Institute of Contemporary Art San José facts for kids
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| Abbreviation | SJICA, ICA San Jose |
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| Formation | 1980 |
| Type | Nonprofit art center |
| Purpose | support of emerging contemporary art and artists |
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Key people
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James G. Leventhal, Executive Director Haley Kerrigan, Development Manager |
The Institute of Contemporary Art San José (ICA) is a special art center and gallery in San Jose, California. It started in 1980 and is a nonprofit group. This means it's not focused on making money. The ICA shows amazing contemporary art from artists who are just starting out or are already well-known. You can see paintings, sculptures, photos, and even art made with new technology. It's a place where art comes to life!
The ICA San José is located in the SoFA District of Downtown San Jose. It gets support from its members and the community. The art center offers different art shows that change often. You can visit for free! They also have public programs, education classes, and community events for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
A Look Back: The ICA's Journey
The ICA San José opened its doors in 1980. It was set up as a nonprofit group to support new and exciting art. For many years, the ICA worked towards having its own permanent home.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 2006, the ICA San José bought a building in the SoFA District of downtown San Jose. This building has a large gallery space, about 3,700 square feet. This space is divided into three different areas that work well together. Having more space allowed the ICA to show larger and longer art exhibitions. This was a big step for the ICA San José!
Growing Popularity
In 2011, about 20,000 people visited the art space each year. More and more people continued to visit through 2019. This shows how much the community enjoyed the art and programs offered by the ICA.
Important Leaders
In the year 2000, Cathy Kimball became the executive director of ICA San José. She had been a curator at the San Jose Museum of Art. Cathy helped the ICA San José become a more famous art place in the Bay Area. She brought in works by well-known artists from the United States and around the world.
In June 2020, Alison Gass took over as the new director of ICA San José. She continued the work of bringing exciting art to the community.
Featured Artists and Exhibitions
The Institute of Contemporary Art San José has shown many different kinds of art over the years. They often feature artists who create unique and thought-provoking pieces.
Metal Sculptures by Charles Ginnever
In 2013, the ICA San José showed a series of metal sculptures. These amazing artworks were created by California artist Charles Ginnever. His sculptures often play with shape and space.
Paintings by Amy Ellingson
In 2014, the art center supported a special show just for the painter Amy Ellingson. Her work often explores patterns and colors in interesting ways.
Electronic Art by Alan Rath
An exhibition in 2019 featured the work of Alan Rath. He was a pioneer in electronic, kinetic, and robotic artwork. His art moved and sometimes even made sounds, showing how technology can be part of creative expression.
See also
- Institute of Contemporary Art San Francisco
