31 Skulls: Cast the Bones

31 Skulls: Cast the Bones at Local Color's Big Arts Building

This October, Local Color, a nonprofit, artist-powered organization supporting creative work and communities across the South Bay, brings the SPOOKY Halloween festivities to downtown San José with 31 Skulls: Cast the Bones at its new Big Arts Building on West Julian Street. 

For the first time, the building becomes an immersive art experience: wander the candlelit Skull Library, where local artists have transformed blank ceramic skulls into one-of-a-kind works, then step into the Mural Gallery, where larger-than-life black light murals glow and skull projections drift across the walls. 

Open viewing is FREE every Friday from 3 to 7 PM throughout October, alongside hands-on workshops and Final Fortune Auction Night to close the season. Contribute to the local creative economy! Every dollar raised in October goes back into paid work for local creatives. 

Foam Brush Calligraphy: Spooky Edition | Friday, October 9, 5–7 PM
Unleash your inner dark scribe with artist Ben Henderson of Brush House, the hand-lettering artist behind many of downtown's most recognizable storefront signs and this year's Cast the Bones branding. Learn expressive gothic strokes with oversized foam brushes and take home your own haunting quote print or vintage-style Halloween sign. All supplies provided. $25, all ages.

Get tickets!

Blacklight Ceramic Skull Painting | Friday, October 16, 5–7 PM
Step into the dark and dive into a trippy art experience! Guided by Emilo Cortez, a talented local artist who paints for the 49ers, Nirvana Soul and many more fabulous clients, you’ll paint a mini ceramic skull using UV-reactive neon acrylics under the hypnotic glow of blacklights. Whether you create intricate psychedelic patterns or a bold glowing masterpiece, you’ll leave with an incredibly unique, spooky piece of art that pops under daylight and truly comes alive in the dark. 

$25, all ages Get tickets!

Final Fortune: Live Auction Night | Friday, October 23, 6–10 PM
The season closes with a night of live and silent auctions featuring the full 31 Skulls collection from the Skull Library, set against the glowing black light murals. Come meet the artists, enjoy drinks from Fox Tale Fermentation and live music from OG Factor. Goth-glam attire encouraged! Proceeds support Local Color's arts education programs and its work providing affordable studio space and paid opportunities for San José artists.

$75 GA | $150 VIP Get your tickets! 

Local Color Big Arts Building, 255 W. Julian St, San José