WITH SPRING, some odd beasts—odder even than Punxsutawney Phil—emerge, presaging a lessening of rain and a blossoming if unsettling fecundity. For South First Friday, the monthly downtown San Jose artwork and happening, which falls propitiously on April 1, Tyson Johnston presents “Trained Wild Animal” at Good Karma Vegan Cafe. Artist Johnston’s bestiary includes a baboon in a top hat and monocle, a five-eyed spider atop a woman bound by alarmingly large web filaments, a talented raccoon with a hurdy-gurdy and a very annoyed performing bear in a fez. The reception includes sounds by DJ Hi-Grade.
A group show at Anno Domini dubbed “Glimmer” features fantasy worlds by Christian Breitkreutz (a calavera in Easter garb seems to be mourning for a dead swan that sprouts shoots of new life); Megan Diddie (whose American primitive landscapes are inhabited by enormous fish/dinosaur hybrids); and Lucian Sherer of Brazil and Collin van der Sluijs of the Netherlands, who both push the limits of symbolism. The evening comes with music by Lady Lazarus (a.k.a. San JoseÐborn Melissa Ann Sweat, back from her adopted home of Savannah, Ga.), who envelops herself and listeners in keyboard reverb.
Other notable shows and events for the evening range from a show at Kaleid Gallery (on Fourth Street) in memory of artist Jessica Beerli, who passed away earlier this year much too soon; samples from Mike White’s graphic novel Amity Blamity at SLG Boutiki, along with jazz by Quasimodal; a performance by Panthelion at Eulipia; a chance to peek inside WORKS/San Jose’s new home in the making at 365 S. Market St.; photographs by Honda Lotus Dumitriu in the Metro lobby; opera arias at Caffe Trieste; a “A Night of Foolishness and Whimsy” with artists and music by Farewell Typewriter; and the proverbial more.
South First Friday
Friday, 7-11pm; free
Downtown San Jose galleries
