First Friday: Dog days edition
Painting by Mike Clark.
It's summertime, and while the living may be easy, the art is lean and far between. Traditionally, August is the month when many of the 'ville's art venues pull down the shades and shutter the windows, leaving those of you eager for your monthly fix with an abbreviated menu of visual choices. Which is not to say there's not worthwhile art out there awaiting your visit this evening.
In the past couple years, I have become a big fan of Mike Clark's textural paintings, which have lately taken an interesting turn toward the industrial. The recent–and deserving–recipient of a Virginia Museum of Fine Art's fellowship, Clark opens his latest exhibition at the Mudhouse this evening. The other not-to-miss opening tonight is "The Suitcase Show–Selections from Drawing Parties (2005-08)," curated by Greg Antrim Kelly, the programming impresario at The Bridge and a wonderful artist in his own right (as well as one of the nicest guys in town).
Plus, there are a few other offerings out there to get you through this not-quite-art-less month. Don't sweat it–just take a slower stroll...
First Friday, August 7
Fellini's #9 hosts an opening for its exhibition of wildlife drawings in watercolor and pen and ink by Michael Garstang. 5-7pm. 200 W. Market St. 979-4279.
Mudhouse opens its exhibition of new paintings by the always-interesting Mike Clark, with a reception, 6-8pm. 213 W. Main St. 984-6833.
The Garage opens "The Suitcase Show–Selections from Drawing Parties (2005-08)," curated by local fave Greg Antrim Kelly, 5-7pm, followed by a performance by Hill and Wood at 7pm. 250 N. 1st Street. Hours by appointment. Contact Greg Antrim Kelly, 434-242-0905.
La Galeria celebrates "A Walk through UVA," an exhibition of "unusual scenes from the grounds of UVA, with a reception, 5-8pm. 218 W. Market St. 293-7003.
BozART Gallery hosts an opening reception for its Associate Members Show, 5-9pm. 211 W. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 296-3919.
C'ville Arts hosts an opening for "Let The Games Begin," an exhibition of handcrafted chess sets and game pieces created by the Bead Brothers, the husband and wife team of Jeff and Lisa Cunningham. 6-9pm. 118 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 972-9500.
The Gallery @ 5th & Water opens Tina Wade's exhibition, "A Walk in the Woods." The artist will donate 30% of the show’s profits to Windmore Foundation for the Arts. 5:30-8pm. 107 5th St. (in the stairwell and upstairs foyer to Hampton & Everett and Stoneking/von Storch). 979-9825.
Sage Moon Gallery, LLC, hosts an opening for "Lands and Ladies," an exhibition of landscapes and figures by painter Sarah Parks at 6:30pm at Siips. 212 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall. 977-9997.
Virginia Artists in Action opens its show of watercolors by John Trippel and oil paintings by John Golden. A portion of all sales benefits a nonprofit charity designated by the artists. 5-7pm. 407 E. Main St. 295-4080.
