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About First Friday Art Walk

 

Artsfest weekend starts with First Friday Art Walk!

For details on May shows for all 25 Art Walk venues, click here.

New gallery shows, Rally in Patton Alley, ArtsFiesta! highlight May Art Walk

Springfield’s Downtown Arts District is THE place to be May 2-4, beginning with First Friday Art Walk and ending with Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street.

First Friday Art Walk, a free, self-guided walking tour of downtown art galleries, will be held 6-10 p.m. May 2, featuring 25 arts venues, arts demonstrations, live music, food and fun, plus the Rally in Patton Alley with Ozark Greenways. Gallery highlights of the May Art Walk include:

Out and About, featuring new paintings and art prints by award-winning Springfield artist Debra Sutherland at the Keyes Gallery;
Ozark Area Potters Pamela and John Hagen at Springfield Pottery;
A Kaleidoscope of Works by Rolla artist Paula Turney Brewer, SRAC Artist in Residence Ann Meese and area elementary and middle school art teachers from the region; and
Work of Jack Chikaya, an artist based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, at Global Fayre.

 

A special feature of the May Art Walk is the Rally in Patton Alley, presented 6-9 p.m. in partnership with Ozark Greenways. Bike to the Art Walk and park it with Ozark Greenways. Patton Alley will be closed off for bike parking, displays of art bikes, funky bikes, city bus bike rack demonstrations, free Andy’s Frozen Custard and registration for Bike Bus Walk Week, May 12-16. Help make Springfield more pedestrian and bicycle friendly!

 

 

And while you’re enjoying Art Walk and the Rally in Patton Alley, check out the international kickoff event for Artsfest, ArtsFiesta!, in downtown’s Founder’s Park. A Cinco de Mayo celebration of Mexican art, culture and music with an authentic Mariachi band from Springfield’s sister city, Tlaquepaque, Mexico, ArtsFiesta! is sponsored by Artsfest, the Springfield Sister Cities Association and American Family Insurance. Admission to ArtsFiesta! is $3; children 10 and under free.

 

 

Family Art Night at the Downtown Y offers affordable child care for ages 3 months-12 years, 6:30-9:30 p.m. during First Friday Art Walk. The cost is $10 per child and includes activities, healthy snacks and an art activity to take home. Contact Kyla Bentley, 417.862.8962, ext. 149, for more information or to pre-register.

 

 

And after Friday night’s festivities, don’t forget Artsfest on Historic Walnut Street, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 3 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4. Tickets are $3 in advance, $5 at the gate and children 10 and under get in free.

 

 

For more information about First Friday Art Walk, contact Clarissa French, communications director, at 417.849.8255 or sunoficarus@yahoo.com

Clarissa A. French
Writer/Editor/Consultant
(417) 832-0754
sunoficarus@yahoo.com