First Friday Roundup
Potter Carol King will give a demonstration this Friday’s Art Crawl at Doe Ridge Pottery.
Photo courtesy Bob Meier.
June’s First Friday starts tomorrow in Boone’s Downtown
District, featuring work by artists and free food, music and drinks.
Pilar Fotta, Downtown
Coordinator for the Downtown Boone Development Association Pilar Fotta said she expects a big
turnout to King Street, weather permitting.
“Weather is usually the biggest determining
factor in how many people we have downtown, so if the weather’s nice we’re expecting that it’s going
to be very big,” she said.
Fotta said that even with the majority of students out of Boone,
this should be a well-attended event.
“It’s the first of what people officially think as summer,
so we expect that it’s going to be very large.”
Glug (432 W. King Street) is having a free beer
and wine tasting from 6 p.m. until 8, as well as free pizza from its neighbor, Capone’s Pizza and
Bar.
Gladiola Girls (549 W. King St.) are set for a Johnny Was Trunk Show, with eligibility
for one of eight prizes with any order placement. Gladiola Girls will be open for First Friday from
4 until 9 p.m. In addition, Appalachian State University Hayes School of Music student Alex Travers
will play original and improvised pieces on the violin from 5 to 9 p.m.
Dancing Moon (553
West King Street) will have their First Friday Spirit Fair with intuitive arts, card readings and
energy work. Ticket costs range from $5 to $15.
Doe Ridge Pottery (585 W. King St # D, below
Beadbox) will feature a live pottery demonstration by potter Carol King, who has work in display in
the store. Free refreshments will be available during the event.
Jones House Community
Center (604 W. King St.)
The town of Boone’s Jones House Community Center (604 W. King St.)
opens its doors to summer,
with the season’s first Concert on the Lawn, featuring Matthew Weaver
and Trevor McKenzie at 5 p.m., Swing Guitars at 5:30 p.m. and Major Sevens at 7:30 p.m. Concerts on
the Lawn are free events, and audience members are invited to bring their own chairs or blankets to
relax and take in some High Country tunes on the Jones House lawn.
Inside, the Jones House’s
downstairs gallery showcases the abstract photography of Vicki H. Wilson, who strives to “transition
real into surreal.”
In the upstairs hallway and back stairwell, the Jones House features the
work of Nigerian artist Tunde
Afolayan, who infuses spiritualism and symbolism in his colorful
paintings and mixed-media expressions.
In the upstairs galleries, the Jones House features
paintings by Watauga High School senior Michael
Prisco and the sculpture work of Philadelphia
native Steve Eingorn, whose emphasis focuses on realistic and stylized figure and portrait
sculpture.
An artists’ reception, including refreshments, takes place from 6:30 to 8
p.m.
Anna Banana’s (641 W. King St.) will have free food from Char and wine from Glug in addition
to deals on clothing in the store.
The Nth˚ Gallery & Studios (683 W. King St.) will
showcase artwork by member Jonathan Ryan. Ryan is an Appalachian art alumnus and has had his gallery
featured at Nth Degree Gallery before. But for this First Friday, his work goes solo and includes
colorful work with graffiti style.
Shear Shakti (693 W. King Street) will feature artwork by
Jonathan Smith and will be open for First Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Murphy’s (747 W. King
Street) will have a hybrid performance by two Boone bands - BPL and The Native Sway - titled The
Native L.
Art of Oil (819 W. King Street) will have a wine tasting starting at 5:30 p.m.,
featuring both California and French wines. Art of Oil will showcase art by Davis Whitfield and
jewelry by Laura Fly and Bella Vita.
Char (179 Howard Street) will have half price appetizers
from 5 to 8 p.m. and $5 glasses of house wine all night long. Starting at 10:30 p.m., Char will
continue its country-themed summer Friday night event.
Low (267 Howard Street, above Espresso
News) will take $2 off all glasses of wine and $1 off beer for First Friday.
Join Our Art Crawl Roundup
If your business participates in Downtown Boone First Fridays, send your goings-on
to (frank@mountaintimes.com) for a spot in next month’s roundup.
