The first Friday evening of every month in Raleigh brings the First Friday Gallery Walk in Downtown Raleigh. It’s a free self-guided tour of downtown’s cultural scene that happens from 6 to 9 p.m . at a variety of local art galleries, studios, venues and museums. Restaurants and retailers—from Poole’s Diner to Dos TaQuitos Centro—join in on the First Friday spirit and often offer specials. The event encourages people to visit downtown Raleigh and experience an evening of “art in all of its forms.”
“We have a new exhibition installing this week,” Lia Newman, the Director of Programs and Exhibitions at Artspace Gallery, said. “It’s by an Atlanta-based artist named Cynthia Farnell.”
Cynthia Farnell is a multi-disciplinary visual artist whose projects cover a range of media including photography, video and installation. She embarked on a series titled Presence. It contains four distinct bodies of work that investigate place through a process that merges historical photographic source imagery along with her photographs. Farnell’s solo exhibition at Artspace includes a video projection along with digitally collaged images printed on silk banner and water color paper from the Presence series. Her work has been widely exhibited throughout New England, the southern United States, New York City and France. She is currently director of The Welch School Galleries at Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA.
“There will also be a lobby show by Tricia McKellar, a local artist,” Newman said.
Tricia McKellar, a non-tenant member of the Artspace Artist Association and a self-taught Southern photographer and artist, will have her works displayed in the lobby show at Artspace until the end of the year. In this set of monochromatic photographs—entitled Water & Light—McKellar explores the wonder of the Southern landscape. She has been exhibiting for five years and her work is in the permanent collection of Duke University Hospital as well as many private collections.
Aditya Shringarpure, an Artspace member, has an upfront show at Artspace opening. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, although he grew up in the city of Bombay, which remains integral to the theme of his art. He combines his interests in photography, printmaking and drawing to create paintings that show both abstraction and realism. His final works develop around photographs that he took, which he incorporates directly into the paintings through drawing or transfer processes. Shringarpure then applies layers of paint, ink, oil pastel and graphite until his work reaches a desired look.
“Artspace also an exhibition in Gallery 1 that features three Artspace Artists Assocciation members,” Newman said. “It was curated by Catherine Coulter Lloyd, an outside curator. There’s also going to be studios/hallway art for sale.”
While the potential of free wine and food offered at the galleries may initially draw in some First Friday goers, students stick around because they enjoy the experience.
“It’s a friendly atmosphere,” Sagar Patel, a junior in Business Administration, said. Patel said he has been to First Friday a couple times after stumbling upon it one Friday evening.
“The people are very inviting, informed and more than happy to talk with you about and explain the artwork,” Patel said. “I think it’s pretty cool to go see artwork off campus with your friends because you can express your perspectives and opinions on the art pieces in ways you may not be able to in a classroom. My experiences at First Friday has helped me find a new understanding and appreciation for art.”
The Fish Market Student Gallery of N.C . State’s College of Design also participates in First Friday, showcasing the works of N.C . State students. At Adam Cave Fine Art, there will be a “Spirit of the Season” group show. The Mahler gallery will kickoff its Holiday Exhibition and the Chroma exhibition at Flanders Gallery will have its opening reception. Also, at the Visual Art Exchange, the Sale for the Season starts with a special First Friday reception.
