Opening night: Friday, May 19, 6-9pm
Exhibition: May 20-June 2
Hours: Saturday, Sunday 12-4pm; Friday 12-6pm
First Friday closing night: June 2, 5-9pm
65 new animation/illustration graduates from San José State University present work in story, visual development, character design, 3d modeling, and animation. This annual exhibition is shown for the first time in Works’ new 38 South 2nd Street home.
Death, Destruction, and Whimsy
Artists: Chris Bunz, Cynthia Yadira Gonzalez, Hana Lock, and Lydia Rae Black, guest curator.
Opening reception on First Friday, April 7, 5pm-9pm
exhibition: April 8 through May 6, 2023
hours: Fridays 12-6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12-4pm
Closing party: Saturday, May 6, 4-6pm with artist talks and refreshments
Beauty and trauma collide in this meditation on the failures of society to understand the artist as a complete person. Four artists from extremely different backgrounds have arrived at the same conclusion—the role of the artist is filtering noise, and art is a reaction and symptom of current conditions. Avoiding the onerous expectation of providing entertainment, artists rail against the soulless manufacturing of hopeful work in a social climate that can only be described as hostile to emotional health. The exhibition will present the paradox of creating for nobody but yourself, but wanting to set it in front of an audience anyway.
Although acknowledging the absurdity of art making and being completely aware of the futility of it all, the exhibition continues through May 6.
Works/San José and School of Arts & Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza presents Tierra y Raíces/Earth and Roots, a community exhibition at la Plaza gallery, 1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Road.
Opening preview night: Friday March 10 6pm-8pm
School of Arts & Culture gallery
Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Road
Exhibit hours, see School of Arts & Culture office for gallery access:
Wednesday-Friday 4pm-8pm
Saturday-Sunday 12pm-4pm
Parking lots on both Alum Rock and King and multiple bus lines
gallery CLOSED on these dates for private MHP events: 3/22, 3/23, 3/26
Closing night celebration with performance by MovingGround:
Friday, March 31, 6pm-9pm
Register here for the closing event! (opens to Eventbrite)
Our closing party features a special performance by MovingGround collaborators at 6:30pm. This will be an interactive, site-specific experience that encapsulates our senses of sight, sound, movement and touch as we connect with the land and trees, celebrating our shared ancestry of earth and roots.
artists:
Pilar Agüero-Esparza
Carmen Arjona Ariza
Antonio Castro
Robert @Chaver22
Alisha Coelho
Jemal Diamond
Vera Fainshtein
Rachel Ivanov
Elizabeth Jimínez Montelongo
Thuy Le
Leeonnista The Artist
León
Rayos Magos
Julie Meridian
James Mertke
Joe Miller
Francisco Ramirez
Judy Rookstool
Yuting Wang
Build your collection while supporting your community art center: 172 artworks are in the south bay’s most accessible auction! Exhibition and preview free! no registration fees to ‘buy it now’ during the exhibition.
opening night: first Friday February 3, 5pm–9pm
exhibition: February 4–March 4
hours: Fridays 12–6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12–4pm
Open on First Friday March 3 from 12pm–9pm with South First Friday art walk from 5pm-9pm (including Content Magazine pick-up party starting 6:30). Final free preview hours are 12pm–4pm Saturday, March 4.
Join the First Friday event on Facebook!
Join the Auction closing night event on Facebook!
Bidder registration is just $20, $10 members of Works—includes admission to auction night! Register here on our Square site or at Works!
At Works’ new home: 38 South 2nd Street, downtown San José. 90 minutes free parking in the City garage next to Works—enter at 25 South 3rd Street. Santa Clara Street Light Rail station is just a few steps from Works.
Preview (most of) the exhibition below!
Artwork registration link here! Opens Google form, no sign-in required.
Join the Auction Call event on Facebook.
Auction exhibition opens First Friday February 3, 5-9pm
Exhibition runs February 4 through March 3
Auction night Saturday, March 4!
This is a benefit auction for Works/San José community art center, but artists can split the proceeds with Works and retain up to 50% of the sale price. Be part of the return of the Community Art Auction!
A small look at the Auction art arriving (full exhibit preview to come):
on view: November 12–December 18
gallery hours: Friday noon–6pm, Saturday Sunday noon–4pm
Works is closed on Friday, November 25 for Thanksgiving holiday
reception: on South First Friday December 2, 5pm–9pm
closing party: Sunday, December 18, 4pm–6pm
Resilience(d) was originally scheduled for March of 2020 at the previous home of Works and part of Works’ guest curator program. The exhibit had a scheduled opening the week Covid-19 hit the United States. The exhibition was an endeavor born from the collective experiences and ideas of original guest curators Rosanna Alvarez and Sara Cole, based on earlier conversations between Sara and Joe Miller. After long pauses over the next two years due to the pandemic, the concept expanded and was reconfigured into the exhibition as it stands now.
Resilience(d) exhibition credits:
concept and artist selection:
Rosanna Alvarez and Sara Cole
with special thanks to Joe Miller for original concept
exhibition design:
Sara Cole and Joe Miller
exhibit installation:
Sara Cole, Johanne Marion, Joe Miller, and Clayton Moraga
Works/San José has moved to 38 South Second Street in the new Open SJ arts and nonprofit complex. Some upcoming events there, online, and at MHP as we settle into the space:
Flash Fiction Forum
Wednesday, October 19, 7pm
this longstanding reading series moves to 38 South Second
register to attend online or in person:
https://www.facebook.com/events/786053069338102
Afterlife
October 24 to 29, open 5-9pm nightly
with artists reception and preview, Sunday, October 23, 4-6pm
coincides with Avenida de Altares festival on October 29, 5:30-10:30pm
Join us at the festival—FREE tickets here!
School of Arts & Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza
1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Rd
Resilience
regular hours begin at 38 South Second Street on Saturday, November 12, noon-4pm, continuing through December 18
our first full exhibition at 38 South Second Street!
more details to come!
An SJ City parking garage is directly behind Works at 25 South Third St, with the first 90 minutes free! Find downtown parking information at parksj.org
Works/San José presents “An American Mosaic” in partnership with Mosaic America at the School of Arts & Culture gallery at Mexican Heritage Plaza. This is the second annual exhibition curated and mounted by Works to coincide with the Mosaic Festival at the Plaza.
Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Road, San José
Open August 13 through September 11, Saturdays and Sundays 1-4pm
Also open for the festivals below—see links to register for those events
Special final viewing day on September 18, 1-4pm; refreshments with the artists at 3pm (the Plaza is closed on September 17)
Closing Party 3pm-5pm—register here!
Mosaic Festival: August 26, 6-10pm and August 27, 2pm-10pm
Register FREE for the Festival here!
Chile, Mole, Pozole Festival, September 11, 1-5pm
$5 adults, free for children—register here
the artists:
Hadi Aghaee
Jessica Eastburn
Susan Harding
Matty Heimgartner
Rupy Kaloti
Miguel Machuca
Rayos Magos
Jorge Mieses
Lourdes Morante-Mieses
Eddie Ramirez
Elba Raquel
Jada Wong
Ruthie K. Yamada
This exhibition is a celebration of our planter box mini-muralists on the Market Street side of the SJ Convention Center. Come celebrate these artists and Works’ addition to the vibrant public art landscape of San José.
Opens with the South First Fridays art walk 6-10pm August 5
Continues Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 12-4pm
Closes with the South First Fridays art walk 5-9pm September 2
the artists:
Betty Proper / Valentina Carillo
Sean Boyles
Antonio Castro
Jemal Diamond
Force129 / Fernando Amaro Jr
Theresa Giammattei
Andre Hart
Matty Heimgartner
Isaac Lewin
Rayos Magos
Julie Meridian
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo
Suzy Radonsky
Francisco Ramirez
Steven Rubalcaba
Kurt Salinas
Michael J. Vaughn
Roan Victor
Exhibition continues to First Friday September when we close Works on South Market Street. See previews of our new downtown home coming soon at 38 South Second Street in this exhibit as well. Watch for updates on the new space!
Experimental work in story, visual development, 3D modeling, and animation for the fields of motion pictures, gaming, publications, character design, and more by 56 emerging artists.
exhibition: May 20 through June 4
hours: Fridays 12-6pm, Saturdays and Sundays 12-4pm
Open during SubZero festival, June 3 and 4 from 7pm-10pm
Exhibition open April 23 with closing night First Friday May 6, 5-9pm
closing night May 6, 5-9pm:
See us on closing night event for the expanded Bleeding Edge exhibition previewed last First Friday. This exhibit looks back at Works’ first 45 years and features a look ahead at Works’ new home under construction for a move this Summer!
On display is artwork by Tony May from the original 1977 location of Works, and hundreds of exhibition and event announcements by designer Joe Miller. See hundreds of images and video of the artists and events they represent, and new art commissioned for Works donors by Force129.
Original artworks by the late great Ray Ashley and others will be available for any donation. Come and talk with us about how you can participate in the new Works/San José!
Works’ (in)famous (Anti) Valentine Show returns in-person for 2022!
opening night: First Friday, February 4, 5–9pm
join the opening night event on Facebook!
closing night: First Friday, March 4, 5-9pm
join the closing night event on Facebook!
With so much tension in the world, and so much need for love, we put out an open call for artists to submit up to 2 pieces: one Valentine-ish work and one anti-Valentine-ish work. 115 works of art arrived with a wide range of statements and in a wide range of media: painting, photography, sculpture, and video. Come celebrate our shared love of local art!
The exhibition continues Saturdays and Sundays 2-4pm with closing night on First Friday March 4.
Masks are required to enter and are available free at the gallery.
Artists: art pick up is 2-4pm Saturday and Sunday, March 5 and 6.
There’s so much tension in the world, and so much need for love, that we’re asking you to submit up to 2 pieces: 1 valentine-ish work and 1 anti-valentine-ish work (or pick just one of those) for the exhibit opening at Works on the First Friday February art walk.
Art can be in most any media: paintings, photography, sculpture, video, and digital images as well that we can present on screens. There are no entry or other fees to participate.
Maximum size of 24×24 inches, but please think small so we can fit everyone in!
For video entries or other questions contact gallery@workssanjose.org.
Exhibition runs from opening night on First Friday February 4 to closing night on First Friday March 4
Works/San José closed temporarily due to Covid 19 after the close of the exhibition “Foresight 2020” at the start of that year. Works reopens for exhibitions with “Hindsight 20/21” a video installation that highlights a dozen projects by artists completed since then that reflect the time and their and our experiences.
opening night: First Friday, December 3, 5-9pm
exhibition: Saturdays and Sundays, 2-4pm through December 12
Works/San José, 365 South Market Street (right where you left us!)
free as always, masks required (and available at the gallery)
Works/San José and Mosaic America present An American Mosaic: one view of the immense world of San José art.
Works returns with our first live gallery exhibition of 2021 and our first collaboration with Mosaic America and School of Arts & Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza!
Exhibit Hours on most Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays:
September 10–11, 12-4pm
Sunday, September 12, 12-4pm, in Chili Mole Pozole Festival
September 17–19, 12-4pm
Friday, October 1, 12-4pm
Saturday, October 2, 12-6pm, in Silicon Valley Mosaic Festival
Free tickets to the Mosaic Festival here!
Sunday, October 3, 12-4pm
School of Arts & Culture Gallery at Mexican Heritage Plaza
1700 Alum Rock Ave at King Road, San José
artists:
Fco1980
Dan Fenstermacher
Tulio Flores
Force129
Richard Hoffman
Natasha Kramskaya
Jennifer Lay
Johanne Marion
Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo
Betty Proper
Ally Spray
Kenneth Tan, The Lola x Kenneth Collaboration
Roan Victor
Yxaya
a special collaborative exhibition curated by Joe Miller
