First Friday heats up tonight with creative works going up all over the city. Here are our picks for shows not to miss this artful evening.
"Robots and What Nots! A Space Boy Robot Show" @ Practical Art While the rise of the robots has yet to happen, it doesn't mean that we can't prime our hearts to belong to a number of mechanized potential overlords. A whole man-created army in waiting will be unleashed at the new exhibition "Robots and What Nots: A Space Boy Robot Show!," which opens Friday, November 1.
See also: Up Against the Wall Documentary to Revisit Prescott Mural Controversy
Valley mixed media artist Jordan-Alexander Thomas is passionate about creating robots that have more in common with roadside muffler-men than Michael Bay-envisioned CGI monstrosities. Drawing heavily from the Victorian-infused sci-fi genre of steampunk and with a dash of 1950s windup toy robots, each of Thomas' pieces has a distinct personality of its own. Artificial intelligence never looked so charming.
The opening reception for "Robots and What Nots: A Space Boy Robot Show!" is from 7 to 9 p.m. at Practical Art, 5070 North Central Avenue. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.spaceboyrobot.com. -- Jose Gonzalez
"Lindz in Wonderland" @ Alwun House Artist Lindz Lew dabbles in creepy. She meddles with darkness. And the multi-media artist specializes in spooky. Her work typically features characters that have the head of an animal and the body of a human. Dogs sit in swings wearing button-down shirts, while legless rabbits have exposed ribcages and sit in old-timey wheelchairs.
For a glimpse into the artist's off kilter world, head to "Lindz in Wonderland" at Alwun House, 1201 East Roosevelt Street. The exhibition opens Friday, November 1, with a reception from 7 to 10 p.m., and remains on view through Friday, November 22. Admission is free. Visit www.alwunhouse.org or call 602-253-7887. -- Becky Bartkowski
"FORE|GROUND" @ eye lounge Before Ann Morton's public art project, "Ground Cover," finds 300 blankets installed in the vacant lot at First Street and McKinley, eye lounge will host a preview exhibition of the coverings in its east gallery. Opening Friday, November 1, "FORE|GROUND" features some of those volunteer-made blankets, along with the backstory of Morton's project. When all the blankets are assembled on December 6 and 7, they will resemble desert blooms. The show will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, November 1, and it will remain on view through Sunday, November 10. -- Becky Bartkowski
"Not Yet Rated" @ 1Spot Movies get rebooted and reimagined constantly. Their posters? Usually they're of less interest than who will star in the -nth incarnation of something that was based on Shakespeare once upon a time. That's not the case with 1Spot's new exhibition of indigenous interpretations of movie posters. The films depicted can be real, imagined, or a mashup of movies.
The exhibition features works from Jeremy Singer, Silvester Hustito, Jonathan Nelson, Damon Begay, Adam Piron, and Damian Jim. Take a look from 6 to 10 p.m. at 918 North Sixth Street. "Not Yet Rated" will be on view through Friday, December 20. Private showings can be scheduled by calling 602-281-0697. -- Becky Bartkowski
"The Cape" @ Phoenix Art Museum Step aside, Superman. The cape's making a comeback faster than a speeding bullet. Don't fear, Phoenix fashionables; these coverups aren't the floor-sweeping, candy-red costumery the Man of Steel's made famous. Instead, the fall 2013 trend showcased in collections from Valentino and Mulberry focuses on luxe fabrics, sleek shapes, and cultivating a cosmopolitan, ladylike look.
With an eye toward the past and a grasp on today's fashion market, Phoenix Art Museum presents "The Cape" in its Ellman Fashion Design Gallery. There you'll find a range of inspiration for this season's wardrobe, from a silk satin fuchsia Mexican bullfighter's cape and a dainty floral Dutch piece to a thick, navy number by Lanvin with a high collar and matching fedora.
See the superb collection through Sunday, February 9, 2014. Hours Friday, October 4, are 6 to 10 p.m. -- Becky Bartkowski