Art Events at the End of May in the Bay

It’s still not too late to make May an art-filled month– there are tons of innovative performances, popping parties, and tons of exhibitions opening.  Get to know some of the local art collectives and performers from around Bay Area, too.

CAAMFEST37
For this year’s CAAMFest, an 11 day celebration of film, music, food, & digital media, catch some Asian American-inspired performances.  This event features mélange of Valerie Soe’s groundbreaking feminist short films, along with special guest, comedian, and performance artist, Kristina Wong.

CAAMFEST37: VALERIE SOE AND KRISTINA WONG
THURSDAY, MAY 16, 7 – 8PM
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
INFO 

SFAI MFA EXHIBITION
Join SFAI in celebrating this year’s MFA Exhibition at the Fort Mason Campus. 50+ MFA artists will transform the campus into a dynamic, large-scale gallery of contemporary installations, painting, sound, video, sculpture, photography, printmaking, performance, and more.

OPENING RECEPTION: SFAI MFA EXHIBITION
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 7 – 9PM
SFAI – FORT MASON CAMPUS
INFO 

THE BLACK AESTHETIC
The Black Aesthetic, an Oakland-based collective, and Marvin K. White present a night of film, moving images, and performance to honor the power of black queer nightlife.  The screening takes place in the New Eagle Creek Saloon, artist Sadie Barnette’s newest installation.

A SCREENING AT THE NEW EAGLE CREEK SALON
FRIDAY, MAY 17, 7 – 10PM
THE LAB
INFO 

SCREEN PRINTING EVENT WITH ERIK MARINOVICH
Meet local artist Erik Marinovich during the special celebration of his new window design at UNIQLO Union Square!  Take advantage of the exclusive opportunity to screen print Erik’s San Francisco-inspired work onto your UNIQLO shirt while enjoying free mochi ice cream from a My/MO Mochi Bar pop-up.

SCREEN PRINTING EVENT WITH ERIK MARINOVICH
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 11AM – 5PM
UNIQLO, 111 POWELL STREET
INFO 

LATINO ART NOW!
View the very best in contemporary Latino art from the Bay Area and beyond at the Movimiento de Arte Y Cultura Latino Americana in San Jose.  Artworks will be available for sale to both experienced and first-time collectors.

21ST LATINO ART NOW! ART AUCTION & EXHIBITION
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 6 – 10PM
MOVIMIENTO DE ARTE Y CULTURA LATINO AMERICANA, SAN JOSE
INFO & TICKETS

CELEBRATE BETTER DAYS
Go to Classic Cars West to catch BETTER DAYS, a DIY fashion show featuring clothing from 25 artists.  There will be clothing and art for sale, live airbrush, music and good company.

BETTER DAYS, A DIY FASHION SHOW
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 6 – 10PM
STARLINE SOCIAL CLUB
INFO 

TAKE OFF YOUR EARPLUGS
Take Off Your Earplugs is a one-night group art show featuring visual arts from members of DIY music culture. This exhibition is presented with the intention of showcasing the creative endeavors of artists in the music community who expresses themselves in non-musical ways.

OPENING RECEPTION: TAKE OFF YOUR EARPLUGS
SATURDAY, MAY 18, 7PM
DUNGEON ART GALLERY
INFO 

OLD MAN, DANCE
Local artist Constance Hockaday presents Old Man, Dance, which is an early development work in progress preview, with the assistance of choreographer Keith Hennessy.  Old Man, Dance is a movement piece that experiments with deconstructing the white male expression of power by placing Hockaday’s white, queer gaze on to the white male body.

OLD MAN, DANCE
MONDAY, MAY 20, 7 -9PM
MILLS COLLEGE
INFO & TICKETS

RECOLOGY RESIDENCIES
This exhibition presents artwork made by Alicia Escott, Kal Spelletich, and UC Berkeley student artist Ricki Dwyer during their residencies at Recology. Come for gallery walk-through with the artists.

TUESDAY, MAY 21, 5 – 7PM
RECOLOGY ART STUDIO
INFO

PARTY LIKE AN ARTIST
Join artists Tauba Auerbach, JR Artist, Nick Cave – Visual Artist and Stephen (ESPO) Powers for an art-RAGEous night of revelry spanning all seven floors of the museum until 1 a.m.  The unforgettable party will also include performances by A-Trak, Luna, Thao & The Get Down Stay Down and more;

ART BASH
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 6PM – 1AM
SFMOMA
INFO & TICKETS

VISHAL JUGDEO, VQUEERAM / EPISODES
Watch an experimental documentary video portrait VQUEERAM, a collaborative project initiated by Los Angeles-based artist Vishal Jugdeo with India-based Vikram “Vqueeram” Aditya Sahai.  VQUEERAM documents the shifting realities of queer and trans life in India.

VQUEERAM / EPISODES
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 7 – 8:30PM
KADIST
INFO & TICKETS

RODNEY EWING AT MOAD
Rodney Ewing is opening a solo exhibition at the Museum of African Diaspora.  This series was developed over the past two years during the artist’s two residencies: last year at Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Woodside CA, and this year at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NE.

OPENING RECEPTION: LONGITUDE + LATITUDE
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 6 – 8PM
MUSEUM OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
INFO 

SWIM ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOW
SWIM Gallery is proud to present “SHARKS”, a dynamic group exhibition that features the works of over 30 incredible artists. Like sharks navigating the ocean landscape, artists are beautiful and majestic, yet ruthless.

OPENING RECEPTION: SHARKS
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 6 – 9PM
SWIM GALLERY, 509 ELLIS ST
INFO 

MEET LE VANGUARD
Local arts collective Le Vanguard presents: [the Spoils vol.2], a collective magazine book feat work from 35 members.  There will also be an art installation celebrating the collective’s work.

THE SPOILS, VOL. 2 / POPUP006
FRIDAY, MAY 24, 6 – 10PM
THE GALALLERY
INFO 

A QUEER ART SHOWCASE
The Take-Off is an inclusive bi-monthly art showcase with live performances within the Bay Area. Its mission is to provide an accessible platform to exhibitions & greater resources for queer, trans, and people of color to showcase their creative talents at NO COST to the artist.

OPENING RECEPTION: THE TAKE-OFF
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 1 – 5PM
STARLINE SOCIAL CLUB BALLROOM
INFO 

EXPERIMENTAL MUSIC
Join bands Headboggle, Painting with Statue, Breeze, and the Lodestones for a night of free experimental music at Pro Arts in Oakland.  Most of the performers are local, Oakland-based acts.

HEADBOGGLE, PAINTING WITH STATUE, BREEZE, THE LODESTONES
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 8 – 11:30PM
PRO ARTS
INFO 

QUEER PARADISE & PERFORMANCE
Artist Television Access presents a new interdisciplinary art experience with queer artist Crystal Vielula that explores the themes of Queer Paradise.  The artist will be preimering new video work and will lead the audience through an interactive performance (with hand-made costumes!).

CRYSTAL VIELULA CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 6:30 – 9PM
ARTIST TELEVISION ACCESS
INFO & TICKETS

TYPEWRITER JAM (B.Y.O.T.)
Calling all typewriter fans! Grab your typewriter or borrow one from a friend and bring it to the Typewriter Jam at the San Francisco Center for the Book. This isn’t a presentation; it’s just a casual evening of typewriter appreciation, typewriting fun, and making new friends.

TYPEWRITER JAM (B.Y.O.T.)
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 6 – 8PM
SF CENTER FOR THE BOOK
INFO & TICKETS