Spring is singing forth in a colorful aria of art around Greensboro in May, and Gallery Hop will tune you in beautifully to all the offerings. I want to highlight a public art event that’s set to crop up in locations throughout center city. Brought by a collaborative effort of The Weatherspoon Art Museum and Downtown Greensboro Inc., Tape Art: Drawn Together showcases art using biodegradable “green” painter’s tape by nationally known tape artist, Michael Townsend. The opening reception will be hosted at the Elsewhere Artist Collaborative and the pieces will appear May 1- 8. Visit www.downtowngreensboro.net for location information.
Encouraging earth-friendly artistic behavior, First Friday features Shop By Bike, an initiative geared toward promoting healthy living and camaraderie through cycling. A list of merchants and restaurants are offering special discounts to those shopping the Hop via pedal power and decoration of both helmet and bike is highly encouraged. A list of participating retailers can be found at www.downtownfridays.com.
Along with all the great art and good times happening at Lyndon St. Artworks, FOUND Magazine will be performing live in the lounge at 8 p.m. with a $5 viewing fee. FOUND Magazine is a collection of notes, pictures, letters and wayward objects that people find and send in to brothers, Peter and Davey Rothbart, from all over the world. Their show is a rowdy music/ literature hybrid that has received national acclaim and will certainly add to the First Friday frivolity!
Greensboro’s Gallery Hop List:
• Ambleside Gallery (528 S. Elm St.): Offering fine art in a variety of media by artists from around the world.
• Artmongerz (610 S. Elm St.) Specializing in found object art by Artmongerz owner Frank Russell and showing new works in all artist studios by member artists for Gallery Hop. • Broach Theatre (520 South Elm St.): Featuring short skits from touring theatre company Peculiar People. Also previewing scenes from a new play opening in May. • Studio B at the Broach (520 S. Elm St.): Reception for Create & Celebrate, a monthlong celebration of the creativity of older adults to raise awareness of aging issues and to reduce the stigma of Alzheimer´s and related dementia.
• Center City Park (200 N. Elm St.): Come join poet and host Josephus III for Center City Poetry Experience, an open mic event at the Pavilion.
• Cultural Arts Center (200 N. Davie St.): Opening at African American Atelier, a Guilford County minority student exhibition by artist, Elizabeth Leal. Center for Visual Artists is hosting a reception for Art Alliance/Center for Visual Arts spring pottery sale and exhibition. Green Hill Center for NC Art features artist, Tom Suomalainen presenting a sculpture opera titled Woodland Frolic, with musical accompaniment.
• Elsewhere Artist Collaborative (606 & 608 S. Elm St.): Kick-off party for Tape Art a reception for artist Michael Townsend, who will be creating public installations at many center city locations in May.
• Jules Antiques & Fine Art (530 S. Elm St.): Jules inventory currently boasts a diversified collection of high-end international antiques. They have pieces from Boston to Bali, from Eastern Europe to western North Carolina with an eye for the unusual.
• Just Be (352 S. Elm St.): Discover Just Be’s collection of eclectic NC handmade art featuring the salvaged and recycled wood and metal art of Swirl´s artists Dana Tuttle & Andrea Illadis from Carrboro. Also, check out Farmer´s Market-inspired table with felted fruits and veggies by Greensboro artist Paige Cox.
• Liberty Oak (100 D W. Washington St.): A fresh new look is featured in the dining room by artist Ron Curlee; working in abstract naturalism.
• Lyndon Street Artworks (205 Lyndon St.): Anne Marie Davis is showing waterscape oil paintings. Ernie and Lois Rich are in the process of creating some unique seating/sculptures for the new Gateway Gardens. Anni Frohlich- Hicks creates many types of art like her 3-D miniature models and jewelry. Erik Beerbower is creating large, colorful butterflies to serve as shade structures at the new Gateway Gardens. Ann Lynch is a potter who experiments with surface techniques. Trace O’Connor will show his large sculpted sea creature, Iscariot. Plus special guests, FOUND Magazine, will also be performing live on stage.
• Mack and Mack (220 S. Elm St.): Offering interactive music for Gallery Hop, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own instrument to play or enjoy listening in.
• Mary Contrary (227-A S. Elm St.): Hear a Greensboro StoryFest sponsored by YES! Weekly sneak preview with Charlotte “Webspinner” Hamlin and other area storytellers and story musicians performing from 6-8pm.
• The Honey Bun Boutique (219 Summit Ave.): Owner Rosalyn Womack will show new designs from her own clothing line with live jazz by Antron Heggie. Also sample locally made chocolate treats by Lyprel.
• The Tin Rooster (602 S. Elm St.): The interior design boutique will feature an educational demonstration on textile art including a special section on “green” fabrics and significant sales prices for First Friday only.
• Yew Tree Gallery (604 S. Elm St.): Opening reception for featured artist, Barbara Rohde. Barbara’s lively painting style combines both realism and abstraction using vibrant watercolor, acrylics and mixed media. A silent auction of two beautiful oil paintings by Hluchan will end at 9 pm.
