Friday, February 17, 2017

February Art Exhibitions in Silicon Valley


Anderson Collection at Stanford University
FREE admission

Current Exhibitions:
Nick Cave through August 14, 2017

Highlights:





Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University
FREE admission

Current Exhibitions:
The Conjured Life: The Legacy of Surrealism through April 3, 2017
The Wonder of Everyday Life: Dutch Golden Age Prints through March 20, 2017

Upcoming Exhibitions:
The Eye and the Sky: Trevor Paglen in the Cantor Collection March 15, 2017- August 31, 2017

Highlights:






Euphrat Museum of Art at De Anza College
FREE admission

Current Exhibitions:
Justice for All? through March 23, 2017

Highlights:









The New Museum Los Gatos
$10 general admission

Current Exhibitions:
A Visible Journey in Time: Los Gatos History Project through April 9, 2017
McMoons:  How a Band of Scientists Saved Lunar Image History through May 14, 2017
Making Contact: SETI Artists in Residence through March 5, 2017
Cement Prairie: The History and Legacy of the 1952 American Indian Urban Relocation Program through June 25, 2017
Back From Extinction: Muwekma Ohlone's Heritage, History and Legacy through June 25, 2017
A Call to Collect through June 4, 2017

Upcoming Exhibitions:
Abstracts from Life March 23, 2017- September 10, 2017

Highlights:









San Jose Museum of Art 
$10 general admission

Current Exhibitions:
Beauty-Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial  through February 19, 2017
Your Mind, This Moment: Art and the Practice of Attention through August 27, 2017
Life and Labor: The Photographs of Milton Rogovin through March 19, 2017
Koret Family Gallery:  Art and Science through May 21, 2017

Upcoming Exhibitions:
Diana Al-Hadid: Liquid City February 24, 2017- September 24, 2017

Highlights:







Triton Museum of Art
FREE admission

Current Exhibitions:
Doug Glovaski through May 7, 2017

Upcoming Exhibitions:
Unlikely Elements: The Rhythm of Repetition by Bill Gould February 25, 2017- May 7, 2017

Highlights:









Sunday, February 12, 2017

Montalvo Arts Center Garden Walk


With all of this rain we've had in Northern California this past week, it's nice to go outside and enjoy the sun.  Today, I packed up some onigiri (Japanese rice balls) and green tea and went for a picnic and walk at Montalvo Arts Center in Saratoga.  Their grounds and gardens are free, so it's a great place to go on a self-guided sculpture tour or hike.  After a week of rain, their trails were a little too muddy today, so I sticked to their 1.5 acre Great Lawn and and Italianate Garden.  This place is dog and kid friendly, so bring your little ones and enjoy the outdoor public arts.







Andalucia, presented by the Flamenco Society of San Jose



Last night's performance of Andalucia at the Mountain View Center for Performing Arts has me now a big fan of the Flamenco Society of San Jose.  Andalucia begins with Manuel Valencia on the guitar.  He plays slowly, beautifully.  His fingerpicking made me wish I never gave up the acoustic guitar.  (By now, I would've been halfway decent).  Manuel is then joined by percussionist Luis Carrasco, on his cajon, a wooden box whose sounds are deep, yet also reminiscent of a snare.  The pace quickens, and enters singer Lela Soto Sordera and dancer Antonio Molina "El Chorro."  At this point, the audience is enchanted.  Lela's strong voice commands attention, while Antonio's moves are electrifying.  For those who missed this memorable performance, there will be a second showing tonight (February 12th) at the La Pena Cultural Center (if not already sold out).



Friday, February 10, 2017

Lunar New Year Celebration at the SF Symphony



This past weekend I attended the Lunar New Year celebration at the San Francisco Symphony.  There was an anti-Trump/no wall protest going on at Civic Center that afternoon, so it was an interesting mix of emotions in the streets.  The Lunar Celebration was festive with plenty of opportunities to take pictures with a giant laughing Buddha, colorful dragons and beauty queens. Many were dressed in red, some were dressed in Chinese silk outfits.  I think I was the only person there who looked like I was at a business meeting.  Mei-Ann Chen was the conductor.  She was funny, lively, and perfect for the captive audience eager to learn more about Eastern cultures.  San Francisco native, Amos Yang, beautifully played the cello.  Tang Jun Qian, also known for her work in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, played the dizi, a traditional bamboo flute.  Overall, the performance was fun and interactive with dancing dragons and opportunities to sing along to gong xi gong xi.