Gutter Glamour will explore our receptive and rejective notions of fashion and the media, together with the urban subculture which mirrors it.

Multi-disciplinary artists from both national and international shores have come together to present an alternate rendition of the dictative standards of style set forth by the media.

Opening night will cross platform fine art, electro, cosmetology, and fashion photography in a beautiful disaster.

Opening Reception: Friday, January 8th, 7pm-9pm
free and open to the public

Exhibit on view through January 28, 2010

KALEID Gallery
88 South Fourth Street (btwn Santa Clara & San Fernando streets)
San Jose
(408) 947-1785
www.kaleidgallery.com

The San Jose Comics Fest is sponsored by SLG Publishing, America's Coolest Comic Book Publisher.

A quarterly mini-convention, Comics Fest celebrates independent comics, DIY culture and everything cool and good in life.

Produced by the founders of the Alternative Press Expo (APE) Comics Fest hopes to bring the worlds of independent and alternative comics to a general audience.

The first show of the year showcases mostly local talent and mainly SLG creators including: Jamaica Dyer (Weird Fishes), Tom Hodges (Clone Wars web comic), Mel Smith (Gumby) and Vernon White (Birdhouse).

Eric Searlman (VIZ Comics) and Dan Vado (SLG Publishing) will be on hand to review portfolios.

Saturday January 16th, 12pm - 5pm
Admission is FREE

SLG Art Boutiki & Gallery
577 S. Market Street
San Jose, CA 95113
408-971-8929
www.sjcomicsfest.com

KALEID artist Michelle Waters has four paintings from her Owl Saints series featured in the Free As A Bird 3rd Annual Bird Show exhibition at the Cactus Gallery in Eagle Rock, CA.

The exhibition is in recognition of National Bird Day. It is a popular group show that celebrates the flight, song and freedom that birds symbolize.

Exhibition is on view January 9 February 10, 2010.

Cactus Gallery
4534 Eagle Rock Blvd.
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
www.eclecticcactus.com

Art Ark Gallery is proud to present the work of Mila Libman & Natalya Burd

Artist reception: Saturday, January, 16th 4-7pm

On view through January 31st, 2010. Open by appointment, contact Mila & Natalya at muralpros@gmail.com

Art Ark Gallery
1035 S. 6th St.
San Jose, CA 95112

Impermanence photography exhibit by Noa Grant at Soula Power Yoga

"Contemplating the (in)significance of life, flirting with the idea of our very own temporality, coming to terms with the notion of mortality, this portfolio is my reflection on the nature of our very existence. As we journey through life, making a temporary dents in our surrounding, our impact is diminished, and our monumental existence, whether thru the temples we build, the art we create or via our simple daily acts, is starting to crumble and decay as soon as we accomplish them.

Remnants of past grandeur photographed in Angkor, Cambodia, serve as my metaphoric evidence of this notion. The monumental temples are devolving towards nothingness, while the fungi and trees are evolving from nothingness, in a constant dance toward or away from potential. There is poetic beauty to be found in both processes, and existence may only be a tender dent in a reed, or an ephemeral memory." ~ Noa Grant

About the artist
Noa started exploring photography in 2006, supplementing her natural curiosity with formal classes and workshop at Foothill College. Her fine art work addresses philosophical issues while paying attention to the natural beauty of form and patterns. Much of her study through the lens comes from her extensive travel throughout the world. Her current work includes infrared landscapes and explorations of the human figure. She has previously shown her work at PhotoCentral in Hayward and at the KCI center in Los Altos Hills.

On view through February 24, 2010

Soula Power Yoga
200 S. First Street, Suite 70
San Jose, CA 95113
Please call for hours: 408-993-YOGA (9642)

The Gutter Glamour exhibition, curated by KALEID's Eddie Flores (pictured above), opened last Friday with an artists' reception that included eclectic fashion and great music. More photos by clicking here.

The exhibit is on view through January 29th.

Gallery hours:
Tuesday through Friday, Noon - 7pm
Saturday, Noon - 5pm, First Fridays 'til 10pm

KALEID Gallery
88 South Fourth Street
San Jose, CA
www.KALEIDgallery.com

THURSDAY GIG'S Art & The Spoken Word presents

Artist Pranita Patel
Poet Mark Heinlein
Open Mic follows

Thursday, Jan 21, 2010, 6:30 - 9:30 pm

This is a Pot Luck BYOB, Soft Drinks, Water event
Donations of $1 would be appreciated
If you can't bring food or donate, come anyway : )

FEATURED ARTIST: Pranita Patel, is a teacher, artist and poet. Her work is spiritually based and is inspired by eastern thought and the divine feminine. She believes that art heals, transforms and grounds us into ourselves. She holds workshops for women that include painting, guided meditation, ritual and herstories. She currently works as an educational specialist. Pranita has a Master's degree in Women's Spirituality from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology.

FEATURED POET: Mark Heinlein’s work cuts to the emotional bone of our daily activities. From eating leftover kung pao chicken, flocking Christmas trees, grocery shopping, to contemplating the magnitude of war and the inevitable struggles with mortality, to the fine caresses of lovers, Mark’s work finds beauty and humanity in the mundane aspects of our lives. Winner of the 2009 American Academy of Poets/Virginia de Arujo Award, his work has been performed live on the radio, and he has read his poetry at the Cinequest Festival and at bars, galleries and bookstores throughout Northern California.

STONE GRIFFIN GALLERY
411 E. Campbell Ave., Campbell

Contact Elizabeth Parashis for more info at artpages@earthlink.net

On The Corner Music is getting ready for it's 3rd annual We Love Music! exhibit Friday, February 26th.

Local artists paint/draw/collage/graf/photo/etc their own interpretation of what music means to them on a BLANK record sleeve (which there are plenty available for FREE at the shop).

All art sale proceeds will go to the American Heart Association (the amount can be determined by the individual artist). Pieces are not limited to just using a sleeve, 12x12 canvases, wooden frames, 3D sculptures, anything outside the original format is definitely encouraged.

To participate, let Jeff know ASAP - pieces will be accepted until Tuesday February 23rd. If you have questions and need more info, call 408-871-0305 or email any questions to Jeff at drumdemon@hotmail.com.

Red Berry Coffee Bar presents Gianfranco Paolozzi's Roundels

Meet the artist Friday, Jan. 22nd, 7-9 pm

Enjoy Gianfranco's art with artisan coffee and teas, with music by DeatHat. Free dessert provided.

Red Berry Coffee Bar
231 East Santa Clara Street
Downtown San Jose
408-286-0508

art by Lori Krein

art by Laura Callin Bennett

Barefoot presents Laura Callin Bennett and Lori Krein for the month of February.

Come by Saturday, February 6th at 7pm to meet the artists.

Barefoot Coffee Bar
5237 Stevens Creek Blvd (at Lawrence Expressway)
Santa Clara, CA 95051
408-248-4500

This edition of TWO BUCK TUESDAY is curated by Lacey Bryant.

January 19th, 6-10 pm
Free admission

Featuring our Quirky Speaker Series:

Drew Clark: A charismatic artist who will expound upon the finer points of dressing with panache and how it’s totally worth the discomfort involved.

Brian Gundy: The owner of For Goodness Snakes will discuss how his passion for animals helped to build his business. Brian has been a local professional snake breeder for over 20 years. His love for people and education now finds him sharing his cold blooded friends at schools, birthday parties and company events.

Gary Parker: After over 40 years of experience, Gary will teach us the merit of being a stupid photographer-that is, not playing by the rules and still getting great shots!

Also Featuring:

A Grand and Unusual Puppet show by Dax
Dax’s show is original songs on accordion and wine glasses in an american folk style, paired with three short puppetry pieces that unfold from three plywood suitcases. The theme of the puppet shows is of making something out of nothing, and are on the more experimental side of the craft. He has been performing shows on the west coast since 2001 with Corpus Callosum. From 2007-2008 he performed puppetry with the renowned Chicago Blair Thomas & Co. Chamber Puppet Theater.

“As with his songs, there is no showmanship, legerdemain, pretense or fanfare in the presentation of this non-traditional puppetry. On stage, Dax has a deceptively casual manner – meanwhile, glowing stars pop out of suitcases of their own accord, and apparitions rise out of heaps of cardboard and collapse just as quickly. Nothing is hidden in the straight-forward construction of the puppets and apparatuses, and yet each piece unfolds a moment of magic that is as moving as it is direct. These shows cleverly present the fascination that has been lost to us since childhood, though you wouldn’t imagine how simply it was achieved.” -Blair Thomas, Artistic Director of Blair Thomas & Co. Chamber Puppet Theater, founder of Redmoon Theater, Chicago, IL.

Music by DJ Coco

Life Modeling for the purposes of sketching by the Gothic Lolitas of San Jose

The unveiling of A Mystery New Animated Short Film by Matthew Seigel and Pellet

Feautured Live Sketch Artists:

Kate Stewart
T.h. Pug
John Kurtyaka
Al Preciado
Celeste Young

All artists are invited to bring their art supplies and take a place at the sketch table! Space is first come first serve.

Free cupcakes and snacks, coffee by Red Berry Coffee Bar!

And of course, $2 art for sale all day long!

KALEID Gallery
88 South Fourth Street
Downtown San Jose, CA
www.KALEIDgallery.com
408-947-1785

City of San Jose – Multiple Projects - REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

DEADLINE: Thursday, January 28, 2010 - 10:59 p.m. Pacific Time
This is an online application process only and the deadline cannot be extended

The City of San Jose Public Art Program seeks to commission site-specific artworks in several different locations throughout San Jose. Some of the projects are community-focused and others will be integrated into Capital Improvement Projects. Artists can be considered for more than one project, but will not be commissioned for simultaneous projects with the City of San Jose.

For information on the individual projects go to the complete RFQ at http://www.sanjoseculture.org/downloads/Many%20Projects_RFQ%20Final.pdf

BUDGETS: Range from $25,000 to $100,000

ARTIST ELIGIBILITY: The calls are open to artists who live and/or work in the following California counties Alameda, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano, and Monterey. Proof of residency or work relationship will be required if short listed for a project.

Artists must be eligible to work in the United States and have a valid U.S. Social Security or Tax Identification Number by the application deadline.

Artists who are currently under contract with the City of San Jose Public Art Program are not eligible to apply.

APPLICATION PROCESS:
All materials will be submitted online, via CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system. To view the application, go to www.callforentry.org, register a username and password, navigate to “Apply to Calls”, and search the list for “City of San Jose – Multiple Projects”.

Bonnie J. Smith is having her first solo show, Abstracts & Images, at 1870 Art Center Gallery with an opening reception on Sunday, January 31, from 2pm-5pm.

1870 Art Center Gallery
1870 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, Ca.
http://www.1870artcenter.org/

CreaTV San Jose is offering 20 scholarships for San Jose residents ages 13 – 24 who want to enter the Greenlight Film Festival!

The Greenlight Film Festival is a celebration of Earth Day featuring film projects that explore environmental citizenship and show how individual actions can reduce our environmental impact.

The scholarship includes the following:
- CreaTV San Jose Youth Membership (valued at $25)
- Producers Lab Class (valued at $45)
- Field Production Class (valued at $75)
- Final Cut Pro Class (valued at $90)
- Access to CreaTV San Jose’s field camera and editing equipment (for production of an entry into the Greenlight Film Festival)

All for FREE! If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the scholarship, please download the entry form here.

DEADLINE to apply is Monday, February 1, 2010.

Applications should be submitted to:
CreaTV San Jose
255 West Julian Street, Suite 100
San Jose, CA 95110

or faxed to 408-295-8810

art work by Archil Pichkhadze

You are invited to the Grand Opening of San Jose’s new contemporary fine art gallery, the Axis Art Gallery, located in a live/work unit on the ground floor of Axis, San Jose's award-winning luxury high-rise condominiums.

Curated by photographer Deborah Mills Thackrey, the Axis Art Gallery features painters Archil Pichkhadze & Chris Elliman plus the work of Deborah Mills Thackrey, Tom Thackrey, Micheal Buscemi, Julia Jacobson, chris Sicat, Phil Bongiorno and Stefani Esta.

Please join us, Thurs Jan. 28th, 2010 from 5:00 - 9:00 pm.

The gallery reception will include music, food and wine. Tours of the high-rise condos and the art@axis public art installation in the lobby, 12th floor model homes, and penthouse will run from 5:00 to 7:30 pm. The reception and tours are free and open to the public.

Axis / San Jose
38 N. Almaden Blvd, #101 • San Jose, CA 95110
(North of W. Santa Clara, near the historic DeAnza Hotel)
408.623.9888 / email: info@art-at-axis.com

Starting Jan. 29th, gallery hours will be Wed - Sat, noon - 6:00 pm and by appointment (408.623.9888).