For art enthusiasts, gallery wanderers and the culturally impaired, First Friday Boulder is an event not to be missed.
A walking tour of contemporary art, unique crafts, live performances and free snacks has been arranged by the owners of various art galleries on Pearl Street Mall. Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Art & Soul Gallery, Blink Gallery, Boulder Arts & Crafts and Exhibitrek the Gallery will open their doors to display recent works and offer the chance to meet some of the artists. The event is free and open to the public, and it is planned to repeat on the first Friday of each month.
“The excitement of being able to walk the downtown area and have the galleries open to them” will hopefully attract many people, said Barbara Kornfeld, a First Friday organizer.
The arts and crafts on display will be for sale, but the main goal of the event is to expose members of the Boulder community to the local art scene.
“Whether they buy anything or not is secondary to the experience,” said Kornfeld.
According to Kornfeld, there will be live folk music and some artists will create their work in front of an audience.
Art and Soul will feature new works by local artists Jason Thielke and Scot Lefavor.
According to a flyer provided by Kornfeld, Thielke’s work is “street influenced” and what he calls “a reversal of traditional graffiti.”
Lefavor’s paintings hark back to advertisements seen in the 1950s and ’60s, with some modern touches added.
First Friday in Boulder started as an offshoot from a popular event in Denver during which the general public is invited to view and preview local art.
“Everyone goes to Denver because in Denver they give away free alcohol,” said Exhibitrek owner Mary Belochi. “Out here the laws are more strict, and you can’t just give away alcohol.”
About half of Exhibitrek’s gallery is filled with work by local artists, and all of the work is done by artists in Colorado. On this coming First Friday, paintings by Joanne Neal-Berndt will be displayed. The works have been described as “organic,” and the gallery is titled “Spirit of the Earth.”
Most of the galleries will offer snacks to all attendees, but “I wouldn’t count on eating your dinner here,” said Kornfeld.
