The Guadalupe River Park Art Walk continues to grow, and it’s getting a boost this week because of SJ Walls, the annual mural festival brought to San Jose by Empire 7 Studios founders Juan Carlos Araujo and Jennifer Ahn.
Since its start in 2017, SJ Walls — the name was changed from Pow!Wow! San Jose this year — has added more than 70 new pieces of art around the San Jose area. But this year, the festival is putting its focus on the Guadalupe River Park, continuing the collaboration between Empire Seven and the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy to create an art walk along the park trails and overcrossings.
And, given the realities of COVID-19 restrictions, SJ Walls is also relying this year on more local artists instead of inviting artists to participate from across the country. Of course, a natural benefit of that is their familiarity with the region and its culture, something that can clearly be seen in the murals, which are being created by 17 artists working in groups at four locations along the River Park Trail (a map is available at www.sjwalls.com/map).
Jacqueline de Leon’s “Coastal Baths” draws on her love of the ocean and was inspired by a recent trip to Point Lobos. Bryan Sanchez and Edgar Sanchez’s mural, “SJMX,” celebrates their Mexican roots with images like an Aztec eagle warrior and an Olmec jade mask. Other murals are including symbols related to the Year of the Tiger.
People are welcome to visit the artists as they work this week from sunrise until about an hour before sunset, but there are a couple of events this weekend that’ll showcase the pieces. One is a maker’s market taking place at the Guadalupe River Park’s Arena Green from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 7, and the other is a free bike tour — in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition and SJ Bike Party — starting at 9 a.m., also on May 7. You can register for the bike tour as well as get more information on the artists and other events going on at sjwalls.com/sj-walls-2022.
LET’S GET READY TO LUCHA: Thursdays really are becoming the new start to the weekend, and with Cinco de Mayo falling on a Thursday this year, it should be very festive in San Jose.
But if you’re looking for a little excitement outside downtown, May 5 also marks the return of the Gordon Biersch Night Market at Taylor Street in San Jose’s Japantown. The parking lot of the Gordon Biersch brewery at 357 E. Taylor St. will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. every Thursday through Aug. 25 with food trucks, live performances and lots of beer on tap. And for fans of Mexican wrestling, Dan Gordon assures me the luchadores will be back and hitting the ring at 5:30 p.m. You can get updates at www.nightmrkt.com.
BERRYESSA FESTIVAL RETURNS: The Berryessa Art Festival is back this weekend with what would have been its 45th edition had COVID-19 not forced some cancellations. The free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Penitencia Creek Park, will have craft vendors and live entertainment and raise money for the Berryessa Union School District.
For those who remember this as the Berryessa Art and Wine Festival, the vino was dropped from the name after 2018. But fear not, there’ll be wine (and beer) for sale.
A SOUND START: San Jose City Council member Pam Foley was thrilled with the turnout at last Sunday’s inaugural Music in the Valley at the Camden Community Center. About 2,000 people came to the event, which showcased bands from nearby high schools and middle schools on three stages.
“It was fabulous,” she said. “And it showed how important it is for us to protect our arts.” Foley, who is running unopposed for re-election in June, says it’ll be back next year for an encore.
Source: www.mercurynews.com