As the days of record-tying temperatures and cold showers reach us, it’s strange to think that the Valley has not even reached the official starting date of summer. That special day of summer solstice, which takes place on June 21, is still far from reach. Maybe all the college students and snowbirds that leave our sun-roasted city for the summer have the right idea.
It’s important to realize, however, that the heat during the day allows everyone to charge up with indoor cooling only to later step out in the evening, when it is much more enjoyable to be outside. This is especially true for Friday, June 6, the date of June’s First Friday art walk. And while there is no “Devil’s Pass” podcast over the summer (nor am I joined by my trusty co-host Jayson Chesler), there are still plenty of galleries and venues offering spicy First Friday openings and special events. Here are five to look for as you make your rounds this Friday.
What: View from the Tracks: The Light Rail Plays
Where: Valley Metro Light Rail and light-rail stations
Location: Light-rail stations on Roosevelt Street and Central Avenue and Camelback Road and Central Avenue
Time: June 6-8, 6 to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free light-rail ticket with donation
For those looking to add a bit of creativity to their usual First Friday routine, Phoenix’s Rising Youth Theatre will present eight short plays, not in an actual theater, but on the Valley Metro light rail and at two light-rail stations. The plays will focus on “how Phoenix moves from place to place,” according to the Facebook event page, and are a trial for how future plays on the light rail can look. Rising Youth Theatre earned a $10,000 grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts for these showings and has worked closely with Valley Metro. One can reserve a free “ticket,” or light-rail pass, to the show online, with the opportunity to make a donation.
What: Bassim Al-Shaker artist reception and opening night
Where: 720 Gallery
Location: 720 N. 4th St.
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Bassim Al-Shaker is an Iraqi painter currently living in the Valley as part of the ASU Art Museum’s International Artist Residency program. His work was shown at Italy’s Venice Biennale art exhibition in 2013 and will be at upcoming exhibitions in England and Australia. Al-Shaker will present some of his current paintings, which feature large, hyper-realistic subjects and other stylized works, at 720 Gallery in downtown’s SoRo corner on Friday. Refreshments will be served.
What: Geoff Gildner — Opening Reception
Where: Coe House Gallery
Location: 365 N. 4th Ave.
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Cost: Free
The relaxed summer atmosphere can make for a good time to visit the Coe House Gallery, a small house-turned-gallery that is a unique treat for downtown Phoenix. A self-trained artist with previous experience in the architectural field, Geoff Gildner will have 14 of his paintings and mixed-media works exhibited throughout the gallery. Gildner follows a personal protocol for painting and creating art that draws heavily from human emotion, environment and the technical aspects of art — lines, shapes, dimensions, color, etc. Gildner’s work will be up until June 30.
What: ZAZU
Where: The Nash jazz club
Location: 110 E. Roosevelt St.
Time: 7:30 to 10 p.m.
Cost: Free
We’ve all heard the pleasant tones and wild solo lines coming out of the DownBeat-certified Nash jazz club while we walk on Roosevelt Street during First Fridays. Sure, some stop in to hear a tune or two, but jazz is a genre that requires attention and respect to fully appreciate. This might be your chance. ZAZU (the name of which I can only assume came from the dignified blue hornbill in “The Lion King”) is a string-based gypsy-jazz group dedicated to carrying on the styles of guitar pioneer Django Reinhardt. The group has played several times around Arizona and, as you can see in this video, they are a jolting good time and are ready to soundtrack the next Pixar short. Great live music for free is something one can’t take for granted. Just remember: no BYOB on First Fridays.
What: Open letterpress demos
Where: Hazel & Violet print shop and art space
Location: 1301 N.W. Grand Ave. #6
Cost: Free
Letterpress printing shop Hazel & Violet recently moved from the SoRo small-business corner to its new, larger headquarters on Grand Avenue. Open for the first time during First Fridays since its move, the growing business will offer letterpress demos and workshops to curious art-walkers. You can also take a grab bag with coasters with printed designs as your prize for going around downtown on First Friday. Learn more about Hazel & Violet below:
(Video by Courtney Pedroza)
Leaving you with a note on the bottom: Roosevelt Row CDC announced Wednesday new hours for the businesses in the area, starting this First Friday and going all the way to Sept. 1. Called “Vampire Hours,” the initiative aims to have stores open during the cooler hours of the day — or rather, evening. According to a flier, galleries, restaurants and shops on RoRo will start opening their doors at 4 p.m. and will leave them open until 9 p.m. or later. People in costume or those attending Phoenix Comicon at the Phoenix Convention Center over the weekend will get “biting deals” on items bought on RoRo during First Friday weekend (June 6-8), according to the flier.
Contact the reporter at motarola@asu.edu
