It's absolutely possible to have too much of a good thing. During just a few short hours this Friday, October 7, well over a dozen new art exhibits are happening in downtown Phoenix. Sure, it's theoretically possible to see them all. But you won't have much fun if your Friday night feels like the art equivalent of playing beat the clock.
This month's art walk warrants having a serious strategy before you head out the door, even if you're the spontaneous type. So here's the rundown on several of your exhibition options, along with details to help you make the most of First Friday.
A few of Fridayās offerings are one-night affairs, so itās best to keep those near the top of your list. Hereās the rundown on those:
āChaos Theoryā
Phoenix artist Randy Slack presents his 17th annual āChaos Theoryā invitational art exhibition starting at 6 p.m., and youāll have until 2 a.m. the following morning to enjoy it. Heās expecting his biggest showing yet, with 80 artists bringing works in various media to Legend City Studios, and heāll have four bands playing live music for the event, which has become a revered annual tradition around these parts. Find more information on the Facebook event page.
First Friday at Phoenix Art Museum
Granted, itās not the catchiest name for an event. But this monthās lineup at Phoenix Art Museum is one of a kind, thanks to two impressive exhibitions and an intriguing mix of local performers and temporary site-specific installations. Between 6 and 10 p.m. that night, museum admission is free ā and you can see the new āKehinde Wiley: A New Republicā exhibition for a reduced $5 special exhibition rate. Find more information on the Phoenix Art Museum website.
āWe Are: Aliveā
Visual and performance artists, including Katharine Leigh Simpson, will converge on the Herberger Theater Centerās outdoor plaza from 6 to 9 p.m., creating storm-inspired performances with music, projections, and lighting effects. The evening also includes interactive activities, happy hour specials, and an art supply drive benefiting The Centers for Habilitation, a nonprofit serving people with disabilities. Bring a donation and youāll be entered to win two tickets to the show of your choice for the venueās 2016-17 season. Find more information on the Facebook event page.
Considering the wealth of good choices out there this month, youāre going to need more than one outing to see them all. Fortunately, several venues opening new shows on First Friday also have hours during the week. So if you donāt make it to the following three shows on First Friday, sneak a little time away during the week to check them out. While youāre at it, keep your fingers crossed that more and more art galleries will see the value in being open on a regular basis.
āCreeps: New Paintings by James B. Huntā
The Lost Leaf is showing new paintings by NXOEED artist James B. Hunt, which reimagine many of the artistās friends and acquaintances as monsters, ghosts, and vampires. āThese paintings are not terribly flattering,ā Hunt says. āI hope I donāt lose all my loved ones over this thing.ā Theyāll be up through Halloween, but you can be among the first to see them if you head to The Lost Leaf during normal Friday night hours, which start at 5 p.m. and go until 2 a.m. the next morning. Find more information on The Lost Leaf website.
āPhotographic Survey of the Wild Edible Botanicals of Arizonaā
MonOrchidās Bokeh Gallery is presenting photographs by J.W. Fike meant to explore the intersection of art, science, and spirituality. So far, Fike has photographed more than 100 different plants in seven states as part of his quest to survey plant life throughout the entire United States. Fridayās opening reception happens from 6 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the monOrchid website.
āLa vida, la muerte, el amorā
Practical Art is featuring works in diverse media by Emily Costello, Frank Ybarra, Gennaro Garcia, and Joe Ray. Each explores āthe cycle of life and the triumph of the human spiritā using a shared, vibrant color palette for their collaborative exhibition. Check out New Timesā Best of Phoenix 2016 to see more works by several of these renowned local artists. First Fridayās artist reception at Practical Art happens from 6 to 8 p.m. Find more information on the Practical Art website.
Other new exhibitions opening on First Friday feature an intriguing assortment of works, from letterpress prints and posters to photographs of a Venezuelan religious festival. Hereās a sampling of new art shows you can choose from come Friday night:
āSlinging Inkā
Chartreuse gallery presents an invitational exhibition featuring letterpress posters and prints created by more than two dozen artists throughout the United States. Itās curated by Nancy Hill, who also owns the letterpress printing shop Hazel & Violet. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the Chartreuse website.
āPassing Papersā
Artists Zach Valent and Josh Gutierrez work with different media to explore āthe past, memory, and the way things fade but tend not to disappear.ā Valent works with concrete sculptures, while Gutierrez works with chemically-altered photographs and handwritten letters. See their works at New City Studio between 7 and 10 p.m. on First Friday. Find more information on the New City website.
āCrashā
Artist Colton Brock, well-known for creating several local murals, is showing works that explore the intersection āOf a time, of a place, of a person.ā See his solo exhibition at Treeo between 6 and 10 p.m. on First Friday. Find more information on the event Facebook page.
āWilliam Barnhart/New Worksā
{9} The Gallery is showing new works by William Barnhart, whose paintings were recently featured in a solo exhibition at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. This exhibit includes large-scale paintings inspired by recent experiences along Spainās southern coast. First Friday hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the event Facebook page.
āCave Dreamerā
See the first gallery show for artist Angie Fletchall, who creates whimsical paintings conjuring dreamlike states and everyday encounters with bliss. First Studio presents her solo exhibition from 6 to 10 p.m. on First Friday. Find more information on the event Facebook page.
āThe Dancing Devils of Yareā
Olney Gallery at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is showing photographs by Gina Santi, whose background in cultural anthropology is reflected in images of a Venezuelan religious festival the celebrates the victory of good over evil. First Friday hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Find more information on the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Facebook page.
āViglietta and Voellmerā
Grand ArtHaus is showing works by Michael Viglietta, a founding member of the Grand ArtHaus collective, as well as Onna Voellmer ā whose painting for Artlinkās 2016 juried exhibition received the $5,000 Baron Prize. See works by both artists between 6 and 10 p.m. on First Friday. Find more information on the event Facebook page.
"Monsters Menagerie"
Explore apocalyptic visions and dark underworld fantasies in this group exhibition at Alwun House, which features paintings, sculptures, and other art objects exhibited both inside and out. First Friday hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the Alwun House website.