is figure out the location of the venue. If you are one of the first 10 people to arrive at that location at the specified time, you win a prize!

This is an amazing incentive to explore Downtown San Jose. I hope this event gets bigger and bigger every year! All of the details are below.

Who: San Jose Arts Marketing Roundtable presents

What: #12 Days of ARTS – a social-media driven scavenger hunt for arts prizes. More than 120 chances to win, including two Grand Prizes! Free to compete and win.

When: Saturday, December 1 through Wednesday, December 12, at various times each day

Where: In and around downtown San Jose

Why: An opportunity to give back to our community and encourage folks to have fun exploring San Jose and its vibrant arts scene. Theater, music, dance, museums, galleries, more.

Where to Go:

Follow the hashtag #12DaysofArts and your favorite San Jose arts organization’s social media sites. Each morning at 8 am, the San Jose Downtown Association will post a clue on their website at sjdowntown.com/12DaysofArts and on their Facebook page @sjdowntown. Watch for the #12DaysofArts clue consisting of a photo and a written hint. You must figure out the location of the day’s venue. The specific time to arrive will be noted.  It could come at any time during the day. 

How Does #12 Days of ARTS Work?    

Each morning a clue will be posted on the San Jose Downtown Association’s Facebook page @sjdowntown, which will also stream at sjdowntown.com/12DaysofArts and be shared on numerous arts and related downtown social media sites. To play the game, you must figure out the “secret” location of the arts organization…a theater, a gallery, museum, events venue, etc. and be one of the first 10 people to arrive at that location at the specified time to win a prize package. 

Those 10 people (or teams) are guaranteed to win a bag filled with wonderful arts surprises like free tickets to shows, entries to exhibits and fun events to participate in. Other surprises await such as dining coupons, free beverages, and logo items of hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs, and more. Ten bags are given away every day…sometimes more!

Every person is limited to TWO wins of the prize bags over the twelve days of the scavenger hunt, but even if you are a two-time winner, you should keep participating! Every person who finds the correct location is entered into the drawing for a grand prize. The more you participate, the more entries you get. 

The first 10 winners each day are asked to take a selfie showing the location of the arts organization from the clue and posting it to their social media with the hashtag: #12DaysofArts. Two GRAND Prizes will also be awarded through random drawings. If you missed a chance to win an Arts Prize Bag on any given day, you can still enter for the Grand Prizes by snapping a selfie and posting it to your social media with the hashtag. Anyone can play one time, or all twelve days!

Additional Information: This is the fourth year of #12 Days of Arts. It grew out of the monthly “brown bag lunch meetings” of the Arts Marketing Roundtable and it has been such a huge hit over the last three years, that we've brought it back again. Winners have included people who played the game just once or played every day, people who had never been to a live theater event or a symphony concert or a museum before, and even people who had never even been DOWNTOWN before. 

We had so many people miss out on prize bags last year, that we have added the element of GRAND prizes and have made them open to anyone…whether you won a prize bag or not. To enter to win, just post a selfie in front of one or more of the “secret” locations and include the hashtag #12DaysofArts. Random drawings will determine the winners. 

GOOD LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  

PWSJ 2018 Honors San Jose’s Historical “Speed City” with 10+ New Murals, Public Art Installations, Music Exhibitions, and More

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Oct. 9, 2018 – POW! WOW! San Jose 2018 ushers in its second annual week-long arts and culture festival spotlighting street art and music in Downtown San Jose on October 17-28, 2018.

This year’s festival is inspired by San Jose’s long history of activism and local cultural pride. Fifty years ago, San Jose State University track stars John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fists at the 1968 Summer Olympics to show solidarity with those fighting for human rights. This year’s festival will honor this source of local pride, and artists will showcase their talent and passion for their art and culture throughout the week.

“While the Silicon Valley is traditionally known for its innovation in technology, the City of San José is an equally rich community of culture, art and music,” said Council member Raul Peralez, San José Council District 3. “Working with POW! WOW! San José, we are thrilled to turn San José into a city-wide artists’ canvas, showcasing art in action and transforming our City alongside the community.”

2018 MURALISTS

POW! WOW! San Jose 2018 is honored to welcome the following artists who will share their talents throughout Downtown San Jose and surrounding San Jose neighborhoods.

SILICON VALLEY AND BAY AREA ARTISTS

San Jose: Sean Boyles, Drew Flores, Abel Gonzalez, Ivan Gonzalez, J.Duh, Frances Marin, Harumo Sato, Nikkea Takagi, Roan Victor

San Francisco/Peninsula: Apexer, Knits for Life, t.w.five

Oakland/East Bay: Felicia Gabaldon, Illuminaries, Skinner, UrbanAztec

VISITING ARTISTS – U.S.

Hawaii: Cory Taum

Los Angeles: Shrine, Woes

New York: How and Nosm

San Diego: Spenser Little

VISITING ARTISTS – INTERNATIONAL

Canada: 123KLAN

Iran: ICY and SOT

Japan: Dragon76

South Korea: Sixcoin

BUSINESS + ART JOIN TOGETHER

Pride in San Jose’s rich culture is not unique to the organizers of POW! WOW! San Jose. Many businesses throughout the Silicon Valley are supporting the festival through donations of supplies, lodging and funding. With the help of organizations such as Visit San Jose, a Community Partner, and The Silicon Valley Organization that represents over 1,400 businesses in the Bay Area, art in action will come to life during the festival.

“POW! WOW! San Jose continues to bring both businesses and community together to create a world-class event that showcases the heart of Silicon Valley,” said Matthew Mahood, President & CEO, The Silicon Valley Organization. “A city’s art and culture serves as its identity and offers its residents a way to connect. The SVO and our members applaud the work POW! WOW! San Jose is doing to showcase our city’s greatest strength: our diversity.”

2018 festival sponsors include: Cresco, Eastridge Center, Google, Hawaiian Airlines, Hyatt Place, Iguanas Burritozilla, Kelly-Moore Paints, Knight Foundation, City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), The Silicon Valley Organization, Visit San Jose, and more.

“As a local business headquartered in the Bay Area, we take pride in the beauty our paints can bring to the world in the hands of artists – whether those artists are homeowners, teachers, or muralists like those sharing their talents through POW! WOW! San Jose,” said Jasmine Hatch, regional learning and development specialist - South Bay, Peninsula and Central Coast, Kelly Moore Paint Co. “With our contribution of paint for the murals, we are thrilled that Kelly Moore will have a direct tie to the remarkable works of art that will live on in our City.”

Downtown Doors student art exhibit “Class of 2018” announced

20 new pieces of student art added to downtown landscape in 2018

SAN JOSE (May 3, 2018) – The 20 students selected for 2018 Downtown Doors exhibition shared personal insights and emotions to create artworks with themes ranging from the portrayal of strong women to the comical, all the while splashing vibrant colors and utilizing an abundance of techniques and styles on downtown San Jose’s urban landscape.

These compelling pieces of art will add aesthetic relief to San Jose’s core by being attached to downtown service doors and utility boxes located mostly on key thoroughfares.  The artworks also offer food for thought to thousands of pedestrians.

The winners of the annual competition -- now in its 13th year -- were among 170 submissions from students at 20 different San Jose-area high schools.  Downtown Doors are produced by the San Jose Downtown Foundation at 110 sites in the city’s core stretching from SoFA to north of San Pedro Square.  Using the same application seen on some light rail trains and buses, their pieces are enlarged, transferred onto vinyl decals and affixed tosingle- and double-panel service doors of large buildings, and a number of utility boxes throughout downtown San Jose.

Since the program began in 2003, 272 student works have been selected.

“Success is often measured by the amount of wealth, however, true success is measured in how we make the world a better place,” said Diana Beechie, past president of the San Jose Downtown Foundation.  “Our students have achieved great success by creating a more beautiful vibrant downtown.”

One central theme in this year’s collection of selected pieces celebrates women such as “Who We Are Is Who We Were” by Joann Nguyen (Piedmont Hills), “Cyber Story” by Elizabeth Thach (Evergreen Valley) an untitled work by Alexa Hernandez (San Jose HS) and “My Mother” by Keleila Taylor (Del Mar).  

Other works focus on nature and environmental awareness, such as the odd “rabbitsparrow” by Jennifer Deng (Pioneer), “Exploration of Impossibility” by Sunny Liu (Westmont), “Lured” by Lauryn Sugai (Leigh), “Belly Up” by Serendipity Tinsley (Del Mar), “Red-Shanked Duoc Monkey” by Ana-Gabriela Cadenas (Lincoln), “Tropical Toucan” by Romelia Zarate (Lincoln), Jakoby Leonard’s (Andrew P. Hill)  “An Avian Stare,” and “Summer Days” by Alan Camolinga (Leigh).

Techniques and styles ranged from watercolors to acrylics and abstracts to digital mosaics. Downtown Doors highlights include Emily Won’s (Leigh) “The Boy and His Umbrella” watercolor, Sam Rios’ (Andrew P. Hill) digitally produced “We Tread on,” “Abstract Still Life” by Cloe Smith (Del Mar), “Love at First Bite” by Hannah Cho (Santa Teresa), untitled work by Michelle Luu (Independence), Dillon Mulvany’s (Willow Glen) modern nighttime streetscape “Into the City” and “ARCANDYA” by Identically named friends Michelle Pham (Yerba Buena).

Downtown Doors has proven to be a stepping stone toward better grades, graduation, college and a leadership position in society.  Students often claim that the Downtown Doors competition confirms their talent as artists. Every person selected shows excitement at being included on the prestigious list of Downtown Doors winners.

A private reception honoring the artists and their works will take place May 10 at the San Jose Museum of Art.

Program sponsors include: Catered Too!, City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Cornish, Carey, Newmark & Knight, Kimley Horn, KQED, Offices of Councilmembers Dev Davis , Chappie Jones, Johnny Khamis, and Don Rocha, Orchard Commercial, Pestana Properties, Republic Services, Silicon Valley Community Foundation – Donor Circle for the Arts, and SV Creates.  In-Kind contributions by Adobe, Catered Too!, Juan Borrelli, Mangold Designs, San Jose Museum of Art and University Art.

2018 site hosts include: Imwalle Properties (former Camera 12 Cinemas), Fairmont Hotel, Westin San Jose, City of San Jose, The 88, Digital Realty, Harvest Properties at 60 S. Market St. and Hammer Theatre Center,

This year’s new installations and a walking map of the art sites are posted at sjdowntown.com/foundation.  The students’ work will be viewable for several years before being replaced.

The Downtown Doors Class of 2018:

Andrew P Hill High School

Title:  An Avian Stare

Artist:  Leonard Jakoby, 10

Location: CSJ Utility box at the southeast corner of Market and Santa Clara streets

Title: We Tread On

Artist:  Sam Rios, 11
Location: Imwalle Properties, on the former Camera 12

Del Mar High School

Title: My Mother

Artist:  Keleila Taylor, 11

Location: Imwalle Properties, on the former Camera 12

Title: Belly Up

Artist:  Serendipity Tinsley, 11
Location: Digital Realty

Title: Abstract Still Life

Artist:  Cloe Smith, 11
Location: Hammer Theatre Center

Evergreen Valley High School

Title:  CyberStory

Artist:  Elizabeth Thach, 12

Location:  Fairmont San Jose

Independence High School

Title:  Untitled

Artist:  Michelle Luu, 12

Location:  Westin San Jose

Leigh High School

Title: Summer Days

Artist: Alan Camolinga, 12

Location: The 88

Title: Lured

Artist: Lauryn Sugai, 12

Site Host:  Fairmont San Jose

Title: The Boy and His Umbrella

Artist: Emily Won, 11

Location:  Westin San Jose

Lincoln High School

Title:  Ana, the Red-Shanked Duoc Monkey

Artist:  Ana-Gabriela Cadena, 10

Location:  CSJ Utility box at the southeast corner of Third and San Carlos streets

Title:  Tropical Toucan

Artist:  Romelia Zarate, 11

Location:  Fairmont San Jose

Piedmont Hills High School

Title:  Who We Were Is Who We Are

Artist: Joann Nguyen, 11

Location:  Fairmont San Jose

Title:  Untitled

Artist:  Hannah Le

Location: Hammer Theatre Center

Pioneer High School

Title:  Rabbitsparrow

Artist:  Jennifer Deng, 11

Location:  Fairmont San Jose

San Jose High School

Title:  Untitled

Artist:  Alexa Hernandez, 12

Location: Imwalle Properties, on the former Camera 12

Santa Teresa High School

Title:  Love at First Bite

Artist:  Hannah Cho, 12

Location: Digital Realty

Westmont High School

Title: Exploration of Impossibility

Artist:  Sunny Liu, 12
Location:  Harvest Properties, 60 S. Market St.

Willow Glen High School

Title: Into the City

Artist:  Dillon Mulvany, 12
Location: CSJ Utility box on Santa Clara Street, between Second and Third streets

Yerba Buena High School

Title:  ARCANDYA

Artist:  Michelle Pham and Michelle T. Pham, 12

Location: Fairmont San Jose

###

About:  The San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) promotes cultural awareness and civic participation in San Jose and Santa Clara County through youth education programs, public events and art exhibits.  SJDF is the 501c3 arm of the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA), whose mission is to represent business and property owners to improve downtown and enhance downtown’s vitality and livability.

 School tally of Downtown Doors Winners (2003-2018)

East Side Union HS District

(19) Piedmont Hills – 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15, 15, 17, 18, 18

(17) Santa Teresa – 06, 09, 11, 11, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 17, 18

(15) Evergreen Valley – 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 18

(11) Andrew P Hill – 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 18

(9) Independence – 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 18

(9) Mount Pleasant –  04, 05, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12, 16, 17

(8) Yerba Buena – 10, 14, 14, 15, 16, 17, 17, 18

(3) James Lick – 11, 12, 16

(3) Oak Grove – 07, 07, 07

(2) Silver Creek – 12, 13

(97) East Side SubTotal

(50) Lincoln (includes Saturday Art Academy) – 03, 03, 03, 03, 04, 04, 04, 04, 04, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 10, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14, 18, 18

(32) Notre Dame – 06, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 17

(13) Leigh – 09, 11, 12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 17, 18, 18, 18

(12) Homestead – 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 14, 16, 17, 17

(12) Pioneer –12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 17, 17, 18

(9) Gunderson – 14, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16

(9) Willow Glen – 12, 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16, 18

(8) Del Mar – 12, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 18, 18

(6) Cupertino – 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11

(5) San Jose High Academy – 04, 05, 05, 05, 05

(3) Downtown College Prep – 04, 07, 07

(3) San Jose High – 16, 17, 18

(2) Bellarmine College Prep. – 10, 17

(1) Leland – 16

(1)   Westmont – 18

(1) Castillero Middle – 12

(167) All other districts Subtotal

(2) Okayama, Japan – 14, 16

(2) Pune, India – 14, 16

(2) Tainan, Taiwan – 14, 16

(1) Dublin, Ireland – 14

(1) San Jose, Costa Rica – 14

(8) International Subtotal

(272) TOTAL

Sonic Runway exhibit coming to City Hall on November 3rd

A 432-foot-long art piece that was originally built for the Burning Man festival will soon be visiting San Jose. Lights inside of large rings change and pulsate to music as you can see in the video below. Sonic Runway will officially be introduced to the public on November 3rd at 6pm outside of City Hall. This is just one of four Burning Man art pieces that will be coming to San Jose over the next few months.

Source: SJ Economy

Y2K International Live Looping Festival opens in San Jose on October 18

If you happened to stop by the October South First Friday, you might have noticed some live looping performers near Anno Domini. That was just a small preview to the main Y2K main festival that is set to start on Wednesday, October 18.

Y2K is the first and longest running live looping festival. This year it's Y2K17, and will bring a number of international artists to San Jose:

Otros Cronopios (Mexico)
ecNegru (France)
MIDI_Pipe (Mexico)
CIAN (Mexico)
Philippe Ollivier (France)
Entertainment for the Braindead (Germany)
Laura Stavinoha (Netherlands)
Martin Janíček (Czech Republic)
MANDOMAN (Japan)

The venue will be Anno Domini once again. This is the first leg of the festival, which continues in Santa Cruz for the weekend. Not sure how to expect? Here's a clip from the 2014 festival that demonstrates live looping.

For more information, visit the festival website.

-Lawrence Lui

The 10th Annual SubZERO Festival is this Fri & Sat!

This weekend, in addition to the monthly South FIRST FRIDAYS art walk, the SoFA district will be celebrating the 10th annual SubZERO Fest. Every year the festival gets bigger and better, and it plays an important role in the neighborhood's culture and identity.

If you're not familiar with South FIRST FRIDAYS, the streets on 1st St south of San Carlos St are closed off to cars during the art walk. This gives an opportunity for local artists and DIY vendors to come together and share their work with the public. People crowd the streets to visit some of their favorite local shops, and artists get a chance to show off their work. Local art galleries are also open a little later so visitors can get a chance to explore.

SubZERO builds on this concept by adding stages for music, inviting many more performance artists, and bringing in 10+ food trucks. To get a sense of what to expect, the video below gives a small taste of the festival in 2016.

If anyone asks me where the indie scene is in the South Bay, I can't imagine a better example. It's still a small scene, it's still growing, it deserves support, and it is most definitely worth checking out. Best of all, it's all free to attend! For more information, check out the website, including the music schedule, the list of artists & vendors, and the art walk map.

Downtown Doors student are exhibit expands to 113 locations

The Downtown Doors art project showcases the artistic talents of San Jose high school students throughout the Downtown area. The program began in 2003, and now has 113 locations. Many are located in heavily trafficked streets while others might be hidden in a blighted corner off the beaten path. Wherever they are located, these works of art all elevate the neighborhood they are placed in and add some much needed color to our streets.

Out of 189 submissions from 21 San Jose high schools, 20 new pieces of artwork were chosen for 2017. You can see the winners as well as a handy walking map with all of the Downtown Doors installations over here.

SAN JOSE – The 20 students selected for 2017 Downtown Doors exhibition provided a mix of pensive character sketches and unique perspectives on life and lessons learned, always expressing their emotions through broad swatches of colors and artistic techniques.  These thoughtful pieces of art will help beautify the downtown San Jose landscape and offer food for thought for thousands of pedestrian who pass by each week.

The winners of the annual competition -- now in its 13th year -- were selected from 189 submissions from students at 21 San Jose high schools.  In 2017, the Downtown Doors program produced by the San Jose Downtown Foundation expanded to 113 sites located in the city’s core.  Using the same application seen on some light rail trains and buses, their pieces are enlarged, transferred onto vinyl decals and affixed to single- and double-panel service doors of large buildings, and a number of utility boxes throughout downtown San Jose.

Since the program began in 2003, 252 student works have been selected.  “Success is often measured by the amount of wealth, however, true success is measured in how we make the world a better place,” said Diana Beechie, president of the San Jose Downtown Foundation.  “Our students have achieved great success by creating a more beautiful vibrant downtown.”

Several of the students put their inspiration, message and other thoughts and feelings on videotape, which can be retrieved by a smart phone at the art locations Yerba Buena High School students Nayeli Galvan and Manuel Beltran, for example, were motivated in distinctly different ways.  While Galvan stated her purpose for “My Shattered World” was to use watercolors to paint a mosaic splashed with the brightest colors, Beltran paid respect and sent a strong message of support  to his girlfriend, entitling his piece, “Courage.”

Chloe Calhoun, a senior at Santa Teresa High School, created an inspirational character, “Mercedes,” a woman with one mechanical arm who is strong and can handle all of life’s challenges.  “I want her to be an inspiration for everyone to keep fighting,” Calhoun said. “I’m happy to put her out in the public and to put more art out into the world.”

Downtown Doors has proven to be a stepping stone toward better grades, graduation, college and a leadership position in society.  Students often claim that the Downtown Doors competition confirms their talent as artists.  Every person selected shows excitement at being included on the prestigious list of Downtown Doors winners.

A private reception honoring the artists and their works will take place May 4 at the San Jose Museum of Art.

Program sponsors include: Imwali Properties, City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, Catered Too!, Orchard Commercial, Inc., PG&E, Kimley-Horn, Jeppesen, Republic Services, Councilmember Dev Davis, SVCreates, KQED, AC Hotel and San Jose Water Company.

2017 site hosts include: Marriott Hotel, 288 S 2nd Street, Fairmont Hotel, City of San Jose, 33 S Third Street Apartments, City View Plaza, The 88, Local Color, Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, Hyatt Place, AC Hotel, San Jose Museum of Art and Good Karma

This year’s new installations and a walking map of the art sites are posted at sjdowntown.com/foundation.  The students’ work will be viewable for several years before being replaced.

About:  The San Jose Downtown Foundation (SJDF) promotes cultural awareness and civic participation in San Jose and Santa Clara County through youth education programs, public events and art exhibits.  SJDF is the 501c3 arm of the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA), whose mission is to represent business and property owners to improve downtown and enhance downtown’s vitality and livability.

School tally of Downtown Doors Winners (2003-2017)

East Side Union HS District

(9) Andrew P Hill – 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

(15) Evergreen Valley – 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 12, 12, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16

(8) Independence – 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17

(3) James Lick – 11, 12, 16

(9) Mount Pleasant –  04, 05, 10, 10, 11, 11, 12, 16, 17

(3) Oak Grove – 07, 07, 07

(17) Piedmont Hills – 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 14, 14, 15, 15, 17

(16) Santa Teresa – 06, 09, 11, 11, 12, 12, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 17

(2) Silver Creek – 12, 13

(7) Yerba Buena – 10, 14, 14, 15, 16, 17, 17

(89) East Side Total

(2) Bellarmine College Prep. – 10, 17

(6) Cupertino – 10, 10, 10, 11, 11, 11

(5) Del Mar – 12, 12, 13, 14, 15

(3) Downtown College Prep – 04, 07, 07

(9) Gunderson – 14, 14, 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16

(12) Homestead – 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 14, 16, 17, 17

(10) Leigh – 09, 11, 12, 13, 15, 15, 16, 17, 17, 17

(1) Leland – 16

(48) Lincoln (includes Saturday Art Academy) – 03, 03, 03, 03, 04, 04, 04, 04, 04, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 05, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 06, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 10, 12, 12, 13, 14, 14

(32)Notre Dame – 06, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 07, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 09, 10, 11, 11, 11, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 13, 15, 15, 15, 16, 16, 17

(11) Pioneer –12, 12, 12, 12, 13, 13, 13, 14, 14, 17, 17

(5) San Jose High Academy – 04, 05, 05, 05, 05

(2) San Jose High – 16, 17

(8) Willow Glen – 12, 14, 14, 15, 15, 16, 16, 16

(1) Castillero Middle – 12

(155) All other districts subtotal

(2) Okayama, Japan – 14, 16

(2) Pune, India – 14, 16

(2) Tainan, Taiwan – 14, 16

(1) Dublin, Ireland – 14

(1) San Jose, Costa Rica – 14

(8) International Subtotal

(252) TOTAL

San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles 40th anniversary

I am way late on this post since the main event is happening right now, but did want to at least mention that the SJ Museum of Quilts & Textiles is celebrating four decades of existence today. This is always one of my favorite stops during First Fridays and today they are having a free open house until 4pm with tours and interactive art activities.

If you have not visited the museum in a while, they have four new exhibits that are definitely worth seeing. Part of their original mission was to show that quilts were more than just blankets or a women's hobby, but a valid medium for fine art and political expression. Some of the work is quite stunning and you can see a preview over here.

(To see the scope of the above piece, have a closer look here)

South First Fridays tonight in SoFA

It is a little wet outside, but that should not stop you from enjoying great art in some of Downtown San Jose's most interesting venues. 20 destinations will be open late tonight and proudly display local artwork. South First Fridays is completely free and you can find a preview of what will be on display over here.

For an interactive walking map (sorry the one below is just a boring image), bookmark this link.

The Pierce is honoring World Autism Awareness Day

Today is World Autism Awareness Day, and one of the coolest art projects in Downtown San Jose is doing something special for the occasion. Voxel Cloud--the LED light system on top of The Pierce--will be illuminated in blue from 7:30pm to midnight. To learn more about the "Light It Up Blue" campaign in support of people living with autism, please head over here.

Empty Downtown San Jose storefront will be activated for two months

Local Color is a two-month project to reactivate underutilized retail space in Downtown San Jose. It is being put together by Exhibition District, a collective of artists that have been doing a great job beautifying Downtown recently.

This project will take the former Ross space at 27 S. First Street and turn it into creative community workshops, shared studio space, and pop-up bazaars. Property-owner Mike Sarimsakci wants to eventually build a residential tower on the site, but until shovels break ground this is a great way to re utilize empty space. Local Color is sponsored by the Knight Foundation and brought to the community in partnership with the San Jose Downtown Association.

The art studios are towards the back of the building while the retail sections are up front. There is already a 111-foot mural along the north wall. Art classes are available Wednesday and Thursday, yoga on Friday, and performances (including dance parties) on Friday and Saturday. To see a full list of events, head over to the Local Color Facebook page.

#12DaysofArts Social Media Scavenger Hunt (Dec 1 - 12)

#12DaysofArts takes over San Jose
San Jose Art Partners Gifting the City with Holiday Cheer Through Social Media Scavenger Hunt

SAN JOSE, Calif. (Nov. 22, 2016) – For the second consecutive year, San Jose arts partners will give away mystery prizes through a citywide scavenger hunt. From Dec. 1 through Dec. 12, participants can utilize #12DaysOfArts during this social media campaign, to create awareness for the arts in San Jose.

Each day will start anew with a social media clue. Check the Downtown Associations social media daily for directions on where to go; seek out museums, theaters and galleries – search high and low. Go online Dec. 1 to take part and spread the word with, #12DaysofArts. Off you go in search of a mystery prize, to see the arts through a new set of eyes. The first ten players at each location will win, and the next day the hunt starts again.

“We all enjoyed the 12 Days of Arts so much last year that we had to do it again.” Says Sherrill Ingalls, Director of Marketing and Communications at the San Jose Museum of Art. “It’s a fun way for the arts organizations to give back to the people who support the arts downtown year-round and to spread the word about the variety of offerings in San Jose. We hope that people familiar with the San Jose Museum of Art will discover new experiences in theater and music, and vice versa.”

Don’t worry, there will be two grand prizes during this scavenger hunt flurry. Use Twitter and Instagram to post #12DaysofArts, and discover what San Jose holds dear to its heart.

"#12DaysofArts provides everyone with the opportunity to take a timeout from the usual holiday craziness, be inspired and pique our own creative instincts," said Rick Jensen, Communications Director, San Jose Downtown Association. "Enjoy the thrill of the hunt."

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About San Jose Downtown Association
The SJDA is a non-profit, membership-based organization founded in 1986 to represent business and property owners. We make downtown a better place for business, residents and visitors through events, advocacy, marketing and more.

About San Jose Museum of Art
The San Jose Museum of Art celebrates new ideas, stimulates creativity, and inspires connection with every visit. Welcoming and thought provoking, the Museum delights visitors with it’s surprising and playful perspective on the art and artists of our time.

About Team San Jose
Team San Jose (TSJ) is an innovative partnership unifying the San Jose Convention and Visitors Bureau, hotels, arts, labor and venues to deliver an exceptional visitor experience. TSJ manages the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, California Theatre, Center for the Performing Arts, City National Civic, Montgomery Theater, Parkside Hall, and South Hall. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org.