February 6 First Friday event

It's First Friday time already and we are madly trying to get the gallery ready. The evening has evolved over the last month from an Inaugural Ball to Throw-Your-Shoe at Bush art-interaction to the one that stuck: pARTicipate for change. It will incorporate a public art canvas, local artists' work and installations, free art, a public-art petting zoo and the opportunity to sponsor Lyndsay to "Ski the Vill" to raise money for the Teton Literacy Program.

One of the things that is making this First Friday unique from the previous 27 we have hosted , is the responses that it has inspired before even happening. For example, the Art It Forward program has already started to self-generate. We asked our artists to send in and donate small works of art to put into an art basket and then given out free to everyone who attends First Friday. (many reasons that we are giving away free art, but I think I will address them in a separate blog) The response has been nothing but enthusiastic and infective. Matt Flint was so inspired by the idea and gesture that he is offering free art through his blog (if you need a little art in your life, send him a SASE and you will receive a special nugget of art!). Rachel Kunkle-Hartz brought in a huge jar of matchbox sculptures which are emanating inspiration, she was too, by the way. The uber-talented and creative Dowds have provided us with a ton of sculptural beverage containers...perfect for sipping wine at an art event! And the free art just keeps pouring in! I raided my photo drawer and sketchbooks to create mini-art pieces. It's the most creative I have been in a long time.

The other exciting facet of this project is the energy it is generating. There has been a steady flow of artists and visitors and supporters through the gallery all week. It has given me the opportunity to meet new artists and to finally put faces to names and art. I have had a multitude of inspiring conversations about art and the concepts of participation and change. I can't wait to see how this all flows and multiplies when all these creatives are gathered together on Friday.