Come Experience Auburn’s “First Friday” event happening July 1st from 5 – 8PM
The concept of “First Friday” has been widely embraced by a number of large cities and small communities nationwide, from Las Vegas to Skaneateles. The idea being that each participating venue offers their own spin on free entertainment and food, contributing to this ongoing festival of art & cultural perusal and appreciation.
Auburn’s First Friday is organized by Auburn’s Historic & Cultural Sites Commission and the Downtown Auburn BID. July’s community open house is going to be hosted by Seward House Museum, Cayuga Museum, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center (SMAC) and the Downtown BID. Additional sites, businesses and organizations are encouraged to come onboard as the event gains momentum in coming months.
Each sites will have unique offerings, for example, SMAC (205 Genesee Street) will have an opening reception for the traveling exhibit, “New York Prints of Mind,” from Universal Limited Art Editions, featuring prints from renowned artists such as Jasper Johns. Additionally on view is an exhibition of digitally printed and dyed fabrics by Jane Dunnewold called, “Sacred Planet.” In Gallery Julius, visitors can view “Brian Roach: A Transgressive Look at Beauty,” large-scale photomontage.
The Downtown BID (128 Genesee Street) will have the paintings of local artist Tom Hussey on display, featuring six different scenes of Auburn’s downtown landscape. Postcards and posters of Hussey’s East Hill piece, featuring the Genesee Beer sign, are available for sale. The artwork of Amy Chamberlain, another local painter, will also be on view, and refreshments will be served.
Seward House Museum (33 South Street) will feature live music from a performance group from Canandaigua, and tours of the historic home will be free of charge, and refreshments will be provided. Come see Seward House’s new configuration for their visitor entrance and gift shop. www.sewardhouse.org
The Cayuga Museum of History and Art (203 Genesee Street) will be open from 5 – 8. All exhibits will be open, and there will be guided tours to the Case Research Laboratory, the birthplace of talking movies. The new Civil War exhibit, “The Cost of Freedom,” explores the experiences of local people during the war, both at the front and at home. The award-winning exhibit on Auburn Prison, “Both Sides of the Wall,” tells the story of the oldest continually-operating prison in the country. Stroll through, “A Child’s World” and the “Summer in the Finger Lakes” exhibits before stopping for some of the complimentary refreshments.
Fliers detailing each month’s activities will be distributed, and signage will be posted outside participating venues during the event.
For more information please contact the BID 315-252-7874.
