July is gearing up with plenty of First Friday fun in store for Greensboro. Among the interesting new experiences to enjoy are tours of the partially constructed space of Focal Points Gallery at 320-B S. Elm St. Focal Points is the reincarnation of the former Two Art Chicks Gallery, in whose old space Greensboro’s Mellow Mushroom now resides. Focal Points will feature live music from Eating the Invaders, homemade hors d’oeuvres and desserts from Cheesecakes by Alex. Stop by and check out the developing digs and wish these new art chicks good luck while you’re there.
The Yew Tree Gallery at 604 S. Elm St. is hosting a book signing for Dr. Denise Tucker this month. Tucker’s first mystery novel, Keeping House: A Madame President Mystery is the first in a series of seven planned mysteries, each one set in a famous house, villa or castle around the world. Yew Tree Gallery member artist Richard Phillips created the cover art for the book. July brings an unusual entertainment offering at custom clothier Mack and Mack, who often feature an open music jam. Instead, they’ve scheduled a special concert by Greensboro’s own Eugene Chadbourne. Internationally renowned for his unique brand of alternative, high-concept rockabilly songs and for performing on invented instruments, Dr. Chad gives only rare performances in his hometown. F-Art Ensemble will fill out the bill as his backup band. A $5 cover will be charged at the door, with performance starting at 7:30 p.m. The seating is limited and coolers are welcome, so you may want to arrive early and get tuned up for this special musical treat!
GREENSBORO’S GALLERY HOP LIST FOR JULY:
• Ambleside Gallery (528 S. Elm St.) www.amblesidearts.com: Offering fine art in a variety of media by regional and international artists accompanied by live music and refreshments.
• Artmongerz (610 S. Elm St.) www.myspace.com/artmongerz: Artmongerz offers a variety of works by studio member artists with refreshments offered on First Friday.
• Basketdoodle (317 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr.) www.basketdoodle.com: This creative gift basket company is showcasing an open mic night, encouraging music, storytelling, poetry and performance.
• Elsewhere Artist Collaborative (606 & 608 S. Elm St.) www.elsewhereelsewhere.org: Elsewhere is a living art museum and collaborative laboratory for artists, hosting an Artist Conversation with resident Casey Droege, a Pittsburgh, Pa. based photographer and fiber artist starting at 8 p.m.
• Focal Points Art Gallery (300-B S. Elm St.) www.focalpointsartgallery.com: Offering tours of the partially constructed new gallery space, live music from Eating the Invaders, homemade hors d’oeuvres and desserts from
Cheesecakes by Alex. • Jules Antiques & Fine Art (530 S. Elm St.) www.julesantiques.com: A new shipment of antiques from Europe, Asia and the Americas will be showcased.
• Just Be (352 S. Elm St.) www.justbeartsy. com: Just Be is featuring colorful and functional work in a wide array of media, from a variety of regional and national artists.
• Lyndon Street Artworks (205 Lyndon St.) www.lyndonstreet.com: Featuring a painting demonstration by Charlotte and Erik Ström, live on stage in the lounge. Lyndon Street Artworks features over 40 local artists working studios that are open to the public. Artists include Erik Beerbower, Gabrielle Beard, Cass Catlett, Anne Marie Davis, Karen Bjork Dischell, Andrew Comstock, Anni Frohlich, Kris Hohn, Ann Lynch, Julie McNight, Trace O’Connor, Jim Petersen, Ernie and Lois Rich, Susan Ridenour, Mariana Rodrigez-Pardy, Copper Chameleon, Erik and Charlotte Ström, and Lida Witherspoon.
• Mack and Mack (220 S. Elm St.) www. mackandmackclothing.com: This month, Mack and Mack makes a departure from their usual open music jam with a special concert by Greensboro’s own Dr. Eugene Chadbourne.
F-Art Ensemble will perform as his backup band. A $5 cover will be charged at the door and the performance begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. with limited seating. Coolers are welcome for the show.
• Mary Contrary (227-A S. Elm St.) www. marycontrary.biz: Showing fun and colorful gift items for Gallery Hop.
• Old Photo Specialist (320 S. Elm St.) www.oldphotospecialists.com: Offering live demonstrations of Express Portraits, portraits created while you wait. In celebration of our nation’s birthday we will feature restored military pictures to honor the men and women who have served our country.
• Riva’s Trattoria (257 N. Greene St.) www.rivastrattoria.com: Featuring cubist paintings by Emmett Williams and works by Joe Bergeron, Renee Skelly, Amy Brabeck and Tracy Marshall of the Marshall Art Gallery.
Showcasing a new back-patio mural by local artist and Riva’s server Eric Moss. Enjoy live music with your dining experience at this family-owned Northern Italian café. • The Tin Rooster (602 S. Elm St.) www.thetinrooster.com: Experience Hot Nights at the Tin Rooster featuring bellydancers from Studio 318: World Dance Oasis, set in this beautifully eclectic upholstery and design center.
• Yew Tree Gallery (604 S. Elm St.) www.downtowngreensboro.org: Yew Tree Gallery will host a book signing for Dr. Denise Tucker. The cover art was created by Greensboro artist Richard Phillips whose artworks are available at Yew Tree Gallery. Yew Tree Gallery is home to 16 painters who work in a variety of media and styles, including oils, acrylic, pastel, pen and ink, and watercolor.
• Undercurrent (327 Battleground Ave.) www.undercurrentrestaurant.com: Featuring original works by local artist Billy Cone, as well as an autographed copy of his book of photography. Enjoy corkage fee-free Fridays, where patrons can bring their own wine and avoid a corkage fee.
First Friday in Winston looks to be
quite the event for July, coinciding with the arts district opening of
the annual Heavy Rebel Weekender at the Millennium Center. While I’m
sure the hot-rodders, hard rockers and burlesque babes will mix
entertainingly with the ever-artful Gallery Hop, I’d consider arriving
early for the sake of parking! July’s Hop is brimming with terrific
events including Jennifer Wynn O’Kelly’s new show of paintings at
Verdigris Gallery at 217 W. 6th St. The work has allowed the artist to
explore her love of archeology and anthropology in a way that
incorporates the interplay of imagination, magic and facts. The pieces,
based on actual locations and utilizing archaeological artifacts, draw
the viewer into a storytelling environment, where the unexpected may
(and does) happen. It’s an enchanting show and not to be missed.
The
Heavy Rebel car cruise will be holding down one end of Trade Street,
but Atelier Studios is not to be outdone! In keeping with the spirit of
the weekend, Atelier photographer Jeff Broughton is sponsoring the
first ever JeffYoursElf Car and Motorcycle Show, representing car
culture for the Triad. The show will feature Jeff’s Star Car, a vintage
Stingray so named since it was featured in a recent local commercial
with a certain fox-about-the-town. The ladies of Atelier will also keep
to a theme as they get set to sass customers while they play it up at
the Atelier Diner. If you can’t buy any art, you’d better leave a tip!
Finally, the funniest offering by far takes place at apercu gallery,
inside the Artists on Liberty Building at 521 N. Liberty St. Showing
Fish Without Fathers… Philandering Fish & Their Abandoned Spawn, an
eclectic collection of whimsical metal fish sculptures by Frank
Russell. Touted as “poor, bastard fish”, who deserve a good home and
stable environment; these imaginative, colorful, eco-friendly creations are made entirely of reclaimed, recycled and repurposed materials.
Stop by apercu gallery for all the details on fish adoption. I hope to see you out in the Arts District this Friday!
HERE’S THE HOT LIST FOR JULY’S HOP IN WINSTON-SALEM:
•
Studios at 625, 625 N. Trade St., 336.724.3000: There’s always a fun
mix of art and resident artists on hand for Gallery Hop. • Atelier
Studios, 619 N. Trade St., www.atelierstudiosws.com: Atelier Studios showcases visual and performing artists as part of its
collective membership. This month features the first ever JeffYoursElf
Car and Motorcycle Show as well as fun with the ladies of the Atelier
Diner. Stop and enjoy newly reorganized spaces with work by talented
member artists.
• Golden Flower T’ai Chi Center, 612 N. Trade St., www.goldenflower.org: Open for Gallery Hop, offering fine teas, Tai Chi information and more. • Earthbound Arts, 610 N. Trade St., www.earthboundarts.com:
Featuring marvelous new works of art in a variety of media, terrific
handmade scents, soaps and herb blends, plus beautiful garden jewels to
add sparkle to your garden.
• Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery, 601 N. Trade St., www.PiedmontCraftsmen.org: Opening a new member show, featuring the silver jewelry of Joanna Gollberg and the woven tapestries of Alice Schlein.
•
The Fiber Company, 600 N. Trade St., 336.725.5277: Open for Gallery
Hop. Fiber Company is a collective gallery that showcases work by fiber
artists and designers.
• Artworks Gallery, 564 N. Trade St., www. artworks-gallery.org: Featuring a two-person
exhibit by Cindy Taplin, a painter working in acrylics and Kim
Varnadoe, whose work includes photography-based, mixed-media pieces.
•
The Other Half, 560 N. Trade St., 336.407.5494: Showing Fabulous
Objects for Garden, whimsical garden or indoor ornaments, garden
lights, bird baths and hummingbird feeders.
• 5IVE & 40RTY Gallery, 541 N. Trade St., www.5iveand40rty.com:
Is showing Beyond the Outer Banks, the curatorial debut of Peggy
O’Donnell and David Williams that features art by 12 artists
representing
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