Our commitment to contemporary art and its transformative ability to spark dialogue and offer insight, inspiration, and possibilities for progress is very much unwavering during these unprecedented times. Opportunities for active engagement abound: we’re calling these PSAs from the ICA. Though they may function a lot like Public Service Announcements (they educate and raise awareness), here PSA actually means: P(ractice) S(afe) A(rt)!
For the foreseeable future, all of our programming will fall under our PSA program. These will include free programming for all of our audiences, member-specific programming, and even some physical outdoor opportunities to experience art in real life. Join us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary over the course of 2020, delve into conversations about the role of museums and arts organizations post Covid-19, how museums must reinvent themselves, how artistic practice is changing, how artists are coping, and much more!
Please follow us on Social Media, sign up for our newsletter, and keep checking our website for announcements of upcoming programs! We look forward building our community online and offline as we all Practice Safe Art together.
PSA Convos:
Artist interviews, curator talks, workshops, and studio visits on Instagram live. Learn more
PSA Talking Art: Virtual Opening Reception
You can watch the Artists featured in the exhibition Personal Alchemy explain their work during this Virtual Opening Reception. Watch Here
Talking Art
Talking art is a series of lectures, panel discussions and engaging public talks to promote dialogue and critical conversations about art.
Talking Art is an ICA Public Program series that engages artists, students, collectors, and community members through professional development programs and interdisciplinary artist conversations.
ICA Members, Select programs are free for ICA members. Please check individual dates for ticket details.
Non-Members, $10
Students, Free
September 15, 2019: Psychedelic Medicine
This panel discussed the history, benefits, mythology, and politics around psychedelics as medicine. This talk is in conjunction with the closing reception of Surreal Sublime: Contemporary Landscapes, which features artists who reference psychedelic visuals through their artwork.
August 11, 2019: Portfolio Reviews
In this annual artist professional development program, leading curators, art dealers, and educators provide expert advice and insights in a portfolio critique. Each artist participant had the opportunity to meet with two reviewers for 20 minutes each.
June 23, 2019: Tracey Snelling Artist Talk & Performance
Snelling discussed her inspirations, influences, and process behind her exhibition Clusterf*ck. The talk was followed by a performance within Snelling’s installation.
April 14, 2019: Money Matters
This panel discussed the many ways artists navigate the rising cost of living in the Bay Area and the hustle of being a professional artist.
February 24, 2019: Evolution of Robots: Art and Machine
In conjunction with Alan Rath’s exhibition at the ICA, this Talking Art brought together a panel of various experts to discuss the past, present, and future of robots.
January 13, 2019: Art & Science Social Hour
Art & Science Social Hour celebrated the ways in which the worlds of science and art intertwine. Visitors enjoyed artist-led conversations and hands-on activities that will interest the left and right brained alike.
Lecture from the Curator of the Museum of Historical Makeovers
Sunday, August 26, 2018 3 – 4PM
Join us at the Hello Kitty Monument for an engaging performance by Kathy Aoki, Curator of the Museum of Historical Makeovers, in conjunction with the ICA’s current exhibition #WishYouWereHere.
Artist Portfolio Reviews
Sunday, August 12, 2018
In this annual artist professional development program, leading curators, art dealers, and educators provide expert advice and insights in a portfolio critique.
On Your Left Bike Boogie
Sunday, August 4, 11AM – 4PM
Join us outside the ICAand in Parque de los Pobladores for a day of bicycle-related fun and festivities.
Spinning Songs with Taro Hattori
Sunday, July 8, 2 – 5 PM
In conjunction with On Your Left, artist Taro Hattori invites you to participate in Leitmotif, an ongoing participatory piece. Turning the pedal of an upside-down bicycle wheel, participants are invited to sing a song in memory of someone.
Social Media and Your Practice
Sunday, May 6, 3 – 4 PM
Learn to share your art practice on social media with ICA’s very own online content manager and communications manager, Sarah Fullerton. She’ll talk about strategies and best practices and discuss the various platforms for communicating your work.
Surveillance and Privacy Today
Sunday, April 8, 3 – 4 PM
Panel discussion in conjunction with Chris Eckert: Privacy Not Included featuring the artist, Chris Eckert; Dr. Jeremy Gillula, Senior Staff Technologist at Electronic Frontier Foundation; Professor Lydia De La Torre, Privacy Law Fellow at Santa Clara University Law School; and moderated by ICA Executive Director, Cathy Kimball.
Printstallations: Artist Walk Through
Saturday, February 24, 3 – 4 PM
Encore: Artists’ Panel Discussion
Sunday, February 4, 3 – 4 PM
A panel discussion with Erin Goodwin-Guerrero, Katherine Huffaker Jones, Tony May, Valerie Patten and Jeff Alan West.
1040 Made Easy: Financial Advice for Artists
Sunday, January 28, 3 – 4 PM
Sunday, December 3, 2017 3 – 4 PM
Exhibition Walk Through: Overture
Sunday, December 10, 2017 3 – 4 PM
Featuring Opera San Jose performing live in the gallery.
First Fridays
Every First Friday of the month, as part of South of First Area (SoFA) district’s South First Fridays, the ICA puts together a free special one-night experience.
ICA’s First Friday events are thought provoking experimental cultural events and opportunities that invite visitors to engage with contemporary art and artists. Opportunities such as artist performances, hands-on activities, pop-up shops, and more take place throughout the ICA during these special evenings, outside the building, and at the public park (Parque de los Pobladores), which is located across the street from the ICA. During First Fridays the ICA is open from 10AM-10PM
First Fridays are FREE and open to the public.
December 4, 2019: ICA Gives Back
August 2 and September 6, 2019: Camp ICA
June 7, 2019: Bob Ross Party
May 3, 2019: Felting Demo
April 5, 2019: Color Party
March 1, 2019: Robotics Open House
February 1, 2019: Word for Word
June 1, 2018; Art(work) Artists Printing Demonstration
May 4, 2018; O.M. France Viana: Ube Trade
April 6, 2018; Lauren Baines Dance/Theatre
March 2, 2018; Lux Interna
February 2, 2018; Scott Tooby: Sonic Mirror
August 4, 2017; Kate Rhoades: screening of Karen and chat with the artist
June 2, 2017; Shawn HibmaCronan
May 5, 2017; Xuxa Santamaria
April 7, 2015, 8pm; Takeshi Moro: The Karaoke Projects
February 3, 2017; Kate Short and Ven Voisey
December 2, 2016; Nick Dong and Kim Allen
September 2, 2016; Amy Oates
August 5, 2016; Peter Foucault and Arlene Biala, Brittany Biala and Yaccaira Salvatierra
June 3, 2016; Taro Hattori
May 6, 2016; Ryan Carrington
