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August’s First Friday is almost here and here are a few things you might not want to miss.
Check out award winning jewelry at the Coe House for Ardapony Squared’s newest piece. Or, head over to First Studio Gallery’s ‘Summer Blend,’ where you can savor some of the last few moments of summer through the gallery’s showcase of several fresh and vibrant artistic styles.
If you’re feeling creative, you can create your own poster for free at Hazel & Violet’s Letterpress. And, if you’re wanting to peruse through a gallery of familiar faces — and maybe a few unfamiliar ones — stop by Abe Zucca’s portrait gallery, ’56 Portraits (actually 72)’.
The Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum will all offer free admission.
Be sure to plan ahead and check mask policies, as several galleries and museums have different guidelines.
‘Freedom Must Be Lived: Marion Palfi’s America, 1940-1978’ at Phoenix Art Museum
‘Freedom Must Be Lived: Marion Palfi’s America, 1940-1978’ is the Heard Museum’s newest exhibit which tells the story of Marion Palfi — who visually documented the 20th century American injustice. Visitors can peruse through more than 100 photographic prints as well as photo books, magazine spreads, and research journal, all from the Center for Creative Photography’s Marion Palfi Archive. Several of these materials have never been exhibited or published. Guests can also stop by another exhibit, ‘Fearless Fashion,’ which showcases sixties fashion designs made by designer Rudi Gernreich.
Free admission hours for First Friday are 3-7 p.m. The ‘Fearless Fashion’ exhibit requires a $5 admission fee.
Details: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880. phxart.org.
‘‘XSCAPE: Landscapes, Cityscapes and Mindscapes’ at Found:RE Phoenix Hotel
‘XSCAPE: Landscapes, Cityscapes and Mindscapes’ will showcase the works of 64 Arizona artists — all exploring and depicting several different landscapes. For this month’s First Friday, visitors can watch a live art performance by Arizona artist Keely Finucane at the FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel. FUND:RE Phoenix Hotel will be hosting a live art performance by Arizona artist Keely Finucane. Finucane, who specializes in oil painting, will create a hyperrealistic portrait titled “Honey Girl” — she will be available from 7-11 p.m. near the hotel front desk.
‘Fire/Earth: A Metal and Fiber Landscape Show’ will also be available until 10 p.m. at Found: Re Contemporary off of Portland Street.
Details: FOUND: RE Phoenix Hotel, 1100 N. Central Ave. 602-875-8000, foundrehotels.com/contemporary.
‘Things We Carry’ at Lisa Sette Gallery
This exhibition continues at the Lisa Sette Gallery featuring works Merryn Omotayo Alaka, Sam Fresquez, and Angela Ellsworth. It puts a spotlight on the complex beauty of identity and culture. Their large works take up physical space to showcase how claiming one’s identity in the public sphere can be fraught with resistance for women and people of color but will not shrink to fit any molds.
Their selection of works will be exhibited at Lisa Sette Gallery until Sept. 21. Regular hours have returned to the Lisa Sette Gallery after the COVID-19 pandemic caused restrictions. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Details: Lisa Sette Gallery, 210 East Catalina Drive. 480-990-7342, lisasettegallery.com/.
Free admission at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Take your kids to museum’s latest, “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit” which lets kids explore an interactive exhibit where they can create artwork using Eric Carle’s techniques, weave their own spider web and complete an obstacle course in the “Very Clumsy Click Beetle Playscape.” The exhibition will be available until Sept. 6.
Masks are required for all guests ages 2 and up regardless of vaccination status. First Friday at the museum will be 5-9 p.m. on Aug. 6.
Details: Children’s Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. 7th St, Phoenix, 602-253-0501, childrensmuseumofphoenix.org.
Megan Driving Hawk ‘The First Year’ at Eye Lounge
Megan Driving Hawk’s newest collection, ‘The First Year,’ features photography, beaded emblems and poetry. Focusing on her healing journey amidst mothering, Hawk — who is not only an artist but a mother and teacher — uses these three bodies of work to show how every day decisions can heal both the past and the future. Each creative practice.— Simultaneous Memories, Whispers and Begging Poetics — invites visitors into a glimpse of her healing journey.
First Friday event is 6-9 p.m.
Details: Eye Lounge, 419 E. Roosevelt St. 602-430-1490, eyelounge.com.
Free admission at Heard Museum
Stop by the Heard Museum to check out their current exhibitions including “Small Wonders,” “All at Once: The Gift of Navajo Weaving” and “Larger than Memory: A Digital Experience,” an exhibit which features two decades of artwork from across the United States and Canada.
Admission to the museum is free on First Friday from 4-8 p.m.
Details: Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave. 602-252-8840, heard.org.
Samuel Mayo and Jody Mills jewelry at Ardapony Squared
Award-winning artisans Samuel Mayo and Jody Mills will feature hand fabricated artisan jewelry at this event. The two have been designing jewelry together since 2019, and launched their company in 2020. Since collaborating, their work has been showcased in three issues of Vogue UK, and in March, 12 models walked the runway in their designs at the TGL On Central Fashion and Art Show 2021.
Wonder Wendy Ferrell, who is on the board of the Arizona Costume Institute, will model the artists’ new pieces.
Fashion, statement and custom jewelry will all be available for sale at the Coe House, where they’ve resided since early April. First Friday activities take place from 5:30-9 p.m.
Details: Coe House, 365 N. Fourth Ave. 602-329-1925, ardapony.com/
Print a poster at Hazel & Violet letterpress
Print a free poster on Grand Avenue at Hazel & Violet Letterpress printing shop. The store also has cards, coasters, calendars and stationery available for purchase.
The First Friday event will take place from 5-10 p.m.
Details: Hazel & Violet Letterpress, 1301 Grand Ave., Phoenix. 480-544-2162, hazelandviolet.com/.
‘Plus One: A Group Exhibit’ at Five15Arts
Each member of this collective invited a non-member for this show. The invited guest artists are: Christine Cassano, McKenna Connelly, Monica-Gisel Crespo, Bob Diercksmeier, Jeff Falk, Aileen Frick, Kimberly Harris, Farraday Newsome, Aimee Ollinger, Ann Osgood, Richard Pomraning and Lorraine Shwer.
The gallery is open Fridays from 6-9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and by appointment (call 602-859-0247). Masks are required.
Details: Five15Arts @ Chartreuse, 1301 N.W. Grand Ave, Phoenix. 602-717-1194. www.five15arts.com.
First Studio Gallery to present ‘Summer Blend’
Head to First Studio Gallery for their newest exhibition, ‘Summer Blend,’ which features the works of four artists: John David Yanke, Barbara Bagan, Kyllan Maney and Cindy Schnackle. ‘Summer Blend’ highlights abstract art through bright, playful, soft and serene tones. Sculptures, paintings and cold wax are among the art styles you’ll see.
The First Friday event is 6-9 p.m. Visitors can see the gallery Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. for self guided viewing.
Details: First Studio Gallery, 631 N. 1st Ave, Phoenix, 602-957-7760, facebook.com/firststudioaz.
’56 Portraits (actually 72)’ by Abe Zucca
Phoenix artist Abe Zucca will feature 72 portraits of all sorts of people. Politicians, celebrities, athletes — and even “nobodies,” per the artist’s event poster — will be in the mix. It’s an opportunity to see some familiar faces — and see some new people who may have once been a stranger.
First Friday event will be 7-10 p.m.
Details: Abe Zucca Gallery, 1301 NW Grand Ave, Phoenix. 602-386-6319, abezucca.com/
Reach the reporter at [email protected] Follow her on Instagram @sofia.krusmark
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