Take advantage of some of the nicest weather of the year and enjoy February’s First Friday events in downtown Phoenix.
Those who are in the mood for a walk can head to Roosevelt Row for the pop-up market at the Welcome Center on Second and Fifth streets. The market will run from 6-10 p.m. with live music and more than 75 vendors to headline the night.
Museums like the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum will offer free (or voluntary donation) admission for ongoing exhibitions including PAM’s newest exhibition “Farewell Photography: The Hitachi Collection of Postwar Japanese Photographs, 1961-1989” and ‘Remembering the Future’ at the Heard. “Generation Paper: Fast Fashion of the 1960s,” will also be on display featuring more than 80 paper fashion pieces from the 60s.
Those looking for quirky art can stop by Wayward Taphouse for a drink and dance to live music. Other highlights include Mikey Foster Estes’ “Me Loving You/You Loving Me” at Eye Lounge and longtime Phoenix artist Marissa Vidrio’s nature paintings at Five15Arts.
Photos from December’s First Friday:The scene on Roosevelt Row in December 2021
‘Generous Nature’ by Marissa Vidrio at Five15Arts
In a blend of painting, printmaking and embroidery, longtime Phoenix resident and artist Marissa Vidrio will present a collection of colorful monosilkscreen prints, embellished with needle and thread. Each mixed media work invites the art goer into scenes from the natural world — each one colored with detail and dimension.
The exhibition will open on Feb. 4. The gallery will be open from 6-9 p.m.
Details: Five15Arts Collective, 1301 NW Grand Ave #2b, Phoenix. 602-717-1194, www.five15arts.com.
Tara Sharpe at Sisao Gallery
Head to Sisao Gallery for a display of Phoenix artist Tara Sharpe’s expressionistic paintings. The paintings will feature themes of transformation, transcendence and beauty as well as pervading mythical themes.
The gallery will be open from Feb. 4 to Feb. 18, with an opening reception from 6-9 p.m. on Feb. 4.
Details: Sisao Gallery, 1501 Grand Ave. Phoenix. 516-603-1930, www.facebook.com/sisaogalleryphx.
Hawk Salvage vintage goods and oddities at Wayward Taphouse
Stop by the Wayward on First Friday to see early 1900s woodblock prints from Hawk Salvage, a longtime favorite antique shop on Grand Avenue. The woodblock prints were done by various European artists, most between 1900 and 1920. There will also be antique doll molds and other oddities on display. In addition, catch the paintings and work of local artist Sebastian Tinajero.
The First Friday event will run from noon to midnight. There will be a DJ from 7 a.m. to midnight, as well as artists painting on the back patio. There will also be “Bucky Burgers” food truck.
Details: The Wayward Taphouse, 1028 NW Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-671-7900, thewaywardaz.com.
‘Me Loving You/You Loving Me’ at Eye Lounge
Artist Mikey Foster Estes will feature their photography at Eye Lounge from Jan. 21 to Feb. 13. The artist will exhibit their first-ever black-and-white 16mm film in addition to new and revisited photographic works, all of which tell the story of Estes’ relationship with their late parents and family home.
Eye Lounge will be open for First Friday from 6-9 p.m. on Friday.
Details: Eye Lounge, 419 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-430-1490, eyelounge.com.
‘Remembering the Future’ at the Heard Museum
The Heard Museum’s new exhibition features paintings and sculptures by American Indian artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Other shows include “Toward the Morning Sun: Navajo Pictorial Textiles from the Jean-Paul and Rebecca Valette Collection,” and a new, permanent special installation featuring the work of artist Steven Paul Judd. First Friday hours are 4-8 p.m.
Details: Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8840, heard.org.
Print a poster at Hazel & Violet Letterpress
Print a free poster on Grand Avenue at Hazel & Violet Letterpress, open from 5-10 p.m. on First Friday. The store also has cards, coasters, calendars and stationery available for purchase.
Details: Hazel & Violet Letterpress, 1301 N.W. Grand Ave., Phoenix. 480-544-2162, hazelandviolet.com.
Hitachi Collection of Postwar Japanese Photographs at Phoenix Art Museum
This exhibition features the works of post-World War II Japanese photographers including Daidō Moriyama, Masahisa Fukase, Miyako Ishiuchi and Eikoh Hosoe. The aesthetic? Gritty, rough and out-of-focus high-caliber photography that’s a total deviation from the photography of the time period. The exhibition displays 87 works from Japanese projects from 1961 through 1989.
“Landscapes of Extraction: The Art of Mining in the American West” will also be open to the public until March 22, 2022. Other exhibitions include “Generation Paper: Fast Fashion of the 1960s” which features more than 80 preserved pieces of paper dresses, jewelry, swimsuits, purses and more. Another includes the “Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka” which features more than 50 objects from over 1,000 years of Sri Lankan artwork.
Free admission hours for First Friday are 3-7 p.m. Masks are strongly encouraged for all visitors.
Details: Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880, phxart.org.
‘Less is more: A minimalism exhibition’ at Found:RE
“Less is More: A Minimalism Exhibition” will feature artists Lucas Knowles and Mary Meyer, who present a contemporary art exhibition. A blend of simple linework art and monochrome pallets on multilevel surface, both Knowles and Meyer present simple, minimalistic artwork stripped to its bare essentials.
The exhibition will run from Feb. 4 to March 26. “Less is More” will be open at the same time as “FOCAL POINTS: Minimal VS Maximal,” featuring the work of 79 Arizona artists exploring both minimalist and maximalist art forms. “FOCAL POINTS” will be open until March 26, 2022.
While at FOUND:RE, guests can stop by Tempe artist Joan Waters’ “See—Hear—Sing—Fly” urban primitive series. The poolside installation reinvents satellite dishes into a four-piece work that explores nature’s power in technology.
The opening reception on Feb. 4 will go from 6-9 p.m.
Details: FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel, 1100 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-875-8000, foundrehotels.com/contemporary.
‘BLCK’ at New City Studio
In a blend of photography, painting and digital illustrations, New City Studios presents, “BLCK,” which will feature more than a dozen Black artists from across the Valley. From celebrity portrait artwork to oil and spray paint pieces, the exhibit seeks to honor the past, explore the present and celebrate the future of African American art and experiences, according to New City’s Instagram post. Local artists include, Alison Auditore, Marva Harris, Sarah Clayborn, Brenton Rhodes, Jalila Jones, Ali Thompson, Joel Maduro, Kat Davis, Diamin Nicole, Anthony Jackson, Paige Sinclair, Stephen Marc, Robert Jackson, Aaron Allen Marner and Shaun Horne.
The exhibition will be open 7-10 p.m. on Feb. 4 and 8-10 p.m. on Sundays until Feb. 20.
Details: New City Studio, 1300 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. www.newcitystudio.org.
‘First Friday with a kink’ at the Alwun House
A prequel to the Alwun House Exotic Art Show, Alwun House will feature First Friday with a kink. It’s an adult-themed party, with over a dozen artists selling artworks, jewelry, ropes, whips, paddles, toys and fetish wear. In addition, adult beverages will be available. Trio Salado will play contemporary jazz, with the Island Boyz Jerk Spot food truck featuring a menu of jerk chicken, beef or shrimp. The First Friday event will run from 6-10 p.m.
Details: Alwun House, 1204 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix. 602-253-7887, alwunhouse.org.
Reach the reporter at [email protected]. Follow her on Instagram @sofia.krusmark.
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