Anne & Mark’s Art Party 2016
Yesterday my husband and I went to the Opening Gala of this incredible event here in San Jose. It was the first time we went and I’m so happy we did. In this valley we live in – renowned for its creativity – it’s not always easy to find the Arts. Anne Sconberg and Mark Henderson wondered “where all the artists were. They emptied their house, boarded up the windows, and put a call out to everyone they knew (not that many people) to come and hang their art. They told everyone to invite their friends. And they did it every year. Turns out, most people don’t do that. And there are a lot of artists out there. Their event — a One Night Stand for the Arts — exploded beyond their house, beyond a warehouse, and now headed towards the fairgrounds where they will set up shop for a week.”
Once we walked through the fairgrounds gates, we found ourselves in a different world where lots of things made you smile spontaneously. Like this lit up shark on remote-control wheels.
We spent hours walking around the galleries and the outside areas to see lots of hip, edge and cool things and an amazing range of Art of the area’s artistic community.
We listened to bands playing live music. We saw fire and aerial performances, live painting and lots of people dressed up according to the night’s theme “Through the looking glass”.
We stood in line too long at one of the seven gourmet food trucks and listened to poems of a Hawaiian writer in the “Spoken Word Lounge”.
We went through the “Rabbit Hole”, an installation in cooperation with the Lincoln High School and enjoyed a glass of wine at the “Mad Hatter Tea Party”.
My husband fell in love with wood artwork in the Main Art Gallery and I really admired these pieces, only made out of paper.
We made a wish with a star at this big light installation and walked through the sculpture garden.
And there was so much more to see…
This event is a vibrant mix from all ends of the spectrum, an “all media” extravaganza which is hard to find in the South Bay. Even people from San Francisco come down to San Jose to see what all the buzz is about and word is out that this is the best party of the year. If you live close, I highly recommend to check it out. They are open for gallery viewing today, Friday September 3oth and October 1st concluding in a closing bash featuring: “PIVOT: THE ART OF FASHION” at 8 pm. You can buy tickets here and you can find all other information on the website of Anne & Mark’s Art Party 2016.
Check out Jo’s Monday walk here.
