BY LIANA KATZ

In print | October 11, 2007

As soon as you enter the periphery of Philadelphia’s Old City, you know that it’s First Friday. A steady crowd bustles to the beat of a jazz quartet, flowing between galleries, shops and restaurants. Performers and artists take to the streets as students, hipsters and aficionados alike discuss art well into the night.

First Fridays, logically on the first Friday of every month, usher in the changing of exhibits at many of Philadelphia’s art galleries. Between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m., galleries are open to the general public free of charge. Many offer a variety of refreshments to their patrons and encourage a lively, talkative atmosphere.

For those who have never explored the Philadelphia art scene, First Fridays are an easy way to get a sampling of the wide variety of artwork on display. Most galleries are clustered either on 3rd Street between Race and Arch or on 2nd Street between Church and Locust. Within a short period of time and without much walking, one can see pieces created by everyone from sculptors to graffitists. The only downside of the event is, paradoxically, its popularity. Due to the massive crowds at each gallery, spaces feel cramped and it is hard to get a long look at each particular work of art. Regardless, at the end of the night, First Friday attendees should feel welcomed into Philadelphia’s large, artsy family.

This October’s First Friday was an exceptional embodiment of the First Friday spirit, with many galleries opening with powerful exhibits. The Lineage Gallery at 21 North Second Street displayed an engaging assortment of brightly colored graffiti-inspired pieces by artists such as Kenji Hirata and Mike Ming. In contrast, Lineage also featured the work of Christian Mendoza. Mendoza’s pieces consisted of intricate webs of black-and-white line drawings and were both accessible and engrossing.

On a softer note, the Petimenti Gallery at 145 North Second Street featured the quietly moving works of Rachel Bone. Bone’s show, entitled Remedies, consisted of whimsically simple and colorful images of women. According to Bone’s artist’s statement on Petimenti’s Web site, the paintings are not only frames from a single linear story, but are illustrations for an infinite collection of possible tales.

Other galleries displayed works with a more pointed purpose. Muse at 52 North Second Street opened with the works of Etta Winigrad. Winigrad used a combination of 2-D painting and 3-D organic sculpture to explore themes of birth and femininity.

For those who missed this month’s openings, all the exhibits, including the above mentioned, will be on display until November’s First Friday.

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