The Creative, Artsy, & New Media Inspired Events in the Bay

Here’s a list of all the creative events– mixers, parties, workshops, and “not galas”– to get you through the month of March.  There are a lot of new media-related events going on, glowing, computing and decorating the leading edge.  You know how the saying goes, if you think (the arts scene in) the Bay Area is boring, you’re boring.  And no one wants to be boring, right?

NEW MEDIA ARTS MIXER
If you consider yourself as part of the light art community, stop by this mixer at Lumen Labs in Berkeley.  There will be a mix of artists who are local and out-of-town, and DJ’s providing a sonic backdrop for the night

GATHERING OF THE VIBES
FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 9PM – 1AM
DIGITAL AMBIANCE
INFO

PAINT THE KITCHEN RED
You are invited to the Red Party, where an all-red meal will be served and everyone is required to wear as much red as possible.  The artist, Maya Gulassa, is also asking everyone to bring a red object that can be added to her installation at Nook Gallery.  

RED PARTY: COULD IT BE THAT RED IS THE ONLY COLOR
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 3PM
NOOK GALLERY
INFO & TICKETS  

MACHINES FOR VISUAL CREATIVITY
Carbon+ is a new evening of exploration of large-scale interactive projections, AR sculpture, immersive environments, and other virtual reality art.  All of the pieces were created through a collaboration between visual artists and new media machines.

CARBON+
SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 6 – 11PM
CODE AND CANVAS, 151 POTRERO AVE
INFO & TICKETS  

FASHION & BALLET
The San Francisco Ballet Auxiliary and Sam Malouf Authentic Luxury are presenting an exclusive fashion show from designer Jason Wu.  His clothes have a glamorous sensibility and feminine aesthetic that is perfect for ballet.

FASHION SHOW WITH JASON WU
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 11AM – 2PM
BENTLY RESERVE
INFO & TICKETS

JOHN MCNAMARA RETROSPECTIVE
Artist and former UC Berkeley Professor John McNamara has an upcoming retrospective of his painting practice at the school’s on-campus art gallery.  His paintings are multi-layered and supersaturated with media, and reflect the status of our information society.

OPENING RECEPTION: VISUAL DICTIONARY
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 4PM
WORTH RYDER ART GALLERY, UC BERKELEY
INFO

SFMOMA FREE DAY
SFMOMA is opening its doors for free on Thursday, but be sure to book a ticket in advance to secure your spot.  You will be able to see its airy galleries and architectural delights, and the largest Living Wall in the U.S. Reserving a free ticket will also enter you to win a one-year SFMOMA membership, so what are you waiting for?

CULTURE FOR COMMUNITY: FREE DAY
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 10AM – 9PM
SFMOMA
INFO & TICKETS

THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE ASIAN ART MUSEUM
The Asian Art Museum is hosting a conversation around the impact of kimonos and other aspects of Japanese culture has inspired global fashion over the last 150 years.  After the talk, enjoy walking through the current Kimono Refashioned exhibition at the museum.   

GLOBAL IMPACT OF JAPANESE FASHION
THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 7 – 8:30PM
ASIAN ART MUSEUM
INFO & TICKETS

ALGORITHMIC ART ASSEMBLY
Check out this two-day conference and music festival focused on artists who use algorithmic tools and processes in their work.  There will be daytime talks, workshops on creating live coded music (using SuperCollider and TidalCycles), a dancefloor, and energetic live music performances.  

ALGORITHMIC ART ASSEMBLY
MARCH 22 – 23, 12PM
GRAY AREA ART + TECHNOLOGY
INFO & TICKETS  

PERSIAN NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Welcome the start of Spring with a special edition of Friday Nights at OMCA and celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year.  There will be a festive dance demonstration, calligraphy, and a traditional paper egg decorating workshop.

NOWRUZ – THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 5 – 9PM
OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA
INFO & TICKETS

PLANT FIBERS
Immerse yourself in the world of plant fibers at this workshop where you will make a rope using common harvesting methods.  You’ll be able to learn about different cordage methods and everything else you’ve ever wanted to know about making plant fibers more functional.

STRING MAKING FROM STICKS
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 10AM – 4PM
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BOTANICAL GARDEN AT BERKELEY
INFO & TICKETS  

ART CRITIQUE COMEDY
The Art Critique Comedy show is a night of comedians roasting thrift store art that have been specially selected for the show.  You’ll love laughing at this comedic gold and artistic treasure trash… maybe one man’s trash isn’t another man’s treasure after all.

THE ART CRITIQUE COMEDY SHOW
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 8 – 11PM
CAFE DU NORD
INFO & TICKETS  

PRESS ON ART SHOW
Heron Arts is inviting everyone to the opening reception for Press On, a group exhibition featuring Armen McNall, Erik Otto, Ferris Plock, Dennis McNett, Ericka Walker, Kathryn Polk, Unity Press, Hydeon, Sickboy and Keisha Mrotek.  All of the artists’ pieces will ignite your curiosity about printmaking, and push the boundaries of the practice.

OPENING RECEPTION: PRESS ON
SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 6:30 – 9:30
HERON ARTS
INFO

FERLINGHETTI 100
Could you imagine San Francisco without City Lights (and all the culture that grew out of it)? Join the booksellers and publishers in celebrating its founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s 100th birthday with a day of readings, reminiscences, and joy!

LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI’S 100TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1 – 5PM
CITY LIGHTS BOOKSELLERS & PUBLISHERS
INFO

KASAMA CÀ PHÊ Pop-Up
Grab yourself an ube affogato or another creative drink at Kasama Cà Phê, a new coffee pop-up that inspired by Filipino and Vietnamese coffee culture.  Check out our interview with the two founders, Kevin and Erik, here.  

KASAMA CÀ PHÊ Pop-Up
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 8AM – 3
GET MAC’D & THE BREW COOP
INFO

PAINT & PINTS!
Join artist Laine Wiesemann at this one-day painting workshop at Barrel Head Brewhouse. All participants will receive a complimentary Barrelhead beer and leave with a piece that they’re proud of!

PAINT & PINTS!
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2 – 5:30PM
BARREL HEAD BREWHOUSE
INFO & TICKETS

HISTORY OF THE TENDERLOIN
Join the Tenderloin Museum in celebrating the closing of its Tenderloin Historic Ephemera Project.  Neighboring institutions and individuals are invited to showcase their own ephemera collections at this event, and must email the museum in advance if interested in doing so.  

CLOSING RECEPTION: TENDERLOIN HISTORIC EPHEMERA PROJECT
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 6 – 9PM
TENDERLOIN MUSEUM
INFO

AVANT-GARDE TAIWAN
Learn more about Taiwan’s experimental films of the 1960s through this screening presented by the YBCA and Cinematheque.  The films include RUN (1966), LIFE CONTINUED (1966), A MORNING IN TAIPEI (1964), and THE MOUNTAIN (1966).

IMAGING THE AVANT-GARDE: TAIWAN’S FILM EXPERIMENTS OF THE 1960’S
THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 7:30 – 10PM
YERBA BUENA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
INFO & TICKETS  

SWEET SIXTEEN ANNIVERSARY
Celebrate 16 years of Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland at this party.  The gallery will be filled with art, music, food, drinks, performances, and a whole lot of dancing.

JOYCE GORDON GALLERY’S SWEET SIXTEEN ANNIVERSARY
FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 6 PM
JOYCE GORDON GALLERY
INFO

QUEER TIME TRAVEL
Enjoy a solo evening-length performance from 2727 California Street’s current artist in residence, Audrey Johnson.  QUEER TIME TRAVEL x [opening] is a workshop and performance series that utilizes dance movements as a way to shape our past, present, and future.

QUEER TIME TRAVEL X OPENING IN PERFORMANCE
FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 7:30 – 10PM
2727 CALIFORNIA ST, BERKELEY
INFO

YBCA’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
YBCA has decided to forego the formalities and just party– with circus acts, burlesque, hip-hop, drag, live music– to celebrate their 25th anniversary.  All money raised from the night will go directly back to YBCA so that they can continue their awesome arts programming.

THIS IS NOT A GALA: YBCA’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 6:30PM
YBCA FORUM
INFO & TICKETS