A 98-degree sun scorched the Pavement of downtown Morgan Hill, California, but a cooler ambiance awaited inside Cura Contemporary, where sunlight striated between its architectural wooden beams and illuminated the gallery in a soft hue.

Inside, Content Magazine hosted a pick-up party for its Fall 2025 issue, 17.4 “Profiles,” and honored recipients of the 2025 Content Emerging Artist Awards, presented in partnership with The City of Morgan Hill, CURA Contemporary, the Gilroy Foundation, and Heritage Bank.

The evening began at 5:30p in Cura’s second-floor gallery with a VIP reception. The gallery had been reconfigured–each wall splashed with colors from artists’ works featured in the latest issue. Guests socialized amongst each other, connected with artists, and strolled the gallery to observe each piece.

Food and drinks provided by Vèra complemented the creative energy of the party and Morgan Hill’s flourishing support for the arts. Guests enjoyed single-serving versions of Vèra’s menu: lobster and eggplant sliders, beet tartare, and burrata – paired with wine or the Summertime Two cocktail made with Sereno pepper-infused Lalo tequila and watermelon juice. Fresh and colorful, each dish was quickly replenished to give each guest an opportunity to sample.

By 6:30, just as golden hour set in, guests crowded the center to watch the evening’s first performance by San Jose singer-songwriter Troy Tuan Truong, known as “Onbar.” Each song within his half-hour solo performance was delivered with passion, energizing the crowd.

Promptly after, David Valdespino Jr., the Developer of Content Magazine, introduced the 2025 Emerging Artist Awards, an award that provides artists with a $5,000 unrestricted grant and a feature in the magazine.

The first artist to be recognized was dancer Alice Hur, for her impact both as an artist and community organizer. Her award was presented by Mayor Mark Turner of Morgan Hill and Dan McCranie, owner of CURA Contemporary.

Next, ceramic artist Abiam Alvarez was honored for his sculptural and ceramic works that intersect labor, consumerism, and immigrant experiences, with his award presented by Gilroy mayor Greg Bozzo and Gilroy foundation executive director Jaci Muro.

The award ceremony concluded with visual artist Hana Lock, who was recognized for her work that explores life, death, and mortality. Her award was presented by SVCreates board vice chair and soon-to-be chair Tim Leehane.

With awards having been presented and photos taken, the next performance by Alice Hur began after a short introduction. Expressing art and identity through waacking, a dance style originating in L.A. gay clubs, her bold and exaggerated movements demonstrated the liberating potential of self-expression.

To close out the night, Blair “DJ Pardi B” Carson curated a DJ set featuring mixes from previously featured artists DJ Chalé Brown and Cutso, which filled the venue with energy. 

This evening was more than just a pick-up party: it reflected the different aspects of the creative spirit and cultural scene of the South Bay. With art, music, and community woven together, it was a celebration of Content’s mission to highlight and connect the creative culture of the South Bay.

Join us on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Open San José for Pick-Up Party 18.1, “Discover”. The evening will feature creatives from the winter issue, performances and fashion show curated by Chopsticks Alley Art, and more.