san jose japantown

"IN LIMBO" by Danilo Parra opens this Saturday, September 7

FORWARD FROM EMPIRE SEVEN STUDIOS:

Danilo Parra was born and raised in San Jose and comes from a family of musical creatives. Danilo is best known for his award-winning filmmaking but has always painted as well. In 2020, he leaked a body of work on Instagram that certainly had us intrigued. If you’re reading the top art magazines, you will see that Danilo’s work would fit right in due to its originality and humorous nature. 

Danilo’s film credentials list a broad range of clients such as Weezer, A$AP Rocky, Spike Jonze, Robyn, Honne, David Byrne and several other celebrities like Adam Driver with whom he recently worked. 

"In Limbo" will feature a collection of oil paintings Danilo hauled in a suitcase from New York. We’re thrilled to be the Gallery to host Danilo’s first solo art exhibition. We are honored to work with this multifaceted artist who has roots in San Jose. 

We look forward to you joining us this Saturday, September 7, from 6:00-9:00 pm. The exhibit will be on view through October 5, 2024.

If you’re interested in purchasing artworks before we open the doors, please send us an email at info@empiresevenstudios.com.

SHORT WRITE UP FOR THE 'IN LIMBO' EXHIBITION:

Danilo Parra is a Chilean-American artist and filmmaker who creates oil paintings as single-frame stories. Beginning his artistic journey in San Jose, Danilo later moved to New York to pursue documentary storytelling, a career that allowed him to explore the world and deeply observe cultural and environmental issues—insights he now weaves into his paintings. His show, "In Limbo," captures characters in moments of transition, using dark, moody palettes contrasted with vivid colors to highlight the tension between hope and despair, intimacy and isolation. These ambiguous settings invite viewers to immerse themselves into the narrative. 

ARTIST STATEMENT:

"My brain works in story. I struggle to understand visual art that doesn't have a beginning, middle, or end. When I try to paint a pretty picture, I end up painting over it until I uncover a deeper narrative that has stronger meaning to me." - Danilo Parra

Lunar New Year - entering the year of the wood dragon!

Celebrate Lunar New Year in San Jose Japantown, February 10 from 11:00am-2:00pm.

2024 is the year of the wood dragon. According to the Chinese elemental theory, each zodiac sign is linked to one of the five main elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. The Wood Dragon, like all other elemental Dragons, comes once in 60 years. People born in the Year of the Wood Dragon are considered to be extremely creative and inquisitive beings, who like to explore many different paths in life which results in them being very open and liberal.

Help us start a fresh New Year “Fukubukuro” "lucky bag," a Japanese New Year custom in which merchants make grab bags filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within.

Participating businesses will create mystery bags for patrons to cleanse and make room for new items in 2024. You can’t see what see what’s inside these bags because they’re sealed. But the fun part is, these bags are filled with surprises.

You might pay $25 for a bag, but the goods inside could be worth $50 or more! Have fun and support all the local retail businesses!

Visit us on Saturday and pick up some Empire Seven Studios products!

Important note: Fireworks are tradition during Lunar New Year and scheduled for 12pm. We regret any disturbance caused by the noise. It is advisable to keep dogs inside for their safety. Those sensitive to loud sounds should consider staying indoors.

SCHEDULE:

  • Fire crackers will start at 12pm at 4th/Jackson Street and run through Japantown, then end at Empire Seven Studios on 7th/Empire Street.

  • Participating stores on flyer will be having their own Fukubukuro (lucky bag) available for purchase.