Visitors to be set free with Deliverance-themed July First Friday in Las Vegas
The First Friday arts festival is scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. July 1 at venues throughout the 18b Arts District in downtown Las Vegas, near the intersection of Charleston Boulevard and Main Street. Live entertainment, artists’ booths, food vendors and more are planned. Admission is free. On-street and paid parking are available close to the event, but spaces fill up early. Visitors are cautioned to avoid parking in unauthorized parking areas, such as vacant lots, as vehicles may be subject to towing.
The theme of July’s event is Deliverance, with several cooling and hydration areas to be located throughout the event to beat the heat.
Events are set to include a drum circle, booths with emerging artists and crafts and live painting by artists working with the theme of Soldiers and Cowboys Forever! featuring Garth Brooks and the military, stylized art painted live on Guerilla Kages and free-standing structures constructed and curated by artist Ruzo Logic.
Visit firstfridaylasvegas.com.
Preview Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. June 30 offers a more low-key event. The preview presents an opportunity to see many of the galleries and shows before the crowds Friday.
Galleries planning to participate in July’s First Friday include:
• The Arts Factory, 107 E. Charleston Blvd.
• Jana’s RedRoom: Work by Gear Duran, Heather Herman and KD Matheson. Megan Glade Dresback is set to sell and sign her book “‘M’ is for Mallow.” Small works by local artists are featured in the Salon Gallery. Visit janasredroom.com or call 702-454-3709.
• Sin City Gallery: “Variations,” a photography show by Steve Diet Goedde, features Polaroid Emulsion Transfers and Collaboration with Colin Christian. Goedde has been shooting his trademark erotic style for over 25 years and is set to be present at the opening reception on July 7. Visit sincitygallery.com or call 702-608-2461.
• Peace N Art Studio: “The Abstract Mind of Jennifer Barreras,” featuring her mixed media, paintings and sculptures.
• Eden Art Studio and Gallery: Work by local artists. Visit edenartstudioandgallery.com or call 702-595-6818.
• Dray Studio & Gallery: New and classic works by artist Dray. Visit instagram.com/draydizzle1 or call 415-748-0713.
• 17 Moons Art Studio: Assemblages by Michael Delacruz. The gallery is under major renovation and may not be open by First Friday. Visit 17moons.com or call 702-245-7725.
• Joseph Watson Gallery: “Art Attack!” works by Sean Danconia featuring a bright, bold, hyper-kinetic tribute to exploitation cinema, outsider art, vintage comics and all things that go “POP” in the night. With secret agents, kung fu legends, tattooed vixens, evil doctors, pulp detectives, yakuza knife fights and more. Visit josephwatsoncollection.com or call 858-733-2135.
• Wonderland Gallery: “Steampunk,” a group show of steampunk inspired art by various artists, including Lynne Adamson Adrian and Kat Tatz. Visit tinyurl.com/wlgart or call 702-686-4010.
• The Corner Gallery: Work by featured artist Chimero Arezzo, an incarcerated artist who has created his work entirely of contraband mediums and supplies, created and delivered to the gallery through covert means. The work features strong political statements concerning incarceration and society. Also featured are works by local artists. Visit lasvegascornergallery.com or call 702-501-9219.
• SaVx Gallery: Painting by featured artist Azia Skeen. Also set to be showing are new works by Steve Anthony and Victor Xiu and photography by Karen Waiksnis DiSorbo. Visit facebook.com/savxgallery or call 702-540-9331.
• The Nevada Humanities Program Gallery, inside Art Square, 1025 S. First St. “Intersections: Art and Design and the Neon Museum.” Visit nevadahumanities.org or call 702-800-4670
• Union House, 917 S. First St.: Fifteen local artists set up outdoors, and art is exhibited throughout the building, with live music and painting. The space includes Bona Fide Studio & Gallery and Opia Gallery.
• Clay Arts Vegas, 1511 S. Main St: “Serve it Up,” a nationally juried group show featuring plates, platters, bowls, casseroles and other functional tableware with an artistic flair. Guest artist and lecturer Leilani Trinka is scheduled to be at the gallery Aug. 6 and 7. Visit clayartsvegas.com or call 702-375-4147.
• Downtown Spaces at 1800 Industrial Road plans to celebrate First Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. Visit facebook.com/DowntownSpacesDTS. Confirmed activities include:
• The Bubblegum Gallery: Rainbows & Unicorns group show featuring colorful art in several mediums by local artists and unicorn bark and unicorn horn cupcakes.
• Skin City Gallery: Work by artist Micah Murray alongside photographs by Michael Vericker, whose work has served as inspiration for Murray’s. Also, three live body painting demonstrations are planned. Skin City and Micah Murray plan to donate a portion of all sales to ILADS for Lyme disease research.
Additional work and retail sales at Heartbroken Reality, Las Vegas Antiques & Oddities, ToyBoxx, Jazzee Art, Roux & bones and ISI Group.
To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor, email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.
