SJ FAM is looking for 5 of San Jose’s top artists to participate in our 2nd Annual Art & Sole.

Requirements:

• Each artist will be asked to design 2 shoes: 1 male and 1 female shoe to auction off at the 2nd Annual Art & Sole.
• Artist will be given 2 weeks to design 2 pairs of shoes, finished products must be returned to SJ FAM by Friday, August 27. Shoes will be provided by event sponsors.
• Since bidders have an option of purchasing shoes as is or having a replica made in their own size, artist may need to create a 2nd pair of each shoe to tailor the shoe size of the bidder.

Benefits:

• Selected artist will receive 50% of the total bids placed on each of his or her shoe. Bids will starts at $50 per shoe.
• Artist will be promoted on www.sjfam.com

If you are interested in being an artist for Art & Sole please send an e-mail of interest to submissions@sjfam.com

Please include:

• Contact information
• A brief description of your interest
• Link to portfolio

Deadline for submissions: August 7, 2010

“I see these colors and just don’t know what to do with it all,” she says with excitement in her voice. Her eyes get large and her movements a bit faster as she points out the newly blooming fuchsia flowers around her home in East San Jose.

Her home has various examples of this hanging from her walls—seascapes in every hue of blue imaginable.

“Big and bright and loud,” Sanjuro says of the colors that inspire her. “I believe in reincarnation and I must have done this in a past life because it came so naturally.”

Of course, she is talking about her art. She isn’t classically trained as an artist. In fact, she studied journalism at Cal Poly and worked in the marketing and advertising industry before she fell into her  current place as a small business owner.

She started Munio-Ink in 2006 as a T-shirt company, printing her images onto eco-friendly, fashion forward tees. When she started designing the marketing material for the business, paint on skin made sense. She began painting beautiful seascapes onto her good friend’s skin and the result was very well received.

Before the business, art was something she’s always done.

“I’ve been doing art since I was big enough to hold a pencil,” Sanjuro says with a bright smile.

As a little girl, she colored everything. She’d take her mother’s lipstick and paint her whole face, the brighter the colors, the better.

“I love coloring, blending colors, contrasting them,” she says. “I’m obsessed with it. Drawing is just a means to an end.”

She has also been inspired by all things in nature.

“The flowers, the ocean the color of fish and the patterns and textures, they all inspire me,” she says. “But there’s something specifically about the ocean. It’s peaceful but there’s a fiery intensity about it all.”

Sanjuro’s excitement over color, art and the natural world is infectious and she plans to spread that at Seaskin the exhibit at Kaleid tonight, from 6 to 9 p.m. It’s her first official show, in her hometown no less and she hopes people will be excited. The proceeds of the show will all be going to Oceana, an organization that focuses on ocean conservation. And although she won’t have any of her human subjects on hand, she will have some equally impressive stand-ins.

“This is my coming out as an artist,” Sanjuro says. “I’m as excited as I am nervous. There’s a theme and a cause. Art and music and charity can all go together real easily.”
She was first interested in raising money for Oceana when she learned more about the epidemic of shark fining.

“They are such an essential part of an ecosystem,” Sanjuro says.” Because the ocean inspires me so much I wanted to help these powerful creatures have a voice. If my paint can help them have a voice, I feel like I’m doing something positive.”

Seaskin happens tonight, 6 to 9 p.m. at Kaleid Gallery, 88 So. 4th Street. $10 donation at the door goes to Oceana. For more information, visit www.munio-ink.com.

Story and photos by. m. p. flores

The quiet man, with his black-rimmed glasses and driving cap draws quietly on an oversized dry erase board. Two large pieces of found wood hang side by side, both with images of women.

He speaks softly about his art and where he gets his inspiration (from his fiancé Angela Marquez, by the way) and what it’s like to have his work on display.

“Part of the reason I decided to put myself out there was that everyone is warm and very supportive here in San Jose,” Dion “dna” Bello says. “If I thought that people would be negative, then what would be the point?”

His style of artwork is a free-flowing one, with no themes, no parameters, no rules.

“It’s easier creatively,” he says. “It doesn’t have to have a narrative. It lets other people figure it out. It can be abstract.”

His choice of medium consists of various found pieces with interesting textures.

“Canvas is expensive, for one, and wood allows texture in the background,” Bello says. “Canvas looks too traditional. You expect something on canvas. This way, things are more loose, and I have creative freedom.”

Freedom is something that resonates with Bello and the key philosophy he held onto when owner of South First Billiards, Ben, approached him after the Heart of Chaos UpRoar 2009 show to put together a show for March.

“I didn’t want to put a theme to the show,” Bello says. “I don’t want to stifle people like that. I wanted them to create something from their own minds. Themes limit you.”

With the help of fellow artists and friends Dee Jae Pa’este and Anabella Piñon dna created the first Illuskrate show.

“The response has been good,” he says with a grin. “I’m pretty stoked. People are buying my stuff and really, I just paint to sell my work to afford to keep painting.”

Bello studied graphic design at the Academy of Art and has his own personal studio in his home in Evergreen. He grew up in Virginia but at the age of 11 moved to San Jose and has been a transplanted native ever since.

Dna just tied up his show at the Usuals clothing boutique on the Alameda and is now gearing up for his fifth show, Illuskrate 2 at South First Billiards. Prior to that, he made his debut at UpRoar 2009, an annual show that Heart of Chaos puts on. Since then, he contributed a zine to the Art of Zines show at Anno Domini and put on the first installment of Illuskrate.

Dion “dna” Bello’s next show is Illuskrate 2, July 2 at South First Billiards, 420 So. 1st Street, San Jose. For more information, visit www.illuskrate.blogspot.com.

–By m. p. flores

In the futuristic year of 2010, an alien beauty crashed to Earth. Lost and distressed, she has made her way to Silicon Valley and has taken refuge with Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School. Come, witness for yourself the spectacle of the woman who fell from space!

Bring your sketchbooks and charcoal, for in exchange for sanctuary, she has agreed to let her likeness be rendered by our esteemed student body.

Join us on Thursday, April 22nd at 7pm at Anno Domini, the official San Jose Chapter of Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-art School!

DR. SKETCHY’s ANTI-ART SCHOOL

Dr. Sketchy’s is the world’s premier alternative drawing movement. Every month, over 3,500 artists gather in nearly a hundred cities (including New York, Hollywood, Sao Paolo, London, Rome, Paris, Tokyo, and Melbourne) to sketch glamorous, subcultural models and compete in drawing contests in an atmosphere of artistic mayhem. (NYC headquarters:www.drsketchy.com )

Featuring Live Model: Theresa Dunnavant
Master & Mistress of Ceremonies: Drew Clark & Trina Merry

Thursday, April 22nd, 7pm
$10.00/door Seating is limited, so get here early!

Calling all Fashion Designers, Artists, and Musicians…Are you interested in being a part of this year’s SubZERO Festival?

Kick off summer with SubZERO, a diy, artistically bent, hi/lo-techno mashup where street meets geek.

SJ FAM is doing a vendor recruit for San Jose’s SubZERO Festival that will take place on June 4th. The recruitment starts NOW!

In order to be considered one of SJ FAM’s referred vendors for the SubZERO Festival, please email the following items to events@sjfam.com:
Letter of intent (Why do you want to be a part of SubZERO?)
Electronic portfolio
Submission deadline is Saturday, May 1st.

So let’s kick off the summer right and get our local San Jose Fashion, Art, and Music community recognized!

To learn more about the SubZERO festival, please visit: www.subzerofestival.com

]]> http://www.sjfam.com/2010/04/19/subzero-festival-returns-june-4-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.sjfam.com/2010/03/25/the-sketchbook-show-diary-of-an-artist-2/ http://www.sjfam.com/2010/03/25/the-sketchbook-show-diary-of-an-artist-2/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 06:19:51 +0000 Ria http://www.sjfam.com/?p=563 Have you ever gone into your siblings room and cracked open their diary? That exhilarating feeling of looking at something you know you shouldn’t be but are? The constant looking over your shoulder to make sure you don’t get caught, your fingers and eyes furiously moving faster and faster over each page?

Well, the Sketchbook Show at Kaleid right now has just that opportunity.

The sketchbooks of 29 local artist of various mediums are available today only to be sifted through, explored and absorbed.

The show, launched March 5 and running until March 26 is one of the most intimate experiences you can have with your favorite artists.

Stacks of black sketchbooks, small leather notebooks, and sticker-covered spiral notebooks all invite the visitors to crack them open, take a peek and see the world through the artists’ pen (or pencil).

All the artist stations, small sections of wall and floor along the right side of the gallery when you first come in, have chairs that each artist also created to imitate what they use at home. Examples of their artwork are also on display above the sketchbooks.

At Miguel Machuca’s station, a single sketchbook with a note in the front shares that the day of the show’s opening, Miguel’s car was broken into and all his possessions, including his sketchbooks were stolen.

Flip through the brand new book and you will find sketches and letters from all the artists at the show sharing positive encouragement and good thoughts for the local artist.

Three images of eyes that he has look down on you while you peruse the new book.

On the other side of the exhibit, a small sketchbook with a brightly colored peacock on its cover and fat with images and work almost opens itself to the viewer.

Ivan Gonzales’ urban flair and use of colors is visible both on the canvas and his chair and his set of three freakishly cool sculptures watch while you take it all in.

–photos and review by M. P. Flores

The otherwise quiet residential home on Eighth Street was transformed March 20 and 21 into a living art gallery, attracting more than a dozen local artists to participate and hundreds to visit.

Every corner of the house morphs, is painted, and prepped for art installations. The hardwood floors were covered over by laminate that had painted scenes from the unconventional fairy tail.

Homeowners, artists and Canvas Ghost creators Deborah and Omar Barba began the planning, coordinating and moving of their furniture in February 2009. “Every year we say it’s the last and then we go, hmm, maybe one more time,” says co-creator and homeowner Deborah Barba.

The couple has put on these shows over a weekend, twice a year since 2008, aiming for shows in March and October. The theme for this spring’s show, Alice In Wonderland evoked ink, paint and felt creations–homages to the white rabbit, the queen of hearts and of course, Alice.

Along with the artwork, live music and great food and drink–courtesy Fundamental Gourmet–the people and artist themselves could have been mistaken for Wonderland characters.
A pretty in black and white Christine Benjamin–local artist and participant of this show–walked around greeting visitors with feathers in her hair and striped stockings. One of the two hosts, Omar Barba went from room to room in his best Mad Hatter-inspired outfit with a glimmer of mischief in each eye.

Cat ears, bunny tails and hats of all shapes and sizes [velour and tulle optional!] added to this rabbit hole’s trip … and leaves those that were lucky enough to catch a glimpse wondering what’s in store for the next event.

For more information, visit www.canvasghost.com.

— photos and review by M.P. Flores

ARTISTS
AG Originals
ARMOgedon 2057
Carly Ivan Garcia
Nick Giannini
Same10
WaDl

STORES
Azuki Boutique
Medium Rare/Oh Dang! Magazine

EXHIBITORS
Adapt
Buddha Apparel
Casanova Fresh
Clout
Cukui
Drastik Tactiks
Fully Laced
Goodjoe
Halloway
IMPRM
Jordan Louie
RADisRAD
Shalom CPP
Shorty Fatz
Sick Star Clothing
Suhreal
The Imaginary Zebra
Unbound Vision

ENTERTAINMENT
DJ Quantum
DJ Traps

SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
The Bangerz

RUNWAY
presented by John Agcaoili {DSOTM}

HAIR
Umbrella Salon

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jordan Louie

FOOD & BEVERAGES
Hannah {Mini red velvet cupcakes}
Treatbot {Premium ice cream truck}

GIVEAWAYS
Ironlak

For more information, please visit www.bobbivie.com

Josh: I’m 30. A photographer and writer. I am the 4^th generation of my family to live in San Jose. I majored in history at San Jose State University. I have been taking pictures of San Jose for eight years now.I started with a disposable camera. Then I went through a series of 35mm cameras that only marginally improved in quality with each purchase. I bought film when I could afford it and watched a lot of things pass on while my camera sat empty at home. I saved up enough money to buy a display model digital SLR camera and started to furiously document all I could. With the exception of the “Intro to Photography” class I took in high school, I am self taught. My father had a weekend photography business. Our garage was a studio and our laundry room was a dark room. I grew up watching what he did and was fascinated.

SJFAM: What inspires you?

Josh: History and a hope to connect to the past. I mowed my grandfather’s lawn every weekend from middle school until college and my grandfather would tell me the history of San Jose. He would drive me to places and tell me what used to be there or what it was like when he was young. When I started at San Jose State, I would wander the streets of downtown trying to piece together what my grandfather told me. There was so much that was empty and so much being lost and no one seemed to notice. I started by writing about what was being lost, then I started to photograph it.

SJFAM: What message do you portray in your work?

Josh: I try to show the soul and the character of the places and things I see in San Jose and the places I travel. Buildings and cars and signs are designed and born. They absorb life and soul from the people that worked or lived or shopped around them. When they become empty they start to die and the decay spreads like cancer.  I try to portray their soul one last time in my photos.

SJFAM: What is your favorite picture that you’ve taken so far and why?

Josh: My favorite picture is one titled Dead.  It was a picture of a car left on the train tracks by my home. It was the first photo I took where I felt like what I was trying to portray in my mind was being translated into the photo.

SJFAM: What are your goals as a photographer?

Josh: My goal is to show people what I see.

SJFAM: Any words to the people of San Jose?

Josh: San Jose is a great place. Enjoy it.

Josh Marcotte’s First Solo Show will take place on Feb. 6, 2010 at the Blues Jean Bar in Santana Row. Click here for more information

Also to see more of Josh’s work, check out his site at www.lostsanjose.com.

Painter/illustrator Christine Benjamin, ’87 Graphic Design, creates masked super-heroines. They fight pollution (Super Bee Girl). They play the bongos (Bongo Chick). They wear aprons and necklaces while sporting pink head horns. They are funky, whimsical miniature felt sculptures with attitude and loads of quirky charm. For a month this past spring they were on view at South First Street Billiards in San José as part of the “Girl Power” show Benjamin curated and exhibited there.

“The idea for the ‘Girl Power’ show came about because there are a lot of women artists, particularly in the Bay Area, who still don’t get to show their work,” Benjamin explains. “You’d think there would be a lot of women artists showing their work everywhere — but that’s not the case. So I wanted to have a show that featured only women artists that addressed women’s issues — any type of women’s issues.”

Benjamin’s own contributions to the show were sly, ironic, political and unapologetically feminist interpretations on the issues at stake.

“I like to make statements with my art,” Benjamin says. “I want to get a reaction — it doesn’t have to be a positive reaction. But I want people to have a strong feeling when they look at my art. There are people who find my art weird. I’m okay with that. I like that reaction much better than when people say: ‘That’s a pretty picture.’”

Accessibility is key

Born and raised in San José, Benjamin is part of a growing legion of artists, working in San José and elsewhere, who are determined to show their art in venues other than what Benjamin dubs “galleries with a lot of white walls.” By showing art at so-called “untraditional venues,” artists are able to expand their audience and connect with viewers who’d never enter one of those white-walled galleries, Benjamin contends. “Getting art out there for the public to see helps educate the public about art,” she says.

Benjamin is an enthusiastic participant in local events such as last June’s Sub- ZERO Festival, held in San José’s SoFA district, defined geographically as South First Street between San Carlos and Reed Streets. During the SubZERO festival, more than 100 performers, musicians and artists took to the streets to bring their particular art form to the public. Benjamin was one of the “live painters,” creating art in real time and on public view. SoFA galleries, including Anno Domini and WORKS/San José, also participated in the revelries, and Benjamin’s “Girl Power” show was held over at South First Street Billiards to be part of the festival.

Wherever there’s a chance of it being seen, Benjamin is game to show her art. She recently exhibited work at a tattoo parlor in Atlanta and a donut shop in Campbell. In January of this year, she exhibited new paintings at San José’s Caffe Trieste in a show called “Real and Imagined Creatures,” headlined by a painting of Red Riding Hood escaping a toothy wolf.

Mom knows best

Benjamin’s mother painted intermittently, so she recognized the artistic bent in her daughter. “My mom completely encouraged me,” Benjamin says. “From a really young age, I drew on the walls so, wisely, she started buying me paper.” An uncle who was “very serious about cartooning and animation” provided another early example of commitment to artistic exploration.

Benjamin attended West Valley College “to get the general education requirements out of the way,” before transferring to SJSU to major in graphic design with a concentration in illustration. At SJSU, she found another influential mentor. At the time, she says, Lanning Stern, professor in the School of Art and Design, “was really into the L.A. low-brow, underground art scene.” His enthusiasm for non-mainstream art helped shape Benjamin’s interest.

And there was, is, and will be, for Benjamin, the great Van Gogh. “He’s always been one of my idols,” she says. “The thickness of paint, the light, the color — everything about his art is just incredible. I admire his paintings and his crazy, hard life.”

Art that isn’t simply for art’s sake

Benjamin is a member of Heart of Chaos, a San José collective of young artists that, in addition to bringing a network of like-minded artists together, makes a priority of using art as a means to help the wider community. (Heart of Chaos sponsored Benjamin’s “Girl Power” show.) The collective fundraises for at-risk youth through its Community Outreach Taskforce. Benjamin has taken part in the Chalk Art Festival and other fundraisers.

“A lot of the money Heart of Chaos raises goes to underprivileged kids,” Benjamin says, a cause close to her heart. “By nature, I’m for the underdog.” In and out of the studio Benjamin does freelance design and illustration work for the likes of Yahoo, Hitatchi, Addison-Wesley and Apple. Recently, for Hasbro, she sculpted clay circus characters that were photographed for a children’s book. In the near future, Benjamin would like to try her hand at illustrating her own children’s book, but for now she’s concentrating on painting.

Her terrain and privacy guarded by a “big bad tiny white dog with a very loud bark,” Benjamin is in her studio every day working, she says. “I work on several pieces at once. I go back and forth between paintings. That really helps me figure out things visually and conceptually. I also do a ton of sketching.”

To mix it up further, Benjamin likes to work collaboratively with Lacey Bryant, Michael Foley and other local artists.

“I work collaboratively with artists who are quite a bit younger. I myself have a lot of energy, but those artists’ energy and creativity really inspire me,” Benjamin says. “When collaborating, you’re forced to be more spontaneous. The piece can morph into something you didn’t expect or plan for — and that is very interesting.”

San José’s art scene has definitely gotten bigger and better in the past five years, with more artists showing work in more venues, Benjamin maintains. “There are so many super-talented artists in San José. You don’t have to go to San Francisco to see great art. A lot is happening right here.”

Written by: Kat Meads

(Source: www.sjsu.edu/wsq/fall09/noteworthy/)

To see more of Christine’s work visit her website at http://cbillustration.squarespace.com/journal/