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 CORFIELD
Listen 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 AREA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7PM
LOCATION TBA
INFO

JAM WITH ARTISTS
Check 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 TUESDAYS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 7PM
SYZYGY, 132 TURK ST
INFO

UNDERSTANDING BRUCE NAUMAN
An 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 ENCOUNTERS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 6 – 7:30PM
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
INFO & RSVP

LOVE LANGUAGES
Experience 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 EXPERIENCE
FEBRUARY 21 – 24, 6 PM
THE MIDWAY
INFO & TICKETS

CREATIVE GROWTH MAGAZINE
Join 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 MAGAZINE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6 – 8PM
HEATH NEWSSTAND
INFO & TICKETS

IMMERSIVE REALITY ARTIST MIXER
All 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 MIXER
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 6 – 8PM
GRAY AREA ART + TECHNOLOGY
INFO & TICKETS

ANDY WARHOL ARCHIVES
From 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 WARHOL
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 5 – 8PM
MAIN GALLERY, SFAI – FORT MASON CAMPUS
INFO & TICKETS

HOT ROD TO HELL
Join 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 HELL
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 6 – 9PM
THE MAGAZINE, 920 LARKIN ST
INFO

TWISTED SISTER ART SHOW
Stop 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 SISTER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 5 – 8PM
MASSMAN GALLERY
4619 WEST ST., OAKLAND
INFO

111 Minna & FLOWER CO PRESENT: PHONY PPL Concert

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.

SAT, FEB 23,  9PM – 2AM
111 MINNA GALLERY, SF
TICKETS

CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE
Check 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 PARADE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 5 – 9PM
CHINATOWN
INFO & TICKETS

FELT PRESENTS THE CAVE
FELTZINE 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 SABB
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6 – 9PM
SWIM GALLERY, 509 ELLIS ST
INFO & TICKETS

AFROFUTURIST DANCE PARTY
Celebrate 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 ENVISIONING
CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6 – 9PM
EM WOLFMAN BOOKS
INFO

POSTCARD SIZED ART SHOW
The 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 3
FEBRUARY 23 – 24, 7PM
BOOK & JOB GALLERY
INFO & TICKETS

MEET LEMON ROOM ART COLLECTIVE
Lemon 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 POOL
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 7 – 11PM
INDIA BLOCK ARTS
1920 HARMON ST, BERKELEY
INFO

CULTS, COMMUNES, AND COLLECTIVES
Apricota, 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 #2
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 6:30 – 8PM
WATTIS INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS
INFO

THE BLACK JOY PARADE
Hit 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 PARADE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 12:30 – 7PM
DOWNTOWN OAKLAND, 14TH X HARRISON
INFO & 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 EXHIBITIONS
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2 – 4PM
SAN JOSE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART
INFO & TICKETS

ARTIST RECEPTION WITH IKEBANA WORKSHOP
Join 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 RECEPTION
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 6 – 8PM
FERMENT DRINK REPEAT – FDR BREWERY
INFO & TICKETS

EROTIC READING CIRCLE
Celebrate 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 VIBRATIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 6:30 PM – 8:30PM
GOOD VIBRATIONS, 1620 POLK ST
INFO & TICKETS

RODNEY MCMILLIAN
Los 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 MCMILLIAN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 7:15 – 9:15PM
SFMOMA
INFO & TICKETS