FEATUREING:

Art Welder/Vocalist – Alana Lin | Artistic Director/San Jose Jazz – Christian Vela | Cilker School of Art & Design: Shannon Mirabelli-Lopez, Kristen Garcia, Mitra Fabian, Lou De La Rosa, Anthony Murray, Hana Reyes, Amani Jordan, and Camille Sherman | Music/Harm Reduction Nonprofit – Crossthread San Jose | Painter – Hargun M Mann | Artist/Quiet Giant Design – Ian Young | Bay FC Professional Soccer Player – Joelle Anderson | Artistic Director/Children’s Musical Theater – Kikau Alvaro | Spoken Word Artist/Community Organizer – Lindsey Leong aka HELLAFamous | Interdisciplinary Artist, Educator, and Researcher – Miguel Novelo | 2026 San Jose Creative Ambassadors – Los Panaderos, Tricia Creason-Valencia, and Jorge “J.Duh” Camacho

CONTENT turns 75 with this issue. This is a momentous achievement for any print publication today, but it is especially meaningful for one focused on South Bay artists. Over the last 14 years, we’ve built some wonderful traditions. In this “Perform” issue, we are continuing our six-year partnership with West Valley’s Cilker School of Art and Design to highlight their vital creative arts department. This program offers students a dynamic and high-quality way to gain experience and an education without racking up debt. This year also marks the fifth anniversary of their Expo. Additionally, we’re featuring our annual editorial on the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs’ Creative Ambassadors. It is always an honor to highlight these artists and this program.

But these aren’t our only traditions. We also have 14 years of community-building through our Pick-Up Parties. We have always celebrated the locations and creatives that might fly under the radar of other media outlets. We’re doing it again in this issue with a diverse group. This includes Bay FC footballer Joelle Anderson, and Ian Young, who is a designer, artist, and the founder of Quiet Giant Design. We also feature slam poet Lindsey Leong, interdisciplinary artist Miguel Novelo (currently exhibiting at the ICA San José), and the Children’s Musical Theater’s new artistic director, Kikau Alvaro.

The eclectic mix I’ve sought to cultivate is a lasting hallmark of CONTENT. As this is my second-to-last issue as lead, I know these traditions will continue under David E. Valdespino Jr.’s leadership as Executive Editor, with the continued support of SVCreates. More on that later. For now, please enjoy this 75th issue, 18.3, “Perform,” Summer 2026.
Enjoy,
Daniel Garcia
THE CULTIVATOR