April’s First Friday art festival to celebrate the fool

This month’s First Friday arts festival is slated to celebrate the fool, with more than 30 street performers from Strip productions roving throughout the festival.

The monthly arts festival is scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. April 4 at venues throughout the 18b Arts District in downtown Las Vegas. Admission is free, and free parking with shuttle service is available at the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway. A shuttle also leaves from Sixth Street across from the El Cortez valet entrance. Live entertainment, artists’ booths, food vendors and more are planned.

Green Street on California Avenue west of Casino Center Boulevard is set to feature a puppet theater, and the KidZone is scheduled to offer free face painting.

Art Row on Casino Center between Colorado Avenue and Charleston Boulevard is set to include emerging Las Vegas artists. The Bazaar in the lot on the southwest corner of Casino Center and California is set to include arts and crafts from more than 40 vendors.

First Friday is scheduled to welcome a new zone this month — Think Safe, on Casino Center between California and Colorado. The new zone is set to inform attendees about multiple causes tied to making Las Vegas a safer and better place to live. Look Out Kids About is scheduled to teach kids about pedestrian safety, while Legacy X representatives talk anti-bullying and Thumbs Red representatives discuss the importance of not texting while driving. Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson and his staff plan to partner with Project REAL with six interactive stations to teach about juvenile law and Wolfson speaking at 6:30 p.m.

For information on shuttle services, artists and music, visit firstfridaylasvegas.com. Many downtown art galleries also open from 6 to 8 p.m. for Preview Thursday.

Galleries planning to participate in April’s First Friday include:

The Trifecta Gallery in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is set to show Blackboard Jungle, a show of mixed media by Anthony Freda. A book of art from the show is set to be available for purchase. Visit trifectagallery.com or call 702-366-7001.
The Contemporary Arts Center, 1217 S. Main St., is plans to host its 25th anniversary juried show featuring work selected by guest juror John Seed, a professor of art and art history at Mt. San Jacinto College in Southern California. Visit voice-ccsd.com or lasvegascac.org or call 702-496-0569.
Jana’s Red Room in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is set to show small works by local artists. Visit janasredroom.com or call 702-454-3709.
R Space in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is scheduled to show work by Ali Fathollahi and Nanda Sharifpour. Visit facebook.com/rspacestudio or call 702-327-2506.
Sin City Gallery in The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd., is set to show 12 Inches of Sin and Le Salon Des Refuses Du Peche, the gallery’s third annual international juried art exhibition. An afterparty featuring burlesque, drag, performance art and Dr. Sketchys Anti-Art School live exhibits is scheduled from 9 p.m. to midnight April 3 at Artifice, 1025 S. First St. Visit artificebar.com or call 702-489-6339. Visit sincitygallery.com or call 702-608-2461.
The Brett Wesley Gallery in Art Square, 1025 S. First St., is set to show Time and Space, an exhibition of photography by Brett Wesley Sperry. Visit brettwesleygallery.com or call 702-433-4433.
Reclaimed Art Suppliez, 1114 S. Casino Center Blvd., is set to display children’s artwork inside and offer its Creation Station hands-on art experience outside. Visit reclaimedart.org or call 702-241-8926.
City of the World, 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd., is set to show “Denim Day” artwork made of or painted on denim. The show benefits the Rape Crisis Center. The gallery is also slated to show work from the Nevada PTA’s Reflections competition. Visit cityoftheworld.org or call 702-409-7549.
Blackbird Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St., is set to show paintings and installations by Kim Johnson, a recent bachelor of fine arts graduate from UNLV. Visit blackbirdstudioslv.com or call 702- 782-0319.
Clay Arts Vegas, 1511 S. Main St., is set to show The Dark Forest, works by Emily Nickel. The exhibition is set to include hand-built animal forms and sgiffito, a technique that involves intricate patterns created with contrasting colored clays. Nickel is scheduled to present a two-day sgriffito workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 6 at Clay Arts Vegas. Visit clayartsvegas.com or call 702-375-4147.
The Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art, 900 Las Vegas Blvd. South, is set to show “Recycled Propaganda,” works by Izaac Zevalking. Visit amandaharrisgallery.com or call 702-769-6036.