March First Friday Events will launch a full month of artistic events and exhibitions in the Valley.
The March 4th Art Walk is included in Artlink’s month-long “Art Detour” event. The celebration of the arts is set to feature 31 days of events, exhibits and experiences across Arizona. First Friday is one of the first events and several galleries are joining in celebrating Art Detour.
A pop-up market will be open on Roosevelt Row from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. with over 90 art vendors, live music and food trucks. School of Rock will play at 6 p.m. and Latosque & Friends will play from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
An augmented reality art instillation will also be on display by artist Malcom McCrae in the Roosevelt Row Evolve Gallery at 918 N. Second Street.
Phoenix graffiti artist MDMN will showcase work at the Sisao Gallery on Grand Avenue. Several galleries, including Eye Lounge and Olney Gallery in Trinity Cathedral, will also open on Roosevelt Row.
Meet artist Larry Madrigal:Phoenix Artist Finds Meaning in Painting Portraits of People He Loves Doing Things They Love
Hyewon Yoon: Mindscapes at Eye Lounge
Eye Lounge member artist Hyewon Yoon will hold his first solo exhibition at Eye Lounge this first Friday. In a series of works drawn in pen on canvas, Yoon will present “imaginary landscapes” influenced by life forms such as wood, flowers and plants. The exhibition will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Eye salon: 419 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-430-1490, eyelounge.com.
Vintage Collection at Eighty Seven on Grand
Stop by vintage boutique Eighty Seven for a collective exhibition of 10 phoenix artists from all mediums. Curated by artist Champ Styles, the exhibit will feature vintage spray paint cans that each artist has personalized.
Details: Eighty-Seven, 1325 Grand Ave #108, Phoenix. instagram.com/eighty.sevenshop
‘Life Patterns’ in the Olney Gallery of Trinity Cathedral
Trinity Cathedral’s Olney Gallery will feature four artists this first Friday during its show. In a mix of sculptures, paintings, and prints, artists Tristyn Bustamante, Barbara Kemp Cowlin, Freddie Lieberman, and Darlene Ritte will share bright, technicolor works for her show and story “Life Patterns.”
The opening reception will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on March 4. A free parking garage is available to guests.
Details: Olney Gallery at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 100 W. Roosevelt St. Phoenix. olneygallery.com/
‘Call Us Who We Left Behind’ at Modified Arts
This exhibit tells the story of black trauma and the hope and healing that can occur in the midst of pain. Artists Alison Auditore, Antoinette Cauley, Amirah Chatman and Philip Gabriel Steverson share each stage of grief amid mental illness, violence, death and cultural erasure. The exhibition on the first Friday will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Altered Arts, 407 E. Roosevelt St. Phoenix. 317-755-7971, artsmodified.org/
Print a poster at Hazel & Violet Letterpress
Print a free poster on Grand Avenue at Hazel & Violet Letterpress, open 5-10 p.m. on the first Friday. The store also has cards, coasters, calendars, and stationery available for purchase.
Details: Hazel & Violet Letterpress, 1301 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix. 480-544-2162, hazelandviolet.com.
MDMN ‘Gigantic Pavement’ at Sisao Gallery on Grand Avenue
Stop by the Sisao Gallery for the “Gigantic Pavement” exhibition by graffiti artist Phoenix MDMN. MDMN’s urban style meets contemporary with layered colors and bold illustrations. The show mixes pure overwhelming emotions held in isolation and the honest angst of overwhelming inner conflict.
The opening of the exhibition will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: Sisao Gallery, 1501 Grand Avenue Phoenix. 516-603-1930, facebook.com/sisaogalleryphx.
‘Pleading Insanity’ at 9 the Gallery
9 The Gallery presents “Shoreigh Williams: Pleading Insanity”. The exhibition will open on March 4 from 6 to 10 p.m. to 9 a.m., the Gallery, in the lobby of the Lawrence Building. “Pleading Insanity” is a vibrant, uncensored explosion of color, intuition, experimentation and self. Phoenix resident Williams uses micron pen, scribble texture and acrylic to create dreamlike portraits
Parking is free and available in the gated lot in front of the Lawrence Building.
Details: 9 the Gallery, The Lawrence Building, 515 E. Grant St., Phoenix. 480-454-5929, 9thegallery.com/
Hitachi Collection of Postwar Japanese Photographs at the Phoenix Art Museum
This exhibition features the works of post-World War II Japanese photographers, including Daidō Moriyama, Masahisa Fukase, Miyako Ishiuchi, and Eikoh Hosoe. The aesthetic? A high caliber grainy, rough and blurry photograph that is a total departure from photography of the time. The exhibition presents 87 works from Japanese projects from 1961 to 1989.
“Landscapes of Extraction: The Art of Mining in the American West” will also be open to the public until March 22, 2022. Other exhibits include “Generation Paper: Fast Fashion of the 1960s” which features more than 80 pieces of dresses in preserved paper, jewelry, swimwear, handbags and more. Another includes the “Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka” which features over 50 objects from over 1,000 years of Sri Lankan artwork.
Free admission hours for the first Friday are from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Masks are strongly encouraged for all visitors.
Details: Phoenix Museum of Art, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880, phxart.org.
‘Less is more: An exhibition on minimalism’ at Found:RE
“Less is More: A Minimalism Exhibition” will feature artists Lucas Knowles and Mary Meyer presenting an exhibition of contemporary art. A mix of simple line art and monochromatic palettes on a tiered surface, Knowles and Meyer present simple, minimalist artwork stripped to its bare minimum.
The exhibition will run until March 26. “Less is More” will open alongside “FOCAL POINTS: Minimal VS Maximal,” featuring the work of 79 Arizona artists exploring both minimalist and maximalist art forms.
While at FOUND:RE, guests can stop by the urban primitive series “See—Hear—Sing—Fly” by artist Tempe Joan Waters. The poolside installation reinvents satellite dishes in a four-part work that explores the power of nature in technology.
The reception will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Details: FOUND: RE Phoenix Hotel, 1100 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-875-8000, foundrehotels.com/contemporary.
Admire the works of art by “Prod•i•gy” students at the New City Studio
Prod•i•gy will present works by elementary, middle and high school students. From photos to paintings, the exhibit will feature works in all mediums from students across the valley. Additionally, the studio has partnered with Ohana, a social service agency that provides support to youth and adults in foster care across Arizona. Twelve children from Ohana Group Homes will feature artwork in the show.
The gallery will be open on March 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors can also drop by the workshop on Sundays from 8 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Details: New City Studio, 1300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. www.newcitystudio.org.
Malcolm McCrae at Roosevelt Row’s “Evolve” Gallery
It is an exhibit that chronicles artist Malcolm “Airbrush Assassin” McCrae’s life experiences as an African American man. In his exhibition titled “Infusion”, McCrae blends art and technology in a collection of works infused with augmented reality. Each artwork will have a secret message that guests can unlock through any smartphone or device. The gallery’s opening on February 18 is a free RSVP event, with the exhibit on display until mid-March.
Details: 6-9 p.m. Feb. 18. Roosevelt Row Gallery 918 N. Second St., Phoenix. https://www.malcolmmccrae.com/artshowphx.
Kitimoto Group at the Wayward Taphouse on Grand Avenue
For this first Friday, the Wayward Tap house will feature artists Ivana Gomez and Sebastian Tinajero – their works range from digital art and acrylic paint to photo-realistic fine art on canvas. Artists will paint live outside and the Kitimoto Band will perform live music at the Wayward Taphouse.
Details: The Wayward Taphouse, 1028 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-671-7900, thewaywardaz.com.
‘The Human Theater’ at The Project Space
Stop by Project Space just off Grand Avenue for bold, large-scale works in all mediums. Artists Eric Kasper, Joel Coplin, Marilyn Szabo and Jo-Ann Lowney will exhibit their works. The space will feature large oil paintings, fine art photographs and artistic videos. Over 25 pieces will be on display – all tapping into the universal human experience. The first Friday will be from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Details: The Project Space, 1345 W. McKinley St., Phoenix.
Alwun House Art Market
On this first Friday at Alwun House, the art park will become an art market filled with art vendors. Visitors can eat at BJ’s New Mexican Eats food truck, a concept that serves New Mexican chili. DJ Scapegoat will be playing music for the evening. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
First Friday events will take place from 6-10 p.m.
Details: Alwun House, 1204 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-253-7887, alwunhouse.org
Vertigo Gallery
The show will mix new introspective works with several callback pieces from past exhibitions. Several works have been created by artists in recovery, dealing with grief, battling cancer with chemotherapy, and healing from the victimization of trauma. Each tells a simple story: art can restore. The First Fridays event will run from 6-9pm
Details: Vertigo Gallery, 852 N. 6th Avenue Phoenix. 602-399-4540, https://vertigo.gallery/
Contact the reporter at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram @sofia.krusmark
