Fine Art Fun At First Friday

BY FRANCES WOMBLE

THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Don’t forget tomorrow is First Friday, so head downtown to embrace local Fredericksburg culture.  Many art galleries are displaying new exhibits and holding receptions (often with munchies and drinks). Here is just a sampling of this month’s offerings. For more participating First Friday galleries, check out  the art exhibit listings on Page 18.

As always, First Fridays are free and open to the public.

Eat up 'Bad Apple' by TiffanyYates at LibertyTown's 'Feast for the Eyes' exhibit.

LIBERTYTOWN ARTS WORKSHOP

Tomorrow, LibertyTown Arts Workshop will launch “Feast for the Eyes,” its  annual exhibit of art about food.

Aline Fisher,  the gallery’s office manager,  said 67 artists submitted work.

“It’s a great event,” she said of the exhibit now in its sixth year.

One of the works she described as “Twinkies  a la Monet” features the spongy treat painted in an impressionistic style. Other submissions range from pottery and decorative plates to  three-dimensional hot dogs.

If you miss First Friday, you can visit the exhibit any time this month, but you will miss the Edible Art Competition.

Past submissions include a bowl sculpted from melted Jolly Ranchers and a bird molded from M&Ms. First Friday attendees  vote for their favorite entry, and might even get to taste the winning piece.

'At the Opening' by Nancy Brittle at Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts.

FREDERICKSBURG CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS

The Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts is using First Friday to present two exhibits.

The first, the April Regional Juried Show, is a regional all-media exhibit. According to curator Carrol Morgan, 41 artists submitted 94 entries.

Juror Mary  Gallagher–Stout, a mixed media artist and author, selected 32 of the works to display.  She also recognizes the talent of her fellow exhibitors.

“This small exhibition has an enigmatic synergy,” she said. “This show is brimming with artists who have articulated their voice through their personal style.”

She will jump start FCCA’s First Friday with a juror’s talk.

FCCA is also showcasing Deborah Herndon  in the Members’ Gallery.  This exhibit, titled “Architecture Talks: Doors and Details From Europe and U.S.,” highlights the impact of culture on architectural details.

Herndon said her artwork is highly influenced by her academic background in anthropology, sociology and urban planning.

Meow: Catch Paula Rose's ‘2 Cat Neighborhood #2’ at Art First.

ART FIRST GALLERY

Art First, Fredericksburg’s first artists’ cooperative, combines the talent from two artists in its April show, “A is for Art.”

Sally Rhone–Kubarek, a book illustrator, will display batik illustrations on rice paper from the alphabet book “Mini Mysteries in the Middle.”

Her work is joined by Paula Rose’s latest selection of paintings called “Two Cat Neighborhood.”  Rose brings her personal style to these larger-scale art pieces by occasionally combining white cats, teapots and Italian landscapes together on the same canvas.

Fly away with Sarah Flinn's 'Blue Bird' at Brush Strokes.

BRUSH STROKES GALLERY

Local artist Sarah Flinn is this month’s featured artist at Brush Strokes Gallery.  Her show, “Here and There,” will include recognizable landmarks in Fredericksburg and the Blue Ridge region as well as sites from Flinn’s cross-country trips.

“You almost get a sense of nostalgia from Sarah’s work,” said publicity chairwoman Merian Stevens.  “People that grew up in Fredericksburg really appreciate her work.  It’s very dear to them.”

Stevens said Flinn’s oil paintings of Carl’s ice cream stand are very popular.

“I’ve had people call from other states wanting a painting, a print or even a postcard of Carl’s,” she said.

According to Stevens, gallery visitors can expect to see about 15 paintings by Flinn.  Other gallery artists are showing between three and four pieces each.

LIBERTYTOWN ARTS WORKSHOP:

916 Liberty St.

First Friday: 5–9 p.m.

540-371-7255

FREDERICKSBURG CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS:

813 Sophia St.

First Friday: 6–8:30 p.m.

540/373-5646

ART FIRST GALLERY:

824 Caroline St.

First Friday: 6–9 p.m.

540/371-1707

BRUSH STROKES GALLERY:

824 Caroline St.

First Friday: open until 9 p.m.

540/368-0560

Frances Womble:  540/374-5444

fwomble@freelancestar.com

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