Be merry this holiday season and join SJ FAM and Satori Tea Company for a delightful afternoon filled with fashion, art, music, charity and culture. Relax over a cup of tea and live music or peruse through a mini Moroccan bazaar where guests may participate in henna tattoo art, A Beauty Bar and some shopping!

This event will benefit CAREER CLOSET, an organization dedicated to empowering women to re-enter the… workplace equipped with everything they need to make a great first impression, land the job they want, and improve their lives. We encourage guests to dig into their closets and donate any unused work clothing, which can be used for another woman’s brighter future. Women’s professional clothing that is new or nearly new, clean, and on hangers, gently worn shoes and handbags are acceptable. Receive an additional raffle ticket for every garment you bring in!

So put on your Sunday’s best ensemble and join us for a lovely afternoon of good friends, good tea and a good cause!

$20 admission includes tea tasting, tea bites, henna art, beauty bar and live music by DJ Cutso.

Satori Tea Company
37 N San Pedro St, San Jose, CA 95110
*Complimentary parking available in San Pedro garage until 6pm.*

Reservations required. Please call (408) 493-0554 or email rsvp@sjfam.com

Visit our Merry Moroccan Holiday Facebook event page here
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Vendors:
A Beauty Bar
Ayoma LifeSpa
Henna World
Ruthie Gems

San Jose Fashion, Art, and Music (SJ FAM) will be hosting the second annual Art & Sole, a charity shoe auction and concert. Art & Sole will take place at the Courtyard, located at the beautiful Hotel Valencia on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 from 6-8pm.

The premise is to showcase the talent and creativity of local artists using shoes as their canvas. SJ FAM inspires to create two visions from Art & Sole; to establish a network of fundraising events for charities, and to bring awareness to local artists. The affluent young and hip audience SJ FAM hopes to attract will also realize, through Art & Sole, that the city renowned for being the capital of Silicon Valley is also a growing haven for art and culture.

Art & Sole has selected San Jose Downtown Association’s (SJDA) Downtown Doors as this year’s beneficiary. Downtown Doors is a youth art competition and exhibit that brings together talented high school artists and property owners, resulting in public art displays that enhance downtown San Jose’s urban landscape. Art & Sole will also broker direct donations to SJDA’s Downtown Doors for those individuals that cannot make the event. Admission to Art & Sole grants access to an array of entertainment, including a silent shoe auction, live art by featured local artists, live performance by local singer Amy Serrata, music by DJ Sig-O, and give a-ways. In addition, raffle tickets will be given to each person that makes a donation. Proceeds for charity will come from the silent auction, donations, and the $10 admission charge.

Featured artists for this year’s Art & Sole are:

Orly Locquiao

Colin Baker

Erikka Hugger

Mike Aveno

Jorynn Villar

We invite all to join us on this special night of art and music. This is a great way to support your local artists and enjoy a beautiful evening, while giving back to a worthwhile cause. To learn more about Art & Sole or for media and sponsorship opportunities contact SJ FAM at (408) 493-0554 or info@sjfam.com.

RSVP here on Art & Sole’s Facebook Event Page.

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About San Jose Downtown Association’s Downtown Doors

Downtown Doors is a youth art competition and exhibit that brings together talented high school artists and property owners, resulting in public art displays that enhance downtown San Jose’s urban landscape. There are 37 doors that display students’ artwork. Each year funding for more and more high school art programs diminish leaving a crucial gap in student education. Supplemental programs, such as Downtown Doors, assist art teachers in narrowing this gap and help encourage youth to get involved in art programs, which in turn provides youth with a constructive, positive outlet and improves self-esteem. Downtown Doors, helps students improve their budding artistic skills while positively impacting and enhancing the aesthetics of downtown San Jose.

About San Jose Fashion, Art, and Music

San Jose Fashion, Art, and Music (SJ FAM) is an upcoming organization embracing the growing fashion, music, and art community in the city renowned for being the capital of Silicon Valley.

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Thank you to all our amazing sponsors!

“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.