After a small hiatus, the South First Fridays event returns this Aug. 5 with art, music and shopping opportunities in San Jose’s SoFA District from 7 to 11pm. Social awareness is a common theme in much of the artwork this month. Dimitri Drjuchin’s The Melting Kingdom paintings were created to portray our nation’s current socioeconomic status and the possibilities of finding joy during these difficult times. In Reflections of Our Roots at South First Billiards, artists will display Mexican artwork—and there will be Aztec dancing as well. Metro‘s featured photographer, Jason Duffany, presents Know Trespassing, a documentation of abandoned buildings he encountered during a cross-country bicycle adventure.

Appreciation for nature will also be celebrated at the festival. Michelle Waters’ paintings were inspired by the chaos of Hieronymus Bosch, revealing a world in which animals are superior to humans. Her exhibit at Art Ark examines the benefits and inconveniences of the Coyote Creek trails.

Abstract art is represented with Valerie Runningwolf’s Dreams at Good Karma Vegan Cafe and Allegra Bick-Maurischat’s Imagination Landscapes, a multimedia creation that plays with intense colors and fluid lines, will be shown at Downtown Yoga Shala. Joe Perea’s Convergence celebrates subatomic abstract realism through science and spirituality at KALEID Gallery, while Laura Myth’s Light A series examines the flow of energy from technological patterns that are derived from nature.

In addition to artist exhibits, attendees can create a sculptural origami lotus out of yam and paper while noshing on street food from Quick Dog and MoGo. Around 40 creative vendors will be showing off their hard work, including the Rabbit Hole, Valentina Vintage, Michael Foley, DonBon and Ike Greca.

Local Emcee “Mighty” Mike McGee will color the evening with his slam poetry, and Dana Leong, the cellist who has collaborated with Kanye West, Ray Charles, Yoko Ono and Bjrk, will show off his distinct jazz-classical-pop sound at Eulipia Restaurant. Other performers include Ben Henderson & Friends, Oakland-based Whiskerman, and indie bands Orangutang and Corrupt Autopilot. 

The main dish, however, is the art. Southwestern banded blankets and blistered bourbon bottles are just some examples of the diverse craftwork of gifted Bay Area artists that will adorn South First this upcoming Friday.

South First Fridays
Friday, 7-11pm
South First Street,
San Jose