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WORKS/San José is a nonprofit, member-run art space, located in the SoFA district of San Jose, California.[1] It was founded in 1977 by community members.[2]

WORKS/San José

Formation	1977; 45 years ago (1977)
Type	nonprofit art center
Location	365 South Market Street, San Jose, California, 95113
Website	workssanjose.org

History

WORKS/San José began in October 1977, by a group of artists and San Jose State University faculty and students in downtown San Jose.[3] Early members of WORKS/San José include: Erin Goodwin Guerrero, Ruth Tunstall Grant, Jan Rindfleisch, George Rivera, Rebecca Schapp, Anna Koster, Fred Shepard, Albert Dixon.[3]

WORKS/San José was originally an offshoot of the short lived MERZ gallery and Wordworks, started by Jessica Jacobs, the then San Jose State University gallery director.[3] Jacobs was instrumental in the establishment of the nonprofit status and acquisition of the initial space.[3] When Jacobs left WORKS/San José, the organization structure changed towards a more democratic approach.[3] Gallery operations are run by member volunteers.[4] San Jose State University art professor Tony May became the first president of the board of directors.[5]

WORKS has occupied many locations in downtown San Jose including at Vine and Auzerais Streets (from 1977 to 1985);[3][4] the Leticia Building at 66 South First Street (from 1985 to 1990); a warehouse space at 260 Jackson Street in Japantown (from 1990 to 1996); the Sperry Flour Building at 30 North Third Street (from 1997 to 2007);[2] 451 South First Street (from 2007 to 2011); and at the current location at 365 South Market Street since 2011.[5] The gallery will be moving to the historic Zanotto's Grocery Second Street location in 2022.[6]

Exhibitions and work

Notable artists showing at WORKS/San José, many early in their career, include Laurie Anderson,[3] Binh Dahn,[1] Jim Campbell, Annie Sprinkle,[2] Alan Rath ,[7] Lynn Hershman Leeson,[7] Holly Lane,[7] Mark Pauline of Survival Research Laboratories,[7] Malaquis Montoya,[7] Ed Osborn,[7] Yolanda Lopez,[7] and Linda Montano.[5]

Throughout its history, WORKS/San José has presented performance art, music, film, theater, spoken word, visual and conceptual art, workshops, panels, and lectures.[8] Most exhibitions are produced by guest curators from the community.[7][2][5]

References

Further reading

• Rindfleisch, Jan (2017). Roots and Offshoots: Silicon Valley’s Arts Community. Santa Clara, CA: Ginger Press. ISBN 9780998308401.
• Out of the Cookie Cutter by Ann Elliot Sherman, 2000-01-01. www.metroactive.com. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
• Puckitt, Sarah, et al. (2003). The First Quarter Century: WORKS 25th Anniversary Catalog. San Jose, CA: WORKS/SJ.

External links

• Official website

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