Creative Stories: as Told by the People of San José

✨ Creative Stories: As Told by the People of San José ✨

Join us for a special group art exhibition celebrating the voices, stories, and creativity of San José through a vibrant mix of zines, collages, photographs, paintings, and community-driven projects. The 2025 San José Creative Ambassadors unite with Fuse Presents at Citadel Art Gallery to showcase works developed over the past year, highlighting the power of storytelling, collaboration, and artistic expression.

Featured Artists and Projects:

• Miguel Ozuna – @sj.shooters
  Miguel is a storyteller, photographer, and community member dedicated to capturing the beauty of everyday life in San José. Using digital, film, and drone photography, he freezes moments in time to be re-lived by others. His project, A Look Thru Your Lens, provides opportunities for photographers to explore San José with film cameras. Over four years, 75 photographers participated, resulting in a group exhibition that celebrates the city’s unique stories. Season 2 of this project will continue the tradition, bringing together 75 new photographers to capture San José’s beauty.
• Julie Cardenas – @stories_from_our_neighborhood
  A painter and comic book artist, Julie draws from her experiences as a first-generation Mexican-Peruvian American to create storytelling-rich artworks. Her Stories From Our Neighborhood zine workshops invite community members to capture their own stories using a variety of materials, exploring themes like memory, food, and neighborhood. Participants can digitize their zines so the wider San José community can enjoy their work.
• Matt Casey – @more.mas.marami
  Founder of More Más Marami Arts, Matt uses theatre to bring communities together. Since 2019, he has created productions, workshops, open mics, and script readings for underserved communities across San José and the South Bay. Through collaboration with the Bay Area Story Archive (BASA), his work centers San José residents as storytellers, connecting people to the neighborhoods and spaces around them.
• Steven nizzotes Rubalcaba – @nizzotes
  Steven transforms nostalgic, obsolete technology into serene, geometric art. Using at least 75% reused materials, his work symbolizes cycles of utility, waste, and rebirth while emphasizing sustainability. His Voices of the Community project engages residents to collaboratively create mosaics from repurposed materials, reflecting diverse stories and culminating in a public unveiling.
• Jessica Gutierrez – @forthemamazz
  Jessica is an educator, artist, and community connector who designs inclusive creative spaces for BBIPOC, LGBTQ+, and historically under-resourced artists. Her For the Mamas project provides free art workshops for mothers and their children, fostering connection, joy, and imagination.

Event Details:
🗓 Opening Reception: Friday, November 7, 2025 | 5–9 PM
📅 Exhibit Dates: November 7–23, 2025
📍 Location: Citadel Art Gallery | 199 Martha St., San José

What to Expect:

• A diverse showcase of community-inspired artworks across multiple disciplines
• 5pm - 7pm Soft Opening includes light refreshments
• 7pm - 8pm Vinyl beats by DJ duo Ritmos Calientes / @losritmoscalientes
• 8pm - 9pm Live performance by Irata / @yes.squared
• Delicious eats from Pupuseria Maranatha / @pupuseria_maranatha
• Opportunities to connect with artists and the San José creative community

Celebrate local stories, creativity, and community pride with us!

Info: Join us for a Soft Opening with light refreshments and meaningful connections with artists and fellow members of the San José creative community.

Info: DJ duo spinning a rare collection of dance music on vinyl — from the 1950s to today.

Info: Experience a live performance by Irata, blending rhythmic drumming with visual expressions of shape and form.

Info: Enjoy authentic Salvadoran pupusas freshly made and served outside in front of Citadel Art Gallery — a delicious addition to your art-filled evening!

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