The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is pleased to announce a new season of public programs and events for the summer of 2023 starting July through the end of September. Highlights include the opening celebrations of three new exhibitions: Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist on Friday, July 7 at 6pm; and Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News with Nuts and Who’s: A Candy Store Sampler on Friday, August 18 at 6pm. Other programs at the Museum include each exhibition’s respective Gallery Talk, two Art 101 workshops inspired by works on view in the Museum, and SJMA’s first Spanish-language tours.
Additional highlights include events co-produced with key cultural partners to promote creativity and the artistic community in San José and the Santa Clara County region. Events presented with cultural partners this summer comprise of the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs’ monthly series CityDance San Jose, Content Magazine’s Pick-Up Party 15.4, and San Jose Jazz’s Summer Fest 2023 Next Gen Stage.
For additional and up-to-date information on programs and events at SJMA, go to sjmusart.org/calendar.
July 2023
First Friday + Opening Celebration | Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist
Friday, July 7, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Join us for the opening celebration of the new exhibition Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist featuring live music by Pau D'Arco and open galleries.
Spanish Language Family Tours
Saturday July 8, 11am. Free; pre-registration is encouraged.
Sign up for a free Spanish language family tour of Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist followed by a hands-on art activity, led by Ruby Morales, studio art educator.
CityDance San José: K-pop
Thursday, July 20, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Learn how to dance to K-pop under the Circle of Palms with live musical performances and professional dance instruction. Presented by the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, SJMA, Valley Transportation Authority, and El Cafecito by Mezcal Restaurant.
Gallery Talk on Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist
Friday, July 21, 12:30pm. Free with Museum admission.
Tour the exhibition Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist with Nidhi Gandhi, curatorial and programs associate.
Member Preview | Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News
Thursday, July 27, 4–9pm. SJMA member exclusive.
SJMA members get a sneak preview of the new exhibition Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News.
August 2023
First Friday with San Jose Jazz
Friday, August 4, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Art lovers at First Friday enjoy a lounge-like atmosphere with open galleries, and live music brought to you by San Jose Jazz.
Spanish Language Family Tours
Sunday, August 5, 11am. Free; pre-registration is encouraged.
Sign up for a free Spanish language family tour of Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist followed by a hands-on art activity, led by Ruby Morales, studio art educator.
SJMA Next Gen Stage
Saturday, August 12, and Sunday, August 13, 11am–5pm. Free.
SJMA is home to the Next Gen Stage for Summer Fest 2023, presented by San Jose Jazz. Join us for two entire afternoons of up-and-coming student and youth bands from across the South Bay and beyond.
Content Pick-Up Party + CityDance San José: Salsa
Thursday, August 17, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Celebrate creativity in Silicon Valley at SJMA as part of the Content Pick-Up Party and CityDance San José: Salsa. Visitors can also explore open galleries and exhibitions on view.
Opening Celebration: Liliana Porter + Nuts and Who’s
Friday, August 18, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions, Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News and Nuts and Who’s: A Candy Store Sampler, featuring live music from the Brian Fitzgerald Trio.
Art 101: Political Printmaking with SJSU Artists
Thursday, August 24, 6pm. $15 ($10 for SJMA members).
Sign up for an introductory workshop on relief printing inspired by the political posters of Yolanda López, led by San José State University Professor Irene Carvajal.
Gallery Talk on Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News
Friday, August 25, 12:30pm. Free with Museum admission.
Tour the exhibition Liliana Porter: Actualidades / Breaking News with Juan Omar Rodriguez, assistant curator.
Art 101: Making Music with Visual Art
Thursday, August 31, 5–7pm. $15 ($10 for SJMA members).
Learn how to make music inspired by the artworks on-view at SJMA with Julian Zamora, studio art educator specialist.
September 2023
First Friday
Friday, September 1, 6–9pm. Free admission.
Art lovers can enjoy an evening of open galleries and music. See the new exhibitions on view and stop by El Cafecio by Mezcal Restaurant for light bites and refreshments.
Gallery Talk on Nuts and Who’s: A Candy Store Sampler
Friday, September 15, 12:30pm. Free with Museum admission.
Tour the exhibition Nuts and Who’s: A Candy Store Sampler with Nidhi Gandhi, curatorial and programs associate.
CityDance San José: World Music Mosaic
Thursday, September 21, 6–9pm. Free.
Dance to world music in the Circle of Palms with live musical performances and professional dance instruction brought to you by Mosaic America. Presented by the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, SJMA, Valley Transportation Authority, and El Cafecito by Mezcal Restaurant.
2023 Gala + Auction and After-Party
Saturday, September 23, 5:30pm–midnight. Details at sjmusart.org/2023gala.
Save the date for SJMA’s 2023 Gala + Auction and After-Party, in honor of artist Enrique Chagoya and patrons Evelyn and Rick Neely. The After-Party will feature live music and dancing starting at 9:30pm.
Moon Festival
Sunday, September 30, 11:30am–6pm, at Yerba Buena High School. Free.
SJMA and Chopsticks Alley Art present at this year’s Moon Festival. Stop by the art booth for a hands-on art activity.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Kids Summer Art Camp (ages 6–8 and 9–11) and Teen Art Camp (12–14) is happening now at the Museum, in-person through July 21, 2023, with live virtual camp on the week of July 24 (ages 9–14). All art camps provide behind-the-scenes access to exhibitions and in-depth lessons facilitated by SJMA’s team of educators and teaching artists. Teen Art Camp offers weekly themes such as botanical illustration and visual storytelling. Registration is $500 ($450 for SJMA members at the Dual/Family level and up). Enrollment ends seven days prior to each weekly camp’s start date. Additional details are found online at sjmusart.org/camp.
Special offers for reduced admissions include the Bank of America Museums On Us, free admission for Bank of America and Merrill cardholders on the first full weekend of the month; free admission for up to four people for those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) as part of Museums for All, an initiative of the Institute of Museum and Library Services; and free admission for active-duty military personnel and their immediate family (up to five) as part of Blue Star Museums, a partnership among Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more details, go to sjmusart.org/special.
SAN JOSE MUSEUM OF ART
The San José Museum of Art (SJMA) is a contemporary art museum dedicated to inclusivity, new thinking, and visionary ideas. Founded in 1969 by artists and community leaders, its dynamic exhibitions, collection, and programs resonate with defining characteristics of San José and the Silicon Valley—from its rich diversity to its hallmark innovative ethos. The Museum offers lifelong learning for school children and their educators, multigenerational families, creative adults, university students and faculty, and community groups. SJMA is committed to being a borderless museum, essential to creative life throughout the diverse communities of San José and beyond.
SJMA is located at 110 South Market Street in downtown San José, California. The Museum is open Thursday 4–9pm; Friday 11am–9pm; and Saturday–Sunday 11am–6pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and free to members, college students, youth and children ages 17 and under, and school teachers (with valid ID). Admission is free from 6–9pm on the first Friday of every month. Starting July 1, admission for adults will be $15 and seniors will be $12. Admission is free from 6–9pm the first Friday of every month. For up-to-date information, call 408.271.6840 or visit SanJoseMuseumofArt.org.
Visitors 2 years and older are encouraged to wear a mask. SJMA will carefully and continually monitor the efficacy of these guidelines in real time and make further adjustments as needed.
Image Credits:
Dance instructors at CityDance San Jose: K-pop, 2022. Photo by Kevin McDonald.
First Friday at SJMA. Photo by Frederick Liang.
Liliana Porter, Actualidades / Breaking News, 2016. Digital video with sound, 22 min. 46 sec. Museum purchase with funds provided by Tad Freese and Brook Hartzell in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Hosfelt Gallery, 2022.01. Courtesy of the artist and Hosfelt Gallery. © Liliana Porter.
Installation view, Yolanda López: Portrait of the Artist, Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, October 16, 2021 to April 24, 2022. Photo: Studio MAHA.
Printmaking activity at First Friday: Geography of the Arts, San José Museum of Art. Photo by Frederick Liang.
Two participants at an Art 101 workshop. Photo by Frederick Liang.