Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder have played a pivotal role in shaping and energizing the art culture in downtown San Jose’s SoFA district. Their gallery openings often mark a starting point for art-goers exploring the neighborhood, making the couple a recognizable face of the local scene.

In 2000, they created a home for street art, subculture, counterculture, and activism when they launched their first art space, Anno Domini, in a warehouse. “We wanted to be a place to bring people together to celebrate, participate, and support those artists we felt were important voices of our time,” said Cherri.

Six years later, they took a leading role in developing the South FIRST FRIDAYS artwalk, and two years after that, the SubZERO Festival was born. “When we moved into the SoFA District, we knew our Anno Domini friends would be coming for our First Friday openings, and we didn’t want to just send them into a bar afterwards. So we called up a couple of our friends at Works/SJ, MACLA, and the Quilt Museum and told them that if they would stay open late and be free admission, we would send our friends to them,” said Cherri. “It’s a great event because it has so many ripple effects for artists’ recognition, gallery attendance, and our small businesses that benefit from the community coming out.” 

Anno Domini
366 S. 1st Street
(408) 271-5155
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IG: annodominigallery

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