Friday: A feast for the eyes
By Jon Busdeker on Aug. 06, 2007
The year is speeding along, and all of a sudden we find ourselves in the “dog days” of August, which bring with it not only the beginning of school and the winding down of summer, but also — some would say most importantly — it brings us a new crop of First Friday events.
First Friday is the monthly art event that promotes downtown as well as area artists by urging downtown galleries to open their doors after regular closing time. Many galleries offer snacks and music as well as a feast for the eyes.
Venues that regularly support First Friday include: The Academy of Fine Arts, 600 Main St.; Riverviews Artspace, 901 Jefferson St.; Calloway Johnson, Moore & West, 1030 Main St.; Beeswax Candle Co. & Artisan Gallery, 109 13th St. (between Commerce and Main streets); Mezzanine Gallery, 720 Commerce St.; and Hardwick’s in the Galleria (915 Main St.).
The GLTC “Art” Trolley, sponsored by a grant from the Lynchburg Retail Merchants Foundation Inc., will run between these galleries as well as participating downtown restaurants from 5 to 8 p.m. There is free parking at the midtown parking deck at Ninth and Jefferson streets. Limited parking also is available at the Academy of Fine Arts’ surface lot at Main and Sixth streets.
Here’s a look at some of the offerings:
At AFA:
For this month’s First Friday, Greg Trafidlo will play folk music from 5 to 7 p.m. and hors d’ouevres and light refreshments will be provided by the Academy Café.
In the Art Up Front gallery, exhibits featuring photographs by Andrea Ferguson, oils by Polly Hanson and mixed media by Phyllis Hollenbeck will open during First Friday. The exhibits will hang through Aug. 31.
Monotypes and watercolors by Gina Louthian-Stanley will be on display in the Academy Gallery through Aug. 31. Also included in this show are some of her miniature landscape watercolors.
Louthian-Stanley says in her artist’s statement: “My recent works are translations of my experiences in landscape personally and spiritually. I seek to give ‘breath’ to the landscape and a visual dance the way the light falls on the earth.”
Louthian-Stanley, a Roanoke County native, works from a studio in her cabin home built in 1917.
Of her technique, the artist says, “The monotype gives me a direct intervention of hand by the manipulation of the paint on the plate. The adding to and lifting off of oil paint with a rag, brush, hands and fingers, gives the print the atmospheric luminosity so important to my works.”
Louthian-Stanley earned her B.A. in Studio Art from Hollins University and recently completed her master’s degree. She has received many artistic honors and awards and has works in several collections locally, nationally and internationally.
The Academy Instructors Exhibition, made up of 14 artists, continues through Sept. 10 in the Arts & Education Lobby
Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment.
At Riverviews:
“A Really Big Shoe Show” will be featured at this month’s First Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
The show, which opened in July, will hang through Aug. 26.
Gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free.
Call 847-7277 or visit http://www.riverviews.net.
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