Vacation is a time to relax and enjoy your time away from work. There is no pressure to wake up at five in the morning. You can enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast and then head out and have an adventure. One of the great ways to spend a day while on vacation is to visit art museums and galleries in the local area. San Jose has a vibrant art community. Following are a few suggestions of how you can have a great time in Silicon Valley checking out the art scene.
San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art http://www.sjica.org
The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is a large space in the downtown area of San Jose that features contemporary artwork by local artists. Members support the ICA so admission is free to the public. You are likely to see some of the most cutting edge paintings, sculptures and other visual arts on display. Exhibitions are frequent and feature different artists all of the time. Lectures and interactions with the artists helps make this a very enjoyable and informative stop on your art walk.
KALEID Gallery in San Jose http://www.kaleidgallery.com
Taking their name from the Greek for beauty and form, KALEID Gallery represents over 60 fine artists in the San Jose area. Exhibits range from painting and sculpture to photography, glass and textile art. During the First Friday Art Walk, two artists are given center stage to show, promote and hopefully sell some of their latest creations. During the art walks, the KALEID Gallery often features live music and free wine and cheese. Two Buck Tuesdays are held on the third Tuesday of each month. These are festive occasions where art is available at affordable prices for everyone. Postcard or smaller-sized original art is sold for just $2. To further enhance the event, watch artist demonstrations and listen to the great music.
Anno Domini in San Jose http://www.galleryad.com
Traditional art connoisseurs, who are used to landscape and still life paintings, might
have to take a second look to appreciate the art in this urban contemporary gallery. Instead of seeing oils and watercolors hanging on the walls, you are more apt to see works of art using spray paint as the medium of choice. The space provides a platform for talented graffiti artists and other non-traditional artists to express themselves. Anno Domini also provides a forum where the often unappreciated art can be studied and talked about by the general public and the art community.
ArtStreet San Jose http://www.artstreetsj.com
ArtStreet San Jose was founded with the idea of providing a community space where talented artists from the local area could display their works and interact with other artists as well as those who just love art. You can step into the gallery and get into a discussion with an artist about their work or the future of art in America. This gallery is all about individuality and expressing one's self. Come in, look around and maybe you will find the perfect piece to hang prominently in your home.
Higher Fire Clayspace & Gallery http://www.higherfirestudios.com
This is an extra fun place to take kids as they can see how a potter turns a lump of clay into a beautiful work of art. Demonstrations are held during First Fridays. The gallery is also a teaching studio where classes are held to teach the techniques that go into making a piece of pottery. Nationally recognized potters, local clay artists and some work by the talented instructors are on display. Take home a hand made, one of a kind piece of pottery and support the hard-working pottery artists.
NOA's ART http://noasart.com
Founder Noa Bloch takes a slightly different approach to art. Her business combines the public's desire to decorate their home with oil paintings with decorator services to match the art to the home's decor. Many people live very busy lives or just do not have the eye to pick out the most appropriate paintings and frames that will look best on their wall. NOA's ART comes out to customer's homes with a large selection of oil paintings so they can be seen in their actual setting. They will frame and install the selections. By giving such personalized service, customers are always happy and get the right paintings, which they love, for their home.
Having fun seeing in San Jose is easy. Look around and you will see public art installations. You can enjoy browsing through the many art galleries. When you are on vacation, relax and spend a day touring San Jose and its wonderful selection of fine art.
Find more information about things to do in San Jose here.
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