San Jose officers have been boasting of late how town is once more thought of the most secure large metropolis within the nation. That’s possible true except you’re a chunk of art work.
Final weekend, 4 small, colourful alebrijes figures by artist Fernando Escartiz had been swiped from the outside wall above the doorway to the San Jose Jazz Break Room on the nook of First and San Carlos streets in downtown San Jose. Surveillance video on the Break Room entrance Friday night time exhibits somebody on a bicycle stopping, going out of body after which getting again on the bike with at the very least one of many figures.
The remaining alebrijes figures by artist Fernando Escartiz after 4 had been stolen from exterior the San Jose Jazz Break Room in downtown San Jose on Oct. 31, 2025. The remaining figures have since been eliminated. (Courtesy San Jose Jazz)
The remaining three figures — made largely of wooden, papier mache and foam, have since been faraway from the constructing, which is a brilliant transfer but in addition a heartbreaking one. The alebrijes had been a fond and festive reminder of the “Alebrijes en San Jose” exhibit that was downtown for almost two months, a showcase of Mexican folks artwork with eight large magical animals in and round Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
“When it happened, it was rough,” stated Monique Valenzuela, San Jose Jazz’s enterprise and schooling growth coordinator, who was the challenge director for all the general public “Alebrijes” occasions this summer time. “It was literally the last element we had that was coming down after Dia de los Muertos, and to some degree it robbed us of that closure we were anticipating from the exhibition.”
She talked to Escartiz and stated the artist wouldn’t let the theft deter his ardour for public artwork. “He really wants to emphasize that it’s not about the money or the property loss. The biggest loss he feels is the offering to the community,” Valenzuela stated. “We shouldn’t be surprised, but that shouldn’t prevent us from feeling like we can put something unique and valuable on display. We need to have more of this out there, and we need to respect it.”
Momotaro, statue at San Jose Heart for Performing Arts. (Google Streetview picture)
This newest crime comes proper on the heels of the theft of “Momotaro,” a bronze statue that was a present from San Jose sister metropolis Okayama. The statue of a boy and his two animal companions — a monkey and a canine — had been reduce from their base close to the San Jose Heart from the Performing Arts. Stills from surveillance cameras launched by San Jose Police present two individuals with bikes apparently taking the items away in a procuring cart the morning of Sept. 25.
San Jose Jazz is hoping somebody has seen the lacking figures, and anybody with details about both present case ought to contact San Jose Police. It’s a cliche to say “This is why we can’t have nice things in San Jose,” however public artwork shouldn’t must be surrounded by fences or spikes. Sadly, it looks like it’s as much as the neighborhood as an entire to maintain a greater eye on these artworks.
GOING, GOING, GONE: Happily, there have been no artwork thefts on the San Jose Institute of Up to date Artwork’s forty fifth anniversary celebration and public sale Saturday night time — however there have been some nice offers that raised cash for the downtown gallery. ICA San Jose Govt Director James G. Leventhal says the numbers are nonetheless being added up, however the occasion was above and past any measure of success.
“For 45 years, the ICA has always been more than than an arts presenter. This is a place where creativity flourishes and where people can make connections with the arts,” stated Liz Waldo, a longtime arts skilled within the South Bay who was an assistant director on the ICA in 2000-2008.
The occasion additionally honored longtime patrons Nicki and Pete Moffat, who spoke passionately in regards to the function of the ICA and humanities in our neighborhood, and artist Naomie Kremer, who was unable to attend.
QUESTIONABLE BEHAVIOR: Talking of fine occasions, it was a blast to return because the quizmaster for the second annual San Jose Q&A, a trivia contest in regards to the metropolis’s historical past held at San Jose Stage Firm final Thursday night time. The occasion drew about 200 company, who raised greater than $200,000 for the Michael Van Each Burn Heart Fund on the Valley Well being Basis.
Returning champion Janikke Klem of Heritage Financial institution of Commerce held onto her trivia crown, holding off San Jose legal professional Steve Ellenberg and Carl Salas, the founding father of Salas O’Brien engineering agency who lately served a six-month sentence on the San Jose Metropolis Council. Van Each and former Mayor Tom McEnery gave some levity to the proceedings as emcee and decide, respectively.
After two rounds of questions, Klem gained on the final query: “This band’s hit ‘All Star’ was featured in a hit 2001 Dreamworks animated movie.” The reply, in fact, is San Jose’s personal Smash Mouth. However you knew that, proper?
