ICA is a large cool funky art space that also hosts events…read more Among the many cool restaurants and bars along south First Street are the cool artsy venues. The Institute of Contemporary Arts (i.e. ICA) is fantastic. It showcases local Bay Area artists' works among others. Super friendly staff are on hand and have the latest scoop on upcoming happenings. Go online to see upcoming events at the ICA. You may discover some cool-funky talks and art shows. Happy adventures!

Feeling arty-farty, I decided to go check out the Institute of Contemporary Art. It's located in a…read morereally cool area of First St. Admission is free which is always nice. I wanted to donate and the friendly guy asked if I wanted to sign up to get information, but I declined. I was the only one in there. The exhibit was called "Allegedly the Worst is Behind Us" which featured 12 artists and their work expressing intergenerational trauma. The work was very personal and moving and inspiring too. The work was much more interesting than the San Jose Art Museum. I felt the work would definitely resonate with others who may have experienced the same thing. Since I saved $20 on the last museum, I put it in the donation box in the front. Great place to come to!

Tickets are free for SJSU students! I've been here twice and both times the exhibits were…read moreinteresting and the place, well maintained. Although the museum is small they change their exhibits every now and then which means I'll definitely be back. It's also, a super short walk from campus which is a bonus. There's no food allowed inside but the staff held onto ours at the front which was really nice.

Are you bored out of your mind in the endless suburban sprawl of Silicon Valley? Is the SF's arts…read morescene too far a drive? Look no further than the SJMA, which delivers everything the city has to offer...but smaller and less interesting. If it wasn't for the free tickets, I would feel a little ripped off for coming here, given the price to exhibit ratio. I'm the type of museum goer to browse the displays, read the occasional description, and examine deeply on some art pieces I find interesting. Walking at a relatively slow pace, it took me about 30-45min to complete. The museum really isn't that big, and the exhibits aren't really as interesting as SF's, for SJ being a major city. Parking is limited, but make sure to lookup ParkSJ for free parking instead of parking in the garage behind the museum. I would only come here if the tickets were free, but it's hard to imagine paying $20 unless you're really into the arts.

I absolutely LOVE attending Silicon Valley Open Studios. I have been to see the local artists…read moreSaturday and Sunday for two consecutive weekends this year and three previous years. I have gone to Open Studios in Campbell, Los Gatos, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hill. The variety of the arts on display is impressive. The purpose is twofold - one for the pure enjoyment; the other is to purchase art. I recall seeing paintings, photography, Gourds, jewelry, and more. Also, I enjoy talking to selected artists about their work. This year I purchased three photographs and one abstract watercolor painting. Last year I purchased two photographs. The prior two years, I just enjoyed the art without purchasing. Some of the displays are situated indoors, while others are in the front or in the rear of homes.

Went to the free first weekend of May open galleries in the Palo Alto area. Checked out the…read moreCubberley Community Center, Palo Alto Studios, Community School of Music and Arts and Gallery 9. Signage was great on driving directions, I did pick up at map and pamphlet earlier in the week at CSMA but the yellow signs definately helped with finding the hidden studios. Great to see the artists and works at their studios, artists were very welcoming and wanted to talk to you about their art, many offered free snacks, parking can be a bit challenging at some venues. Some artists only show at this event and some studios are rarely open, so this was a treat. Still two more weekends in May that they are showing.

What a cool, creative and welcoming place! Looking forward to their upcoming installation that is…read morepart of First Friday event.

This non profit is so professional and easy to work with. Carolina is sweet and so user friendly…read moretoo...

High-end artwork from artists located throughout the United States. Pieces are handcrafted and are…read moreall original works of art.

Hand & Mind offers a wide variety of handmade art. When you walk in, you may have to rush past the…read moredizzying number of clock pendulums swinging merrily on the walls. This will take you to the jewelry, hand-blown glass pieces, and metal sculptures. I particularly liked their glass wind chimes and their few ceramic offerings. Some of the work is functional (like vases) but a lot of it is just for display. All of their offerings are in the price range you would expect from Santana Row.

5 stars because it's free and I enjoyed my time…read more Pretty chill art museum I liked all the variations of soccer balls and one painting really caught my attention. I appreciate that it is free. They close early so go before 5pm. I was late and only had 30 minutes to end it that was enough time. I ended up sitting outside and just journaled about my day. Such a relaxing evening.

I love this museum. I actually went here before as a field trip for Girl Scouts. I love they gave…read morethe football memorabilia. They even do events here too: I went here for a wedding. They have beautiful walls to take a photo ops.

"Hidden gem" is a hackneyed phrase that I generally avoid, but it is quite apt for this fine little…read moremuseum just a short distance from Santa Cruz Avenue. We stumbled across this museum while searching for new opportunities through our local library's Discover and Go program. If you aren't familiar with this program, you are advised to check it out because it provides free or reduced admission at many places around the Bay Area. Anyways, three of the four of us were able to score free entry, and the fourth got in at a reduced student rate. Regular admission is $10 as of this writing. There was ample parking in the lot on this Saturday afternoon. The person at the front desk was super friendly and chatted with us about the current exhibitions. There was a fascinating exhibition of the multimedia works of Jody Alexander, who took the cloth bindings of old books and incorporated them into new works of art, sometimes with the Library of Congress call numbers still intact. Also on display were the art of Thomas Campbell (including delightfully chaotic installation piece) and the photographs of r.r. jones of the people he met on his travels. It was well-curated with excellent and easy-to-read descriptions. The basement of the museum focused on the history of Los Gatos and the surrounding area. There are various relics of the town and the area's past, and the story of Mountain Charley and the plight of the Muwekma Ohlone tribe. All in all this was a wonderfully engaging museum and well worth a visit. Check their website for opening hours and current exhibits, and do check out the Discover and Go program for other cultural opportunities.

Incredible little hidden gem tucked away by the library…read more Parking is accessible. Entrance is a little hard to access. The front is by the water fountain opposite the town hall. You can enter also through the LG library bookstore. Exhibits are colorful, thoughtfully curated, and interesting. Lots of things to see and learn. Kid tables with crafts, too. Service was exceptional as well!! We will be back!

I recently viewed the Morgan Hill Photography Club's current exhibition, Landscapes, on display at…read morethe Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. A long hallway to walk through with artworks lining the walls, beautiful scenes in nature, many of the pieces for sale. My fave, The Soil Waiting by Susan Wright Vater (I just have a thing for clouds, and this one spellbinding), followed by Beauty Under Pressure by Jeff Bentz, the blend of colors captured wonderfully in this picture, truly a magnificent sight. Quiet and cool inside the building, with vending machines, restrooms, and seating just around the corner, it was a pleasant experience on a warm Sunday afternoon. A large parking lot available as well, for convenience. This club provides an amazing opportunity for artists and hobbyists to showcase their talents and share with others. I certainly appreciate the themed exhibits held throughout the year, where their photography can be viewed and admired by the public for free, the next theme (Sept-Oct) being "photocation", exploring the idea of vacationing in one's hometown. An interesting concept, I'd gladly return to check out.

Great club for all photographers: skill level doesn't matter, nor what camera you use. Meetings are…read moreevery first Wednesday starting at 7:00pm at the CRC. Be our guest.