Final Days of February: Artsy Openings, Concerts, & Parties

Here’s a hella long list of art events happening at the end of the shortest month of the year, so don’t make any more excuses to not go out… These exhibitions are forward-thinking (in curatorial choice and format), futurist in outlook, and just straight up fun!

EDWARD SHANKEN + VIVIAN SMING + CHRISTINA CORFIELDListen to lectures from Edward Shanken, an artist whose work focuses on art, science, and technology; Vivian Sming, an artist whose work centers around posthuman discourse; and video artist and media scholar Christina Corfield at this monthly salon.  This intimate event is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to bring a beverage to share with the rest of the group.

LIVING ROOM LIGHT EXCHANGE BAY AREATUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7PMLOCATION TBAINFO

JAM WITH ARTISTSCheck out this new casual jam session on Turk Street at Syzygy, a social and creative co-op in downtown SF.  Everyone is welcome to play in their music room (complete with keyboards, microphones, a drum set, guitars, and more!) and meet fellow artists.  

JAM NIGHT TUESDAYSTUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7PMSYZYGY, 132 TURK STINFO

UNDERSTANDING BRUCE NAUMANAn art Historian and two curators team up to speak about their book Bruce Nauman: Spatial Encounters, a new publication dedicated solely to the artist’s corridors and architectural installations. The book provides more insight on the physical, perceptual, and psychological dimensions of the artist’s work.

BRUCE NAUMAN: SPATIAL ENCOUNTERSWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 6 – 7:30PMYERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTSINFO & RSVP

LOVE LANGUAGESExperience five diverse rooms that play with the idea of the languages of Love (and pop culture) in an innovative way.  This new conceptual project aims to take museums trends in new directions and give a more modern perspective on Love Languages.    

FIVE: INNOVATIVE VISUAL EXPERIENCEFEBRUARY 21 – 24, 6 PMTHE MIDWAYINFO & TICKETS

CREATIVE GROWTH MAGAZINEJoin co-editors Matt Haber and Kathleen Henderson of Creative Growth Magazine, a publication by the artists at Creative Growth, an art center in Oakland for artists with disabilities at the Heath Newsstand.  The latest issue is full of short stories, horoscopes, fashion spreads, and other creative pieces.    

AT THE NEWSSTAND: CREATIVE GROWTH MAGAZINETHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6 – 8PMHEATH NEWSSTANDINFO & TICKETS

IMMERSIVE REALITY ARTIST MIXERAll artists or entrepreneurs exploring Immersive Design are invited to this mixer hosted by Gray Area and Institute for the Future.  The two organizations are unveiling a new year-long Research Lab to investigate the potential of experiential spaces like pop-up museums and other original artist-run spaces.

IMMERSIVE DESIGN REALITY MIXERTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6 – 8PMGRAY AREA ART + TECHNOLOGYINFO & TICKETS

ANDY WARHOL ARCHIVESFrom the Tower is a new exhibition series of Warhol’s work that includes a series of Polaroids, black-and-white photographs, and screen prints that were donated by the Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts.  The Polaroids show some of the artist’s most famous topics including a celebration of Americana and celebrity, as well as his friends and lovers.

OPENING RECEPTION: FROM THE TOWER: ANDY WARHOLFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 5 – 8PMMAIN GALLERY, SFAI – FORT MASON CAMPUSINFO & TICKETS

HOT ROD TO HELLJoin Dark Entries records for a record release party for Roy Garrett & Man Parrish’s ‘Hot Rod To Hell’ (vinyl reissue of 1982 cassette) at The Magazine.  Some of Roy Garett’s poems and films will also be shared at the event.

HOT ROD TO HELLFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 6 – 9PMTHE MAGAZINE, 920 LARKIN STINFO

TWISTED SISTER ART SHOWStop by Massman Gallery in Oakland to see a double show featuring Maria Guzman Capron and EM Kettner.  Both artists work in a variety of materials, including ceramics and textile, and there will also be live performances during the opening.

OPENING RECEPTION: TWISTED SISTERFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 5 – 8PMMASSMAN GALLERY4619 WEST ST., OAKLANDINFO

When the Costco of weed throws a party in an art gallery and Brooklyn based Phony Ppl come through to rock it, there’s cause for some excitement. Add to that, 111 Minna Gallery will be decorated with the wonderful artwork of SF artist Emily Fromm (NO VACANCY – Solo Show), and you got a really nice cocktail for the evening. The show is free for Flower Co members (check out their menu here), if you’re interested in getting cannabis delivered to your doorstep at wholesale prices, AND getting into to cool shows like this one for free, become a member now (and get a free concert ticket at the same time).  Otherwise, tickets to the show for nonmembers are $20 while they last.

CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADECheck out San Francisco’s largest Chinese New Year Festival and Parade, an impressive event with over 100 performers.  There will be elaborate floats, costumes, and firecrackers and other acts to ring in the Lunar New Year.

CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADESATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 5 – 9PMCHINATOWNINFO & TICKETS

FELT PRESENTS THE CAVEFELTZINE and San Francisco’s Swim Gallery have teamed up to present an exhibition of experimental video art and large scale artworks from Mark Sabb.  The artist is known for his impressive 3D models of topics that draw from 21st century American society to the very beginning, Plato’s Allegory of the Cave.

OPENING RECEPTION: THE CAVE – MARK SABBSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6 – 9PMSWIM GALLERY, 509 ELLIS STINFO & TICKETS

AFROFUTURIST DANCE PARTYCelebrate Black History Month with an Afrofuturist dance party at EM Wolfman Books, presented by Leah King Live.  There will be zines and other merchandise from Maji News, a community newspaper.

SPACE IS THE PLACE: AFROFUTURIST ENVISIONINGSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6 – 9PMEM WOLFMAN BOOKSINFO

POSTCARD SIZED ART SHOWThe Happy Alligator Art Collective takes over the Tenderloin’s Book & Job Gallery with works from over 50 artists from the Bay Area and beyond.  All works are postcard sized and affordable and includes printed, painted, drawn, and mixed media forms.

SEND ME ACROSS THE SEA, VOL 3FEBRUARY 23 – 24, 7PMBOOK & JOB GALLERYINFO & TICKETS

MEET LEMON ROOM ART COLLECTIVELemon Room is creating another one of the art collective’s signature immersive, multimedia installations at India Block Arts Gallery in Berkeley.  The artists of Lemon Room are planning another pastel room full of weirdness for viewers to dive into, so don’t miss this East Bay opening. 

OPENING RECEPTION: MELON POOLSATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 7 – 11PMINDIA BLOCK ARTS1820 HARMON ST, BERKELEYINFO

CULTS, COMMUNES, AND COLLECTIVESApricota, a new journal of modern and contemporary art history and criticism, celebrates its newest issue at the Wattis Institute.  The new issue is dedicated to the study of cults, communes, and collectives, both in an aesthetic and identity-related way.

LAUNCH OF APRICOTA ISSUE #2SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6:30 – 8PMWATTIS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTSINFO

THE BLACK JOY PARADEHit the streets of Oakland to participate in a parade that celebrates the city’s black community and culture.  There will be live music (including a Grammy-nominated headlining performance for free), dance, food, and other activities running throughout the day.

THE 2ND ANNUAL BLACK JOY PARADESUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 12:30 – 7PMDOWNTOWN OAKLAND, 14TH X HARRISONINFO & TICKETS

GET STUFF(ED)Check out the latest part of the San Jose ICA’s Sandbox Projects with artist Sofie Ramos, a retrospective exhibition of Alan Rath, and new works from Stephanie Metz.  These new exhibitions will be up until early June.

OPENING RECEPTION: SPRING EXHIBITIONSSUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2 – 4PMSAN JOSE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTINFO & TICKETS

ARTIST RECEPTION WITH IKEBANA WORKSHOPJoin ArtSpan Artists Pauline Crowther Scott and Anne Seeman with an Ikebana demonstration and great beer from FDR Brewery.  Ferment Drink Repeat is an art-friendly, community-focused brewery in the Portola Neighborhood, so keep an eye out for the other events that this space has.  

ARTSPACE ARTIST RECEPTIONTUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 6 – 8PMFERMENT DRINK REPEAT – FDR BREWERYINFO & TICKETS

EROTIC READING CIRCLECelebrate the artistry of local writers and readers at this Erotic Reading Circle.  Attendees are invited to share whatever they’re working on, get more comfortable with sharing their work, and receive respectful feedback at the Circle.  

THE EROTIC READING CIRCLE AT POLK GOOD VIBRATIONSWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 6:30 PM – 8:30PMGOOD VIBRATIONS, 1620 POLK STINFO & TICKETS

RODNEY MCMILLIANLos Angeles-based artist Rodney Mcmillian discusses the American political and social histories that have helped to shape the issues in his word.  This contemporary artist will be in conversation with a Professor of African and African Diaspora Studies.

ARTIST TALK: RODNEY MCMILLIANTHURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 7:15 – 9:15PMSFMOMAINFO & TICKETS

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