After taking note of the events that have sprouted in big cities like New York, San Francisco and Boston, that celebrate and showcase each city’s unique artistic culture, Michael Weidrich decided it was time for Albany to start showing its true colors.
The local artist and board member of the Upstate Artists Guild sat down with his fellow board members and from that meeting, 1st Friday was born.
The monthly event, which aims to bring the local community together in celebration of Albany’s unique art scene, made its debut in September, with just three participating galleries, The Upstate Artists Guild, Romaine Brooks and Amrose Sable.
Less than a year later, the event has grown to include virtually every gallery in Albany, including the state museum and the Albany Institute of History and Art. In May, 1st Friday attracted more than 1,000 visitors, which Weidrich sees as a huge accomplishment.
It’s a great continuum of the arts, from the smallest gallery to the biggest museum, he said. `We’re all together for one evening, showing the city and the Capital District just what a rich cultural resource this city is.`
Lucy Larner, director of sponsorship at the state museum, made the decision to get involved with 1st Friday because it was a chance to bring new audiences to the museum, including those who can’t normally visit during daytime hours.
`We wanted them to get to know us better, and it’s also an opportunity to show them that the museum supports the arts and culture and that we are definitely a part of the arts and culture scene,` she said.
The state museum opens its doors late on 1st Fridays, from 5 to 9 p.m., with light refreshments, and an exclusive exhibit each month. For May it was `Look `Alikes` artist Joan Steiner; for June it’s the Best of SUNY Student Art Exhibition, which features the 75 pieces selected from 200 works in the fall and spring SUNY student art shows.
The Albany Institute of History and Art, which normally attracts more than 200 people to its 1st Friday event, offers live music, food and wine tasting stations and several exclusive exhibits.
Christine Miles, executive director of AIHA, thinks the event places Albany in a very positive light.
`I’ve heard really positive remarks from people from the suburbs who said they had no idea the architecture was so beautiful in Albany,` she said.` `I think it’s really creating a very dynamic environment, and I think it’s fostering a lot of civic pride.`
Aside from the large museums, there are also a slew of smaller venues and galleries that have exhibits on 1st Friday, such as the Schuyler Mansion which features more traditional art, The Albany Center Gallery, Capitol Repertory Theatre, Elda’s On Lark, Envy Lounge, Red Square and Fuze Box.
For the late-night crowd, the event can continue into the wee hours with After First Friday, a musical event sponsored by the Barn, a nonprofit organization that advocates creative arts in Albany. The Lark Tavern, Red Square, Skyline, and Justin’s on Lark all participate in After 1st Friday.
John DeJohn, owner of Justin’s On Lark, believes that a successful and high profile event like 1st Friday ultimately keeps people out of trouble.
`The more foot traffic you have, the less crime there is, and the quality of life issues tend to get better with an event like this,` DeJohn said.
With the warmer weather bringing more people out to the streets, Weidrich anticipates a larger and more diverse crowd in upcoming months.
`I’ve seen 6-week-old babies to 80-year-old grandmothers,` he said. `The spectrum is just becoming huge.`
For information, including a map, about the next 1st Friday scheduled for Friday, June 1, visit www.1stfridayalbany.org. “