First Friday Arts Putting New Spin on Things
By Emily Sladek

Group Draw is perhaps the newest art form joining the First Friday Arts in Cape. The concept is simple, yet intriguing. It all starts with a rather large canvas set to rotate after so long. The creators start the art at the spot where they are seated around the blank canvas, and as the event progresses, the canvas is rotated giving each artist the opportunity to build off of what the one before them started. What seems to be a complexity of completing another's work is laced with the mystery of what the finished product will turn out to be. The event stems back to the 1920s game "exquisite corpse" where one person would write on a piece of paper and pass it to the next person for more to be added to it.

The event's purpose is more than creating a piece of art. In fact that is the least of the goals of the Group Draw. More importantly than the finished product is the process of creating it. As people often tend to focus on the finished outcome of a project, this activity encourages people to set aside their inhibitions and insecurities of their individual artistic ability. While developing a sense of artistic accomplishment, participants each contribute in small parts to the larger outcome. The turn taking process makes individuals respond to the actions of others and takes away the apprehension of individual authorship. The rich artistic tradition of Exquisite Corpse inspires a new approach to traditional learning and collaboration, where the rules of the game and how it evolves determines the outcome.

This Group Draw is just one of many things you can experience at the First Friday Arts. The First Friday Arts program was started to promote local artists and galleries. The art galleries in Cape open their doors after hours to allow visitors to view the gallery's art collection, as well as to meet with the month's featured artist. Many galleries offer drinks, snacks, wine, and some even offer live entertainment. Along with works by local artists, works of nationally and often internationally known artists are displayed. Several of the works in the galleries are for purchase as well, ranging from cultural pieces to pieces with emotion and everything in between. A deeper understanding of The Arts can be picked up by spending a couple of hours in a gallery soaking up the diversity and individuality of each contributing piece.

For February, a few features are Artist Trading Cards at Black Door Gallery, the Group Draw at Port Cape and the 12th Annual Children's Art Festival at the Arts Council.

The Children'sArt Festival is in its 12th year. The event takes works from children in 21 schools, including art pieces and poetry. The works will be displayed in the gallery until February 25, and the top eight entries in each age group will be featured in a booklet to be distributed during the Friday night festivities. Look for more events to take place during the First Friday Arts, including artist receptions and unique individual works to be displayed.

First Friday Arts events will take place Friday, February 3 in most cases from 5pm-9pm. The Children's Art Festival will take place from 4pm-8pm.

The events listed in this calendar, are entered by the artist or event hosts. Please let us know, if you think there is a listing that doesn't belong on The Arts Calendar. mail@iluvlocalplaces.com