August 1 , 2008 - FIRST FRIDAY ART TRAIL

Lubbock Galleries, Businesses and Restaurants Join Together for First Friday Art Trail Events

Lubbock, TX. - Once again the galleries, studios, businesses and restaurants of downtown Lubbock and beyond will join together and open their doors for First Friday Art Trail, Lubbock’s monthly evening of art, music and food, on August 1 from 6 – 9 pm.

First Friday Art Trail showcases fabulous works of art, much of which is created locally in the unique and inspiring galleries, studios, businesses and restaurants of downtown Lubbock and throughout our city. Participating galleries, studios, businesses and restaurants include Alderson Mercedes, Art Depot, Art on Texas Avenue, Buddy Holly Center, Downtown Underground, Ediblemetal Gallery, Hard Tops Gallery, J&B Coffee, La Diosa Cellars, M&M Services/Lubbock Craft Mafia, Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center, RENDr art supply store and gallery, Tornado Gallery, South Plains Monuments, Stray Dog Gallery and The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts.

From the Depot District to the Civic Center District to Texas Tech University and beyond, art “trailers” can easily follow the trail on their own with maps provided at each location, or hop aboard the First Friday trolleys. The four roving trolleys and one bus will each provide short routes in the downtown area only. Catch the trolleys and bus at any of your favorite downtown locations, and find ample parking and numerous trolleys at Hard Tops Gallery, LHUCA and Buddy Holly Center. Look to the wonderful ‘trolleyteers’ at FFAT venues to assist you in riding the trolleys with ease.

Exceptional art adorns the walls and spaces of Lubbock’s fascinating gallery community. Enjoy a Friday evening after work, after dinner or make an entire evening of delighting in the paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery, mixed media and music. The event is free and open to the public, and many of the venues serve refreshments.

First Friday Art Trail is made possible in part by City of Lubbock Cultural and Festivals, Arts and Entertainment Grants Programs as recommended by Civic Lubbock, Inc.; The CH Foundation; the Helen Jones Foundation; Texas Commission on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts.

For further information about First Friday Art Trail, call 762-8606.

LIST OF VENUES AND ARTISTS

LIST OF FFAT VENUES for August 1

Alderson Mercedes, 1702 Texas Ave., will show Beth Bartley’s gourds, Kathy Hinson’s oils, Pat Maines’ mixed media works, Dyan Newton’s watercolors, Liz Parke’s photography, Evan Sanford’s and Judy Warman-Adams’ paintings, Donniece Smith’s fiber arts and Wendell Warman-Adams’ ceramics. 763.8041

Art on Texas Avenue, 1506 Texas Ave., is featuring watercolorist Joyce Runyan, who will introduce her new series, "Chic Chicks," as well as her new watercolor and watercolor/watercolor ink paintings. John Franklin’s turned wood vessels will also be on view. 745.2687

Art Studio and Gallery by Rania K., 1111 Avenue J, has dichroic glass jewelry and pastel still lifes by Rania K., mixed media and stained concrete artwork by Chelsie Murfee, black and white photography from Texas and New Mexico by Edward Spence and acrylic paintings and prints by Sallie Inman. 744.0918

Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., will have an opening reception for "The Bicycle as Art: A Celebration of Family. A Declaration of Self" curated by Kyle McQuilkin. 775.3560

Downtown Underground, 1406 Texas Ave., has Val Brown's acrylic murals; Miles Knudson's furniture; Pat Brown's jewelry and ceramic busts; Mike Meister, Scott White and Lynn Burton's acrylic paintings; Pauline Mills' acrylic paintings and stained glass; Emily Dobbs' glass art; Bob Ertmer, Cat Boucher and Shannon Craig Ramos' photography; Mike Synatski's bronze sculptures; Kim Todd's jewelry; Steve Smith's oil and watercolor paintings and Jonathan Franke's watercolor. Triple J Chophouse and Brewery will do a FREE beer tasting!

Ediblemetal Gallery, 2701 N. Frankford Ave., Studio #1, will show works by Kate Williams, Ted Adams and Charise Knudson with guest artists Gary Huntoon, Roger Allen, Charles Grace and David Echols. Live acoustic blues music provided by Dangerous Dan starting at 9pm. Open until midnight! 747.0600

Equilibrium, 602-A Broadway, will have Kerry Campbell's photography and a slumped glass exhibition. Park in the east parking lot across the street. 441.6609

Hard Tops Gallery, 2228 Buddy Holly Ave., presents the 3rd annual collegiate art show, featuring students from Texas Tech, South Plains College and Lubbock Christian University and including watercolors, ceramic sculpture, acrylics, charcoal, photography and mixed medias. See works by Ashley Glisson, Jacie Hood, Jessica Armstrong, Tommy Russell, Cherry Hagens, Tedra McMillan, Kevin Hodges, Becca Elliott, Jennifer Rendleman and Timmi Blackchear! 793.6950

J&B Coffee, 2701 26th St., has "Portraits and Paintings by Lando," works by Levelland artist Lando Valdez. 796.1114

La Diosa Cellars, 901 17th St., will show mixed media works and glazed busts by Patricia Brown. Live funk, dance and soul music by Element from 8:30 to midnight! This venue charges a $5.00 cover after 8pm. 744.3600

LHUCA, 511 Avenue K, will open three new exhibitions, including "People and Places," a solo exhibition of works in water media by Gale Webb; Eliane Velozo's "White Dream" solo photography exhibition about cotton farming on three continents and "Richards Squared," a collaborative painting show between mother and son Nola Richards and Ryder Richards. Closing are Janet Bryant Bybel's and Allin Budek's solo painting exhibitions. Visit the Helen DeVitt Jones Clay Studio to see what's up in the world of clay at LHUCA and don't miss the new clay teaching gallery in the Christine DeVitt Icehouse! 762.8606

Lubbock Municipal Garden and Arts Center, 4215 University Ave., will open an exhibition by the Lubbock Sketch Club. 767.3724

M&M Services/Lubbock Craft Mafia, 1414 Avenue L. The Lubbock Craft Mafia™ is a local chapter of the national Craft Mafia Organization. The local mob familia is represented by a group of Lubbock artists/DIY business owners who participate in the organized craft of unique artisan items. This month, all the artists in this group will be featured in a collection of their best projects. Included will be Jan Brownlow’s "Arty Dominoes," Jo Henderson aka "the Suitcase Lady", Sara VanGunten’s "Glitter Bitties," Kelley Pitts’ "Stampin Up" projects, Dianne Bridges’ work in Poly Clay and Emily Johnson aka "the Crafty Hooker." 787.3552

RENDr, 2713 26th St., has a children's art show featuring art work done by kids who have taken art classes at RENDr. 771.9553

South Plains Monuments, 1306 34th St., is showing Linda Jackson’s “Grace & Hart” jewelry. What started as a fun hobby to make unique jewelry at an affordable price for her and her friends turned into a thriving home-based business once the word got out. Good news travels fast. 774.4178

Stray Dog Gallery, 1917 Buddy Holly Ave., will show "Hillbilly's" woodcarvings and driftwood art! 283.3332

Sugar Brown’s Coffee Shop, 4818 50th St., has stylized acrylic portrait paintings by Chuck Zedlav and landscape and architectural photography by Jessica Armstrong. Live music by Levi Smith and by The Allens. $5.00 cover charge starts at 8:30. Open until midnight! 687.4951

Tornado Gallery, 1822 Buddy Holly Avenue, is hosting the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Rack Re-Design Challenge, in which ten local artists transformed an ordinary newspaper rack into an extraordinary piece of artwork. Come and see the stunning results! Featured artists are Angelyn Nicholson, Chad Plunket, Eddy Grigsby, Jonathan Whitfill, Pat Maines, Karen Wiley, Sara Peso White, Susan Boling, Vanessa Hocutt, and Tornado Gallery’s own Tony Greer, Larry Simmons and Jennifer Greer. 239.1891

TROLLEY and BUS ROUTES
All trolleys will rove in one continuous route to all of the below venues. Catch them at any of these venues to GO to any of the others on the trolley route!

Four trolleys and one bus will rove downtown, stopping at the following locations:
• Art on Texas Avenue
• Art Studio and Gallery by Rania K.
• Buddy Holly Center
• Downtown Underground
• Equilibrium
• Hard Tops Gallery
• LHUCA
• M&M Services / Lubbock Craft Mafia Studio
• Stray Dog Gallery
• Tornado Gallery

For further information about First Friday Art Trail, call 762-8606.