First Friday starts 2018 with ‘Commitment’-themed festival

A new year brings a new First Friday — and a new “Commitment,” January’s theme for the monthly downtown Arts District happening.

In addition to displaying their works, January’s two featured artists — LaRon Emcee and AROSE1 — will collaborate by painting live during the free 5-11 p.m. event. Emcee lists influences ranging from Afrofuturism, realism and portraiture to cartoons and comic books; AROSE1 is a multimedia and graffiti artist.

The new year also brings a new partner at the family-friendly Kids Zone area: the Girl Scouts of America, who kick off their participation with a planetarium and other interactive activities in Boulder Plaza focused on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education.

The First Friday footprint also shifts for January’s event, with the main stage moving to the south end of the Art Way parking lot and most artists and vendors setting up shop on First Street, extending to Hoover Avenue.

Also on tap during January’s First Friday:

■ Live entertainment: DeBlanc at 5 p.m. and Gia K & Mango Rankin at 6 p.m., followed by Travis Slumberland at 7:15 p.m., B. Bigga at 8:15 p.m. and Sounds Hound at 9:30 p.m. Community Productions’ Drum Circle also will be in action throughout the event.

■ Art Style: Emerging and established artists and artisans, curated by artist Izaac Zevalking, plus interactive painting — and paint-by-numbers painting with Jasmine Farro and Friends — for those who want to exercise their own creativity.

■ ArtWalk: Showcasing work by emerging Las Vegas artists, from booths in the main festival area to galleries and studios in the Arts Factory and Art Square.

■ Food and drink: More than 30 food trucks and vendors.

■ Beyond the footprint: The southern end of the Arts District offers antiques and activities for guests, with streets blocked between California and Colorado avenues, Casino Center Boulevard and Antique Alley, one block east of Main Street.

For more First Friday details, visit facebook.com/firstfridaylasvegas, follow @FirstFridayLV on Twitter or firstfridaylasvegas.com.