This month we have a very talented photographer joining us at the Depot and the weather looks PERFECT! Stop by and see his work and support this event. His show is hung and it looks great. Jamara is working on some incredible refreshments to share as well. Hope to see you between 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm tonight!
Gaines Group Architects, 141 W. Bruce St. Suite 201, Harrisonburg, VA 22802
About the artist:
“All his life, Tony DiStefano has called beautiful places home, from the forests of Western PA to the mountains of southeastern New York State. He’s lived in Harrisonburg, Virginia – an area rich with opportunity for creative souls – for more than half of his adult life.
It was only a matter of time until Tony, an avid hiker and fisherman since childhood, found himself exploring the outdoors with his trusty Nikon at his side. Inspired by his brother’s and uncle’s work in nature and macro photography, Tony began his photographic journey around 2013. A prolific shutterbug, he’s captured and shared hundreds of captivating images, ranging from birds, flowers, and insects to rural landscapes and natural light portraits.”
About First Friday at the Depot:
Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!
Here is the update from Brandy Somers on places to go in rough walking order:
First Friday, Sept 6:
*5-8| Bowl of Good(831 Mt Clinton Pike) | 10 year Anniversary Celebration of Common Good Market Place with live music from Prince Bellerose + Hatian/Afro Caribbean meal.
*5-8 | Horizon Gifts(111 NLiberty St) | acrylic on canvas by Jamie Peter
*5-8 | The Mark-It’s Look West Gallery(125 W Water St) | Second Annual Koozie Show:screen prints of art by various artists on koozies
*5-8 | The Gaines Group at The Depot (141 W Bruce) | Through the Lens:photography by Toni DiStefano
*5-8 |Artworks Gallery(131 W Grace St)| CMYK:printmaking by JMU students
*5-8 |The Little Gallery Underground (JMU Music Building, 880 S Main St) | Why You Change Chord: printmaking + fiber art by Xue’er Gal
*5-8 | Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center(710 S Main St) | Endangered Species Portraits: We Art All At Risk: acrylics by Robert Haynes with jazz music by Bluestone Trio and animal display from Wildlife Center of Virginia
*5:30 | St Stephen’s United Church of Christ (258 S Main St) | First Friday Music
*5-8 | Arts Council of the Valley’s Smith House(311 S Main St) | Not By Accident: art machines by Alden Hough
*5-8 | Virginia Quilt Museum(301 S Main St) | Inspired by Elvis: from the hills and hollars of West Virginia, Child of Civil Wars, Shenandoah Stars
*5-8 | 150 Franklin Street Gallery(150 Franklin St)| Ages: A Retrospective: Photography by Saul Harris
*6-7:30 | Asbury United Methodist Church(205 S Main St) | Balancing Act: folk + jazz by Balancing Act featuring Jim Harrington + Bill Wellington
*5-7 | Ten Thousand Villages (181 S Main St) | Honduran Crafts: hand braided rugs + handmade dolls by Sherri Moyer
*5-8 | Lineage (165 S Main St, Suite 101) | Candle Launch + Open House
*5-8 | The Lady Jane (117 S Main St) | Animals in Ink: works by Charlottesville-based artist, Anna Kelleher
*5-8 | Oasis(103 S Main St) | Slow Cloth: The Joy of the Process: fiber by Edda Duff + Joanna Gray with music by Michele Swan
*5-8 | The Laughing Dog (82 S Main St) | Location, Location, Location: recent photography by Dan O’Brien + Cindy Connors + Danny Brown
*5-8 | Wilson Downtown Gallery at Kline May(83 S Main St) | All in Good Time:acrylic abstracts + landscapes by Doris Martin
*5-8 | Larkin Arts(61 Court Square) | Spitzer Member Show: mixed media works by members of Spitzer Art Center // Trunk Show: watercolors by Brenda Hounshell with cider by Old Hill
*5-8 | Habana Cafe(47 Court Square) | Infatuation of Textures: oil painting, screen prints, fiber art by Sophia Rharfiri
*5-8 | Capital Ale House (41A Court Square) | rotating display of shirts and prints designed by various artists and printed at The Mark-It
*6 | Dancing with Karen(77 E Market St) | free dance lessons: East Coast Swing
*5-8 | Hess Financial (380 E Market St) | The Famous & The Infamous: graphite on paper by Colleen Kively
Live music before heading home?
*6 | Court Square Theater (41 Court Square) | Brent Funkhouser (7), Phil Vassar (8:15), doors open at 6
*6| Brothers Craft Brewing(800 N Main St) | By the Fire Fridays:The Reachers perform acoustic duo, outside, fire pit, BYOchairs if you wis, s’more station, all free
*9 | Clementine (153 S Main St) | Dustin Pence Band, $7
*8 | Pale Fire Brewing (217 S Liberty St #105) | Chris Rattie & The New Rebels, $5
*9 | Golden Pony(181 N Main St) | Petey Pablo + Grayling Skyy + Keynote Illidge, doors at 8, 18+, $22
And more….
Sunday, Sep 8, 2-4 | VMRC’s Park Gables Gallery (1491 Virginia Ave) | 33rd Annual Shenandoah Valley Watercolor Society Juried Art Show (10a-5p daily hours with opening reception on 9/8 from 2-4)
Monday, Set 9, 5-7 | Duke Hall Gallery of Fine Art(JMU’s Duke Hall #1022, 820 S. Main St.) | Edge Walkers: exhibit curated by Keenan Rowe (5-6 artist talk, 5-7 reception)
First Friday Art Opening – This Friday w/ Aaron Zook
Aaron Zook is a Harrisonburg native and self-taught photographer presenting his work for April’s First Friday Art Opening.
Where:
Gaines Group Architects features an artist each month at the Depot in Harrisonburg for the First Friday Art Opening. This is our chance to support the local art community and Arts Council of the Valley by allowing them a no cost place to show their work and for you to spend money showing them your love of their work. Come to see, buy, talk, and enjoy some of our food and drink while you are here. The Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. on the second floor has a history display of the CW line that is deep with stories – just ask Charles. Artwork is displayed in the gallery (hallway back to Herr and Co.). Food and drink are available along with lots of conversation and networking in the Gaines Group offices.
What Aaron Zook does:
He draws inspiration from the hard-working people that make everyday life happen behind the scenes. He is a bartender, mountain guide, and perpetually sleep deprived.
“Here’s the thing. It doesn’t get any easier out there darlin, I’d be lying if I said it did. But give in to the depravity of the soul for just one moment, and you’ll discover that there isn’t much difference in all of us. We all have that moment where we sit and breathe. We shake our heads and slap ourselves around. Then we walk out into that big bright world. Don’t forget your shades.”
About the show:
This project was hard for me to put my finger on at first. It was born out of frustration really. When I was a kid, I could never quite decide what I wanted to be when I “grew up.” In my more recent life, I’ve listened to my fair share of “when are you going to get a real job..?” and “are you ever planning on using your degree?” Finally, an older gentleman went so far as to ask me what it was exactly that my peers and I did with their time. When I stopped to think about it, my answer was…everything. People like me do literally everything. So, this show is for the people that aren’t where they want to be yet, but where they need to be for now. It’s for the late nights of wondering where we’re headed. For the moments of pure joy when we figure out where we’re supposed to be. For the passion projects and side hustles. For the empty shows, struggling to make progress, and wondering when it will all finally click.
Gallery Opening on First Friday “Architecture of Life in Watercolors”
You are INVITED!
Each month we host a new artist in our Depot building gallery in the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). This month we are hosting “Architecture of Life in Watercolors” by W A Berkshire. The artwork will remain on exhibit through October and is for sale. Come view the show and get a tour of the newly renovated space! We will have light refreshments available!
October 7, 2016 from 5pm – 8pm.
First Friday Downtown is a great event with businesses all over downtown becoming art galleries for this night. First Fridays Downtown is a free celebration of culture and community held in downtown Harrisonburg. During the first Friday of the month, the downtown venues host art exhibition openings, local music performers, and various arts related events.
This past month we hosted a Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting as part of our Gallery Opening. We even had the big scissors! Ray and Carla joined our Harrisonburg staff from the Charlottesville office. We had around 175 people attend through the 5pm – 8pm event.
