First Friday Art Walk – August 4, 2023

Posted on July 27, 2023 by GrandRapidsArts

The First Friday Art Walk is a community event celebrating art and creativity. Come downtown from 4 – 7 pm for a variety of free, family-friendly events.

1. REIF CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Hosting a reception with Duluth artist Sarah Brokke from 4 – 6 pm. Her large-scale oil paintings cultivate vulnerable spaces of ritual, reflection, and growth. Refreshments provided!

2. BENDERS SHOES & GIFTS

Local jeweler Lily Winter works out of her home studio to cut, solder, etch, enamel, and set stones and more. This year she is working to bring wild color to her jewelry through glass and plating.

3. GIINAWIND CREATIVE SPACE

Welcoming Karen Goulet for an artist reception with her exhibit Mookibii: She Emerges from the Water. Check out her paintings, fiber art, prints, and video and share your own stories of the water.

4. MACROSTIE ART CENTER

Celebrating the opening of the 31^st Annual Juried Show with juror Aaron Spangler. Featuring 24 different artists from the Upper Midwest. Reception from 4 – 7pm, sponsored by Members Cooperative Credit Union. Awards presented at 6 pm!

5. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL

First Friday Concert Series: The Third Coast Chamber Collective presents a concert of classical masterpieces and Scandinavian folk tunes for string quartet. From 5-6 pm in the 2^nd floor performance space and is free and open to all.
Artists in the Attic: Head up to the 3^rd floor to see work by the new Artists in Residence: Nelia Harper, Krista Rogers, and Leah Yellowbird
Borealis Creamery: Visit the Borealis Creamery Ice Cream Truck in the Central School parking lot for homemade, hand-scooped ice cream in variety of flavors.

Third Coast Chamber Collective at Old Central School

6. THE EVERGREEN

Hosting local artist Doug Lien who paints for minor league baseball teams, college football teams, junior hockey leagues and golf courses. Doug teaches community art classes and will be providing a demo.

7. RAPIDS BREWING

Stop in for live music with Sam Miltich and Friends from 4- 6:30 and Anthony Miltich from 7 – 10 pm. Connie with Constant Botanicals will be in the taproom showing her unique planters and garden décor.

First Friday Art Walk – July 7, 2023

Posted on June 26, 2023 by GrandRapidsArts

The First Friday Art Walk is a community event celebrating art and creativity. Come downtown from 4 – 7 pm for a variety of free, family-friendly events.

1. BENDERS SHOES

Benders is hosting local artist Kelly Villebro. Kelly’s art can be described as rusty and weathered barn finds, repurposed and upcycled into flowers with a pop of color.

2. MACROSTIE ART CENTER

Presenting the opening “Utensils and Fables,” printmaking and ceramics by Anika Hsiung Schneider in the Minnesota Gallery. the MacRostie Gallery. Also on display in the MacRostie Gallery is the Duluth Fiber Guild’s 50^th Anniversary exhibition. The reception will include food, wine, and other beverages from 4 – 7 pm and an artist talk at 6 pm.

3. GIINAWIND CREATIVE SPACE

Unveiling a new exhibit in the Giinawind Gallery – Karen Goulet’s mixed media installation project “Mookibii: She Emerges from the Water” combines fiber art, cyanotypes, video, and more in an homage to water in all its forms.

Give Back Studios and At the Lake MN at Stained Glass with Class

4. STAINED GLASS WITH CLASS

Hosting Jen Gorman with the Give Back Studio and her unique + handmade dog bandanas and treats along with Meredith Rothstein with At The Lake MN.

5. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL

Story Art & Museum

Hosting Itasca Community Chorus’ Chamber Singers led by Adam Giebner from 4:30-5:00pm in the Music Room in Old Central School, 2nd floor.

Artists in the Attic

Stop in to visit the Artists in Residence on the 3^rd floor. A new crew is moving in – stop by to welcome Leah Yellowbird and Nelia Harper to the residency!

Rapid Brass at Old Central School grounds

6. CENTRAL SCHOOL GROUNDS

Celebrate First Friday with a free concert on the lawn and visit the Borealis Creamery food truck for hand-crafted small batch ice cream. Rapid Brass, led by Heidi Wick, will perform from 5:30 – 6:45 pm. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and listen to music originally intended to be performed outside for village festivals, including marches, tower music, New Orleans’ jazz, and Finnish brass septets. The group is made up of brass and percussion players from the region, with professionals and students playing side-by-side.

7. NORTHERN CRUISERS & ITASCA VINTAGE CAR CLUBS

The Northern Cruisers Car Club & The Itasca Vintage Car Club will be hosting a First Friday Show-n-Shine at the old Kremer’s Parking Lot from 4 – 7 pm. This event I open to all collector cars of any model year.Bobcats Lunchbox will be on site selling burgers, fries, and more.

8.WINGS ‘N WILLOWS ART GALLERY & CUSTOM FRAMING

Welcoming local photographer Brian Elling. Born and raised in Grand Rapids Brian has spent time in Australia, Bali, Panama and across North America capturing nature, animals and scenery with his camera to share with others. Join us to experience his beautiful photography.

9. THE EVERGREEN

Featuring photographer Carol Bowman. Carol’s Northwoods nature photography captures scenes both breathtaking and familiar, and her images can be found printed on everything from magnets to mugs.

10. RAPIDS BREWING

First Friday live music with Sam Miltich and Friends from 4 – 6:30 then Landscapes Band from 7 – 10 pm. Katy Buhr with Up North Sewing will be in the taproom with embroidered items from 4 – 6 pm.

11. INSPIRATIONS CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE

Christian Fiction Author Margo Hansen will sign copies of her newest book A New Hope Begins! The event will run from 3:00 – 6:00.

First Friday Art Walk – June 2, 2023

Posted on May 29, 2023 by GrandRapidsArts

The First Friday Art Walk is a community event celebrating art and creativity. Come downtown from 4 – 7 pm for a variety of free, family-friendly events.

1. BENDERS SHOES

Benders will be hosting author Anthony Anselmo. Anthony, a Minnesota author, will be signing and selling his debut novel: a ghost story centered in northern Minnesota.

2. MACROSTIE ART CENTER

Presenting the opening “50 Years and Beyond” in the MacRostie Gallery, which features the artists of the Duluth Fiber Guild. The Little Big Show miniatures exhibit is also on display in the Minnesota Gallery. The reception will include food, wine, and other beverages from 4 – 7 pm and an artist talk at 6 pm.

3. GIINAWIND CREATIVE SPACE

Showing “Waiting for Beds,” an experimental two-person exhibit by Moira Villiard and Carla Hamilton that explores what happens when someone has to wait for a bed during a crisis. The exhibit also includes community submissions from across Minnesota related to the topic.

4. STAINED GLASS WITH CLASS

Hosting Tricia Wahlstrom with Rustic Willow Designs.

5. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL

True North Salon and Spa

Welcoming Kyleigh Gullickson who will be displaying her Indigenous beaded earrings .

Artists in the Attic

Stop in to visit the Artists in Residence on the 3^rd floor including Chelsey Jo Johnson, Eleanor Tillmans and Joanna Knase. Join Chelsey Jo from 11 am – 7 pm as she presents Plaguechess: a chess expansion set which will be available to play. She’ll also have various artworks including plague doctor linocut prints available for purchase.

LaPlant Road at the Central School grounds

6. CENTRAL SCHOOL GROUNDS

Celebrate First Friday with a free concert on the lawn by LaPlant Road from 5 – 7 pm, and visit the Borealis Creamery food truck for hand-crafted small batch ice cream.

7. NORTHERN CRUISERS & ITASCA VINTAGE CAR CLUBS

The Car Clubs are hosting a show-n-shine event in the Kremers parking lot (1^st Ave NW and Hwy 2). This event is open to all collector cars of any model year. Bobcats Lunchbox will be on site selling burgers, fries, and more.

8. GRAND RAPIDS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Hosting First Friday exhibit of paintings by students from Diane Levar’s 2022-2023 watercolor workshops. Stop in to see dozens of local artists’ work, enjoy appetizers by the Timberlake, and music by Ditty Wish.

9. ITASCA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Samsoche Sampson is the featured artist AND musician at IEDC, which is showing a selection of his acrylic paintings and prints. Celebrate First Friday with live music, art,catering by Pinched Catering Company, and sweet treats by Dragonfly Coffee.

10. RAPIDS BREWING

First Friday live music with Sam Miltich and Friends from 4 – 6:30 featuring Leah Lemm, Tony Balluff, Nathan Norman, and Matthew Miltich, then Landscapes Band from 7 – 10 pm. Katy with Up North Sewing will be in the taproom with embroidered items from 4 – 6 pm.

First Friday Art Walk – May 5, 2023

Posted on April 28, 2023 by GrandRapidsArts

Come to downtown Grand Rapids from 4- 7 pm on First Friday for a fun, free, family-friendly celebration of art and community!

1. BENDERS

Hosting Benders’ very own Beth Beddoe of “Ad-tiques.” Beth uses upcycled materials to create beautiful jewelry and decor.

2. MACROSTIE ART CENTER

Presenting the opening of The Little Big Show annual miniatures exhibition featuring Alyssa Swanson. Reception from 4 – 7 pm with food, wine, and other beverages and an artist talk at 6 pm.

3. GIINAWIND CREATIVE SPACE

Kick off Mental Health Awareness Month with Grand Rapids Area NAMI and the opening of “Waiting for Beds,” a new exhibit by Moira Villiard and Carla Hamilton.

4. STAINED GLASS WITH CLASS

Showcasing the creations of Ally from Gypsy Creek Boutique with wooden and acrylic goods ranging from travel maps, wooden board games such as cribbage boards, one-of-a-kind earrings, and more.

5. OLD CENTRAL SCHOOL

Story Art + Museum

Hosting Itasca Orchestra & Strings Program and Third Coast Chamber Collective from 4 – 6 pm for a preview of their Summer Strings Camp activities.

Artists in the Attic

Visit the artists in residence on the 3^rd floor. Multi-medium artist Eleanor Tillmans will be presenting a short artist talk “A Study of Earth, Water, and Life” at 7pm.

Borealis Creamery

Scooping hand crafted small batch ice cream in the Old Central School parking lot.

6. NORTHERN CRUISERS & ITASCA VINTAGE CAR CLUB

The Car Clubs are coming together to host a First Friday Show-n-Shine in the Kremer’s parking lot. This event is open to all collector cars of any model year, and Bobcats Lunchbox food truck will be on site!

7. RAPIDS BREWING

Katy with Up North Sewing & Embroidery will be showing and selling her creations in the taproom, Lonesome Dan Kase performs live from 6pm – 9pm, and there will be Cinco De Mayo food and drink specials.