First Friday November 2011

This First Friday I will have my nine-year-old little brother in tow. This makes me wonder why there are not more kids’ arts and craft events on First Friday. At least Mobius Kids will be open for free from 5-7pm for an open house style membership drive.

So what will I be seeing tonight?

KOLVA SULLIVAN GALLERY, 115 S. ADAMS STREET

I have come to trust and respect this gallery greatly because they have a history of hosting many talented, forward thinking artists. This month, the photography of W.B. Fonteno will be featured here, and I am excited to see it. The artist’s website has a fun video that will give a taste of his photos and his style.

CHASE GALLERY, 808 W. SPOKANE FALLS BLVD

This month, the show is “Homage to Women Artists.” I am intrigued by the description in the First Friday listings, which describes the show as a display of shrines by Palouse women artists to honor women artists that inspire them. I get the sense that this will be a show that gracefully honors feminism rather than assaulting the viewer with feminist messages.

Also this weekend, several galleries will have photography on display as part of the Visual Evolution conference being held at SFCC for the Society for Photographic Education Northwest. The Kolva-Sullivan gallery is one of seven downtown galleries participating in Visual Evolution by displaying photography. Check the First Friday listings for details about the other galleries.

Two honorable mentions include The Globe and Design Collaborative on Division St. I suspect that these will be worth while to see, but I may not have time!

I hope you will tell me about your favorite shows and works of art from this First Friday. We’ve got to get Spokane talking about art!

Preview: May First Friday

May 6th, 5-8pm, Downtown Spokane

Image courtesy of Tiffany Patterson. Click to go to the River Speak post.

Things are happening at 115 S Adams St.

My top pick for this month is Flutter at the Kolva-Sullivan gallery, featuring a narrative series of poster art by the lovely Tiffany Patterson.She tells me this is her first experience with “poster art,” and while it was challenging, she enjoyed the process of screen printing her posters. The gallery owners invited Patterson to fill the gallery with poster art, and Friday evening the public will get to see the final result.

So far I have achieved my personal goal of attending First Friday every single month. My other goal is to see a new venue every month. This month, my top pick for new venue is the Music/Art Studio #5, which shares the same entrence as the Kolva-Sullivan.

The First Friday listings at downtownspokane.org describe the Studio #5 show like this:

“Featuring painters Darrell Sullens and E.L. Stewart. Music by Martin John & Company. Artists Open House: For visual artist of all types and performing artists of all types.”

Pairing up First Night Spokane, two North Central HS choir ensembles will be performing in the River Park Square from 7-9pm in the atrium. I plan to pop in while making my way to the Kress Gallery on the third floor.

The MAC runs the Art @ Work program, and is teaming up with the Kress Gallery to exhibit oil paintings by Susan Pope and Dianne Hofbeck.

Then, look forward Rogers HS AP photography students showing work at Express Employment Professionals at 331 W Main. Student artists deserve lot’s of support, and Spokane should welcome more high school artists at future artwalks.

The Saranac Art Projects is always a part of my First Friday ritual. This month, Carl Pavlic and Carl Richardson take over the gallery with contemporary, artsy goodness.

Sadly, The Tinman gallery doesn’t get listed on the Downtown Spokane First Friday list. I may not have time to drive up to the Garland shopping district, but it would be worth the effort to see Ric Gendron. The artist reception takes place on May 6, 5-9pm.

Annette’s Top Picks:

1. Tiffany Patterson, Kolva-Sullivan
2. Ric Gendron, Tinman
3. ArtFest and ElkFest (Saturday – Sunday)

Look for me this weekend from noon-4pm, Saturday and Sunday at ElkFest. I will be volunteering with NextUp, making buttons and running a photo booth. NextUp can also hook you up with voter registration! Register for the first time, or update your address by visiting VoteBike, stationed next to the ElkFest stage.