4.5.2006
Metro Active
NightLife
Cultural Xposure
by Todd Inoue

Something significant has been going on at these Pacific Art Collective events. The last show pulled in more than a thousand people. Many were curious to see the debut of former 49er Brandon Lloyd's rap project, but those that stuck around witnessed the growth of artistic potential in an area long considered second banana (or just dormant) to the hilly city to the north.

Once just a gathering of disparate artists entertaining each other and their friends, Pacific Art Collective has grown across city boundaries and bled into the communities of Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the East Bay. Its Cultural Xposure nights are now a certifiable event—able to pull in dynamic bands, poets, artists, stand up comics, dancers and DJs. Framed within the San Jose Museum of Art exhibits, this is the type of convergence of art and culture that government administrators (who get paid to organize events like this) have been wishing for for years. And it happened organically.

The next Cultural Xposure features up-and-coming painters and musicians, along with some established ringers, including J. Boogie's Dubtronic Science. Like The DJs Guide to the Galaxy, J. Boogie's eclectic crates take listeners around the solar system on a funky expedition. He spins dub, funk, soul and hip-hop—with lots of rarities—that beguile and change expectations of dancers who only want to hear radio hits. Other DJs include electronic dance-music heads Leathal, Paul and Chris Leath, Jamie Lin and DJ Jayme. Live hip-hop and rock from Bletzung, Mr. Lexicon, Enzyne Dynamite and headlined by Firme— San Jose's premier Latin-ska-salsa-funk-everything orchestra.

While the music is playing, guests are welcome to stroll through the gallery to see the current "¡Arte Caliente!" and "Heavenly Bodies" exhibitions. But even more exciting is to watch some of the South Bay's most talented graffiti artists and painters create works to be auctioned off that night. Sam Rodriguez, Matt MWM, Tyler Cripe, Zoso, Daniel Fleres, Downtimer, Reyes, Sheena Cabrales, Joe Barajas and Leo Cardenas get busy on canvas. And If that wasn't enough, there's live poetry by Milta Ortiz and Erik Sanchez and Aztec dance by Tezkatlipoka. Basically, if you've been sleeping on the San Jose and South Bay art scene and/or Pacific Arts Collective, it's time to wake up.

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