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SPECIMEN DAYS: Peter St. Lawrence creates modern versions of Wunderkammer for his show at Anno Domini.
Friday's Finest
By Michael S. Gant
THE MOST intriguing entry at this month's edition of South First Fridays is Peter St. Lawrence's new show, "Kunst und Wunderkammer," opening May 1 at Anno Domini Gallery in downtown San Jose. Taking as his jumping-off point the Renaissance-era collections of natural and man-made oddities known as cabinets of curiosities (and sometimes Wunderkammer), Oakland artist St. Lawrence assembles eclectic found objects, artistic creations and relics into provocative tableaux. The reception will be auralized by Nadia Shihab, who expands the limits of the violin with various electronic tricks. Anno Domini also unveils the fourth-annual Street Mrkt, which happens from 7 to 10pm on the street in front of the gallery, with music by Good Hustle, LINKS and Ferocious Few. Local artists will display their works.
Elsewhere on South First, Caffe Trieste hosts photographs by Lisa Amato and music by performers from Opera San José. MACLA celebrates the 11th Annual Latino Art Auction and Exhibition, which culminates in a bidding frenzy on May 16. The Phantom Galleries, which can be seen in diverse empty storefronts, features Drew Clark's fairy-tales-meet-street-life pieces (at 386 S. First) and Evan Hobart's Maori-style works (at 388 S. First). Those with sturdy self-esteem are encouraged to test themselves in SJICA's current show about the pain of rejection, "It's Not Us, It's You." The Quilt Museum will be holding a May Day Market, with an opportunity to buy lots of fiber-art finds, new and vintage. Slave Labor Graphics presents "Monsters, Bunnies and Girl of Steel," selections by Eric Jones, with an emphasis on the series Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eighth Grade. Vinnie and the C-List perform for the reception.
Space 47 (just down a block at 47 E. William St.) welcomes "Stay Gold," a show of new works by Shizu Saldamando. South First Billiards continues its run of "Girl Power," with works by Christine Benjamin, Lara Sophia, Murphy Adams and Lacey Bryant. WORKS/San Jose features "Beast Figurative," a group exhibit about the intersection of the wild and the civilized.
FIRST FRIDAY takes place in the art galleries along South First Street, San Jose, all evening on May 1.
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