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Sights & Sounds: Aaron De La Cruz

courtesy of Esque Magazine / cropped and resized

Sights & Sounds is your weekly guide to the Bay Area arts scene. Artist Aaron De La Cruz told KALW’s Jen Chien about three great arts events happening around the Bay this weekend.

The James Brown Dance Party at Mezzanine will feature members of James Brown’s bands, and a lot of other musical guests - including Snarky Puppy and ALO. The event is 21 and over. 

AARON DE LA CRUZ: I grew up listening to a lot of oldies, James Brown and things of that sort...like when I paint I listen to a lot of older music. For me, it's just soulful.

Credit Robbie Sweeny
Joe Landini

SOMA Now and Then is part of a body of work conceived by Amy Lewis. Lewis intends to explore San Francisco’s neighborhoods, creating performance pieces (each focused on a different area) that combine a walking tour with a dance piece.  Dancer and choreographer Joe Landini will lead a tour through SOMA and combine personal narrative with choreography to talk about how the neighborhood’s queer culture has been shifting over time. The tour contains mature content. It begins outside of SF Eagle at 3 p.m.

AARON DE LA CRUZ: I think for me just to find out more about [SOMA] especially from a...queer vocal point.

Credit Painting by Dennis Crookes courtesy of the artist

Spaces From Yesterday: The Hallway is the second exhibition in a series developed by artist Amy M. Ho with incarcerated artists from San Quentin Prison, and was done in collaboration with Dennis Crookes. Ho and Crookes began planning this project at San Quentin and continued the project outside prison after Crookes was released. The installation is a recreation of the hallway from Crookes’ childhood home where he and his sister met to play chess after their mother was asleep. 

AARON DE LA CRUZ: I chose this one because I have a lot of friend and close friends and close family members who have been incarcerated.