Cliff Garten’s Illuvium can be found at Moffett Place, 1152 Bordeaux Drive, in Sunnyvale. Photo by Jeremy Green/City of Sunnyvale Public Art Master Plan
It’s California’s sixth most populous county, with art and culture to found in every corner as creative types are now released into the population to share their inspirations. Here is a sampling of some of the most intriguing galleries, museums, live music and indie bookstores (there are loads) to be found in Santa Clara County.
Sign up to receive an email about the monthly art walk lineup of participating galleries, print it out, and you’re ready to hit the artiest streets in San Jose.
Find walking tour maps to more than 150 public art pieces in Sunnvale—the Civic Center and Washington Park, the Community Center and Heritage District, Downtown and Murphy Park, and the Fair Oaks Neighborhood—on this informative website.
California art and history is the focus of exhibits at Santa Clara University’s de Saisset Museum.
Mmmmm—that old-book smell. San Jose’s Recycle Bookstore has been buying, selling, and trading used books for 40 years.
The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University is open again—but only at 25 percent capacity, so get free timed tickets in advance. A current highlight on view through Aug. 15: five loaned works by big-name American abstract artists Richard Diebenkorn, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Clyfford Still.
What pairs well with wine? Try a little music. “Time for Wine” is a summer concert series that takes place at Clos LaChance winery in San Martin.
A fascinating site created by History San José. Browse this collection of some 500 commissioned works by notable artists who were active from 1850-1990.
Lights, curtain, action ... the official website of the San Jose Civic, the Center for the Performing Arts, the California Theatre, and the Montgomery Theater has the lowdown on all the rescheduled dates from events postponed during the pandemic. Fingers crossed, the shows will now go on.