Every First Friday Art Walk is a chance to take home a beautiful new piece of art for your home, office or even as a gift. June’s Art Walk allows you to support the Springfield Regional Arts Council with your purchases.
The SRAC is hosting a public reception for its Annual Member Art Auction at this month’s art walk, from 5-7 p.m. June 2 in the Creamery Arts Center (411 N. Sherman Parkway). It’s one of 13 venues open for June’s First Friday Art Walk, a monthly effort in which galleries and businesses line up arts-related events across downtown Springfield. The public is encouraged to walk around the neighborhood and pop into galleries in what organizers call a “self-guided tour.” Venues are open for variable hours between 5 and 10 p.m.
Annual Member Art Auction supports programs like Artsfest
The proceeds of the Annual Member Art Auction go to support SRAC programming including Artsfest, Free Art Day, a professional development series and Growing Up in The Arts. That program uses local contract-based teachers to deliver week-long arts experiences — like painting, pottery, dancing or drama — to at-risk children in grades K-8 in 27 surrounding communities. Growing Up in The Arts combines hands-on exposure with live experiences.
The Annual Member Auction goes live at 5 p.m. June 2, with online bidding continuing until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. The art will remain on display at the Creamery Arts Center throughout the month of June.
Fresh Gallery welcomes two new artists
Ceramic artist Eric Bosch and photographer Steve Snyder are the two newest artists at Fresh Gallery (401 N. Boonville Ave.). You can meet Snyder, this month’s featured artist, at Fresh from 6-9 p.m.
The award-winning photographer grew up on a small farm outside Mount Vernon and attended Drury University, majoring in studio art with an emphasis in graphic design and illustration. After college, Snyder worked as an award-winning graphic designer for newspapers, printing companies and corporate marketing departments. Working daily in studio environments with commercial photographers allowed Snyder to rediscover his love of photography and art. He currently has pieces residing in collections around the United States and Europe.
Snyder won a pair of honors in 2019, earning the 2019 Individual Artist award from the Missouri Arts Council as well as an Ozzie Award for Regional Impact from the SRAC. Both awards recognized his work in the arts.
Steve Snyder is one of two new artists at Fresh Gallery. You can meet the award-winning photographer during June’s First Friday Art Walk. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)
Meet artist and author Nancy Dornan at Formed: An Artist Collective
Head over to Formed: An Artist Collective (210 E. Walnut St.) for a book release and signing party by local artist and author Nancy Dornan. Her new book, “I Married an Immigrant,” is a love-of-life story based on diaries, letters and memoirs. It will be available for signing at First Friday Art Walk from 6-9 p.m.
Dornan is also displaying new work at Formed. “Palette Knife Paintings of the Old World” features highly textured visuals of northern Italy. There will also be refreshments and live music by Tony Menown at Formed.
Local artist and author Nancy Dornan will be signing copies of her book “I Married an Immigrant” at Formed: An Artist Collective during the June 2 First Friday Art Walk. (Photo: First Friday Art Walk)
Family-friendly fun at The Downtown Church, Founders Park
A pair of First Friday Art Walk venues offer family fun. The Downtown Church (413 E. Walnut St.) is hosting an Art Walk Party from 6-8 p.m. There will be kids activities, snacks and live music from The Layton Hollow Gals.
Founders Park (330 E. Water St.) will also have live music, from Lo and Behold, as well as live art by Ozarks Technical Community College fine arts students from 6-9 p.m. Stay after dark for Free Movies in the Park and a showing of “50 First Dates.” You can find more information on that event on the Springfield-Greene County Park Board’s website.
Other venues for June’s First Friday Art Walk are:
- Best of Luck Beer Hall, 313-B S. Jefferson Ave.
- BookMarx, 325 E. Walnut St., Suite 101
- Hold Fast Brewing, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave.
- Hotel Vandivort, 305 E. Walnut St.
- J. L. Long Traders, 318 W. Walnut St.
- Obelisk Home, 214 W. Phelps St., Suite 101
- Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square
- Transformation Gallery & Tattoo, 330 E. Walnut St.
For more information, visit the official First Friday Art Walk website or find them on Facebook.
Jeff Kessinger
Jeff Kessinger is the Reader Engagement Editor for the Springfield Daily Citizen, and the voice of its daily newsletter SGF A.M. He covered sports in southwest Missouri for the better part of 20 years, from young athletes to the pros. The Springfield native and Missouri State University alumnus is thrilled to be doing journalism in the Queen City, helping connect the community with important information. He and wife Jamie daily try to keep a tent on the circus that is a blended family of five kids and three cats. More by Jeff Kessinger