Immerse yourself in San Jose Museum of Art’s new exhibition
"Beta Space: Pae White" features a 127-foot long tapestry that you just don't view -- you experience.
One thing you can say about “Beta Space: Pae White,” the San Jose Museum of Art’s newest exhibition, is that you don’t really view it — you experience it.
That’s especially true of “foreverago,” the 127-foot long glittering tapestry that is part of the Los Angeles-based artist’s “Bugz + Drugs” series. Hanging from the ceiling of the first-floor gallery, it’s like an immense, colorful ribbon shimmering with metallic threads. As you immerse yourself in the details, you’ll see dragonflies, ladybugs and other insects. And what’s that they’re landing on? Mushrooms, poppies and pot leaves — all known for their mood-altering effects.
It’s a trippy experience to be sure, and it’s also the first time that the 2017 piece has been exhibited in the United States. Of course, it’s only part of the exhibition, which includes a collection of oversize chess pieces modeled after wooden toys and textile panel art.
The show, which continues through Jan. 19, 2020, is part of a powerful, woman-led showcase this summer along with the concurrent exhibitions “Rina Banerjee: Make Me a Summary of the World,” and “Catherine Wagner: Paradox Observed.” Hours and ticket prices are available at www.sjmusart.org, but take note that anyone 17 and under, as well as teachers and college students with identification, gets in free.
HE’S READY FOR HIS CLOSEUP: San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo was all smiles when he posted photos of himself with “Silicon Valley” cast members Martin Starr, Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani and Amanda Crew earlier this month. Liccardo will be making a cameo appearance in the season 6 premiere of HBO’s techie comedy, which will make its debut in October.
Liccardo also took photos with some of the supporting cast, including Kausar Muhammed, a San Jose native and Evergreen Valley High grad who is building a solid career so far in theater and comedy. And instead of getting paid for the non-speaking gig, Liccardo asked for a donation to San Jose Promise, the program to help more of the city’s students get college degrees.
Given this is the last season of “Silicon Valley,” it’s about time San Jose is finally getting a little extra love from the show, which with a few exceptions like an outing last season to the Tech Awards has largely stayed out of the Bay Area’s biggest city. Of course, given Liccardo’s propensity for injury, he could work out a whole multi-episode storyline on another show set in San Jose, “The Good Doctor.”
Had a great time w/the cast & crew of #SiliconValley show Monday. Thanks @MikeJudge for the cameo in the season’s first episode, and for @SiliconHBO support of #SanJoseCollegePromise for low-income students. Here w/ @IAmandaCrew @MartinStarr @kumailn & Thomas Middleditch: pic.twitter.com/tTXF4fBLtU
— Sam Liccardo (@sliccardo) July 17, 2019
SWEET READING: My daughter thinks nothing goes better with ice cream than a good book, and it looks like the San Jose Woman’s Club agrees. The club’s Chill Out & Read ice cream social on Aug. 4 will not only include scoops from San Jose favorite Treat Ice Cream but will also feature dozens of local authors, including Mary J. Andrade, Susannah Greenwood, M.D. Neu, Teresa O’Kane, Lynnea Hagen, and David Gutierrez, who recently sold the rights to his book, “Patriots of the Barrio” to “That ’70s Show” star Wilmer Valderrama.
The keynote will be delivered by Barbara Babcock, Stanford University’s first tenured female professor, who will talk about Clara Shortridge Foltz, a trailblazing San Jose resident who in 1878 was the first woman admitted to the California bar, pioneered the public defender concept and fought for women to get the right to vote. She was also a single mom of five children. Also at the event will be 96-year-old Mary Torres, who was a real-life “Rosie the Riveter” during World War II and will sign her books and take selfies with fans.
It all takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the landmark clubhouse at 75 South 11th St. Parking and the area is limited, so take public transportation or ride-share if you can.
WINNING PHILOSOPHY: Fremont resident Sahith Kudaravalli, a junior at Bellarmine College Prep in San Jose, was recently named the Most Philosophical Student in America by the Kids Philosophy Slam. His essay, “Hate of Love: Which Has the Greater Impact on Society,” was the winner from among more than 4,000 submissions by high school students.
This is the second year in a row the competition has been won by a Bell, after Aswin Pillai of Santa Clara took top honors last year when he was a senior. Who knows? Maybe one or both of them one day will find themselves in Bellarmine’s Alumni Hall of Fame, which will induct four graduates on Aug. 24.
The new class of honorees consists of former Major League Baseball player Kevin Frandsen, Heritage Bank of Commerce Founding Chairman Bill Del Biaggio Jr.; longtime Bellarmine English teacher and debate coach Jim Harville; and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. D. Scott McKean. For tickets to the induction ceremony at the Sobrato Center for the Humanities and the Arts, go to www.bcp.org/bhof.