April First Friday: No excuses edition

Exquisite corpse created by Aaron Eichorst, Billy Hunt, and Jocelyn Johnson.

Charlottesville's First Friday has had its challenges during the past few months–-rain, snow, the dark of night, snow, winter lethargy, snow. If you opted to stay home rather than do the gallery gawk, well, it's understandable. You are hereby absolved of all art guilt! (Bet you didn't know I had that power.)

This evening, however, is a different story. The weather is glorious, the snow has melted, and it's light until late. So, you have no excuse not to celebrate the here and now by sampling art while meandering about in the spring air! Luckily, the galleries have a particularly rich bill of fare on offer.

If you like your art fun and funny, hie thee to the "Exquisite Corpse" exhibit opening at the McGuffey Art Center. Originally a game invented by the early 20th century surrealists, an "exquisite corpse" is a collaborative effort by three people, in which each person creates a third of a work without seeing what the others have contributed. The McGuffey show is an exuberant mix of work by schoolchildren, professional artists, and others–-well worth a look!

Another must-visit is The Garage's closing reception for Matt Kleiberg's "No Ordinary People." A UVA alum, Kleiberg creates jaw-droppingly beautiful large-scale portraits of people often overlooked in the everyday. Meanwhile, at The Southern, Nalani Williams' "Salt Where the Sugar Should Be," features drawings and photography that express Williams' wry outlook and unusual sense of beauty.

Nearby The Paramount opens "Pieces of Cuba," a showcase of work by artists living in, surprise, Cuba. Also of interest is Japanese artist Takafume Ide's site-specific installation, "decipher," in Second Street Gallery's Dov© Gallery. For more traditional work, drop by the new Warm Springs Gallery, which is showcasing  landscapes by Ed Hatch and sculpture by Dale Weiler.

And as long as you're pounding the bricks of the Downtown Mall, why not find out how the Mall evolved? The Charlottesville Community Design Center is offering  "More than just Bricks: A Field Guide to the Design of the Charlottesville Downtown Mall," with a gallery talk at 6pm. Know where you walk!

The above are just a few tantalizing nibbles of the feast that awaits if you get up off the couch and out the door this evening. Behold the full menu:

First Friday, April 2

The McGuffey Art Center hosts an opening reception for its four April exhibitions: Frederic Crist's "Wrapped Totems," Nancy Galloway's "All About Light," Cindy Gusler's "Pirate," and the group show, "The Exquisite Corpse." 5:30-7:30pm. 201 Second St. NW. 295-7973.

Second Street Gallery opens Geoffrey Chadsey's exhibition, "Jam, Outing, Retreat," and Takafume Ide's site-specific installation, "decipher." 5:30-7:30pm, with artists' talks at 6:30pm. 115 Second St. SE. 977-7728.

The Bridge hosts a reception for "People and Trees," a show of portraits by Charlottesville artist Eliza Evans and wood-related imagery by Evans' friend, Allie. 6-8pm. 209 Monticello Road. 984-5669.

The Garage hosts a closing reception for "No Ordinary People," an exhibition of large-scale portraits by Matt Kleberg. 5:30-8pm. 250 N. First St. For more information, visit http://thegarage-cville.com.

The Southern opens "Salt Where The Sugar Should Be," an exhibition of drawings and photography by Nalani Williams, 5:30-7:30pm, with a special musical performance by singer/songwriter Zack Orion. 103 S. First St. 977-5590.

The Paramount opens the exhibition, "Pieces of Cuba," showcasing work by artists currently living in Cuba, 5-7pm. 215 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 973-7772.

Fellini's #9 hosts a reception for Joanie Schatzman's "Nantucket & Providence–-Wood Cut Prints," 5:30-7pm. 200 W. Market St. 979-4279.

Mudhouse welcomes the photography of Andrew Clark, whose work "combines his deep interest in the natural sciences, his passion for visual communication, and his love of the great outdoors." 6-8pm. 213 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 984-6833.

The C&O Gallery hosts an opening reception for "Roots and Branches," a multi-media art exhibit by Sarah Hasty Williams, 5-7pm. 515 E. Water St. 971-7044.

The Warm Springs Gallery opens "Arcadian Rhythms," an exhibition of landscapes by painter Ed Hatch and bird sculptures by Dale Weiler. 5-8pm. 105 Third St. NE. 245-0800.

Sage Moon Gallery celebrates "Enchanted Existence," an exhibition of animal-focused artwork by photojournalist Lisa Billings in the exhibition, 6-8pm. Siips, 212 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 977-9997.

Spring Street opens Gloria Mitchell's exhibition, "Spring Paintings," 6-8pm. 107 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 975-1200.

Nest Realty hosts a reception for painter Etta Harmon Levin's exhibit, "View from Above: Abstract Aerial Views in Watermedia," 5:30-7:30pm. 126 Garrett St., Suite E (Old Gleason Hardware Building). 566-0121.

Reflections Salon hosts an opening reception for Sarah Denham's exhibition, "The Desultory Display," 5-7pm. 223 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 971-7865.

BozART Gallery welcomes "Another Point of View," an exhibition of paintings by Matalie Deane, 5-9pm. 211 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 296-3919.

C'ville Arts opens Jack Cacciatore's exhibition, "In Focus: Virginia and Beyond from a Photographer's Perspective," 6-9pm. 118 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 972-9500.

Art Upstairs welcomes the artwork of Palmyra artists Michael McGurk with a reception, 5-9pm. 112 W. Main St. (in York Place). 923-3900.

The Charlottesville Community Design Center opens the exhibition, "More than Just Bricks: A Field Guide to the Design of the Charlottesville Downtown Mall," with a reception, 5:30-7:30pm, including a gallery talk at 6pm. 100 5th St. NE (beneath the Market St. Parking Garage). 984-2232.

The Gallery @ 5th & Water welcomes "Interior Color," an exhibition of color studies by Alissa Lee Nicholson using interiors as inspiration. 5:30-8pm. Foyer of Hampton& Everett and Stoneking/von Storch. 107 5th St. SE. 979-9825.