First Thursday Fayetteville makes its official return to the downtown Fayetteville square this month.
Expect an outdoor art walk, live music, and a beer garden. Also, make sure to check out the participating galleries and art-related venues around the square.
Here’s what we know of for tonight’s event that kicks off at 5 p.m.
On the square
Nearly 20 artists will be set up on the square, Farmers’ Market-style, including Kay McEachern (jewelry), Stephen Ironside (photography), and Jack Divine (woodwork).
» See a full list of the artists
Aside from the artwalk, there will be live music by local band Chase Missy from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., an expanded charity beer garden, and a new kids’ zone.
Fayetteville Underground
Located in the downstairs section of East Square Plaza, Fayetteville Underground will host four art exhibitions in April.
Steven Wise – Always
Revolver Gallery
Steven Wise currently lives and works in Rogers, Arkansas, where he teaches art in the Rogers Public School District and at the Northwest Arkansas Community College.
This exhibition at the Fayetteville Underground will showcase more than 20 small paintings on board, along with a selection of sculptures and one large painting.
John Spurgeon, Steven Heaton, Rob Edwards – Theft by Finding
Hive Gallery
Three artists from the United Kingdom come together for this month’s featured visiting artist exhibition in the Hive gallery.
John Spurgeon (a.k.a Shakesmyteeth) is drawn towards archaic language, obsolete media, de-classified documents and discarded items. Steven Heaton’s photography work explores texture and surface and dreamlike places. Rob Kedward’s photographs are static captures of an intricate stage where lights, actors and elements have all been purposefully placed to either create or complement the environment.
This is the group’s first international exhibition.
Don House – 30 days in a life
Vault Gallery
Long known for his black-and-white landscape, figure, and portrait photography, Don House has collected a series of new work which documents one month of his continuing study of the region, and in particular, the Buffalo River Wilderness Area, where he spends most of his working hours.
His collection of seventeen large photographs includes trees, rocks, fences, moving water, leaves, ice and snow – all of the common elements of the Ozarks, but seen through the monochrome eyes of an old-school practitioner.
Randy Brodnax
E-Street Gallery
Randy Brodnax, a lifelong potter and educator from Dallas, Texas, creates everything from functional dinnerware to large decorative vessels to clay sculpture.
He has specialized in raku for many years, using natural imagery and drawing upon a wild fantasy world of creatures of the mind.
» Read more about the Fayetteville Underground artists
Worst Thursday
16drawings.com
Local artist Zack Wait has assembled three bands, a DJ, and almost thirty local artists representing just about any medium you can think of for the first-ever Worst Thursday art show at Gaylord’s Mountain Cafe.
Local jazz band Nathan McCloud Group will kick off the event, followed by a performance of Brian Abel’s simultaneous tape project, Messy Sparkles, and Acid of the East. The evening will culminate with a dance party led by DJ XiumapeldaveQ.
This event begins will last well into the night and is just down the street from the square on Mountain Street.
» See a list of participating artists
Other locations / Free parking
Make sure to explore the rest of the square and Block Avenue as shops and restaurants will be open later than normal including Kathy P. Thompson Studios, Matt Miller studio, and Studio Leilani.
Free parking will be available after 5 p.m. at the Fayetteville Town Center garage and city lots on the square.
