First Friday (held, shockingly, on the first Friday of every month) is perfect for those who love art, want to explore the city or just enjoy free wine and food samplings. Galleries, most of which are in Old City, will be open late tomorrow night to unveil new exhibits. Be sure to wander - you never know what you'll find.
7: A Group Show
The F.U.E.L. Collection, LLC
249 Arch St.
Opening Reception: Fri, 6-9 p.m.; until Feb. 25; free
(215) 592-8400
www.fuelcollection.com
Seven local Philadelphia artists will be presenting new work, covering a variety of media including paint, installation and jewelry. The collection aesthetic is united in its emphasis on detail. Make sure to check out the colorful, engraved rings by Yoko Tazaki.
A Survey of Czechoslovakian Glass
Wexler Gallery
201 N. Third St.
Until Feb. 27; free
(215) 923-7030
www.wexlergallery.com
It's not every day you see a gallery devoted solely to glass. This month's exhibition at Wexler Gallery focuses on prominent Czech glass artisans. The majority of these pieces are handmade - a treacherous process involving furnaces, blowpipes and intense goggles - and the singularity of each reflects the individual nature of their creation.
(from scratch)
Painted Bride Art Center
230 Vine St.
Until Mar. 17; free
(215) 925-9914
www.paintedbride.org
Artist Amy S. Kauffman was born in South Korea, grew up outside of Buffalo, New York, and has exhibited in Japan and Philadelphia - no wonder her pieces evoke shades of Eastern and Western folk art and pop culture. This two-level installation is comprised of colorful sculptures, quilts and my personal favorite: origami made from Starburst wrappers.
Win BiG &
Thoughts on Death
Nexus/Foundation for Today's Art
1400 N. American St., Suite 102
Opening Reception: Fri, 5-9 p.m.; until Feb. 25; free
(215) 629-1103
www.nexusphiladelphia.org
Catharine Passante's "Win Big" is an exhibition of digital work printed on collectible items, giving new meaning to this traditionally kitschy display form. A similar concept underlies Jennie Thwing's large-scale installation. Remixing personal interviews and electronic music, Thwing renders the subject's original remarks imperceptible, allowing the blend of electronic base and spoken word to create new stories out of each conversation.
Recycled
Projects Gallery
629 N. Second St.
Opening Reception: Fri, 5-9 p.m.; free
(267) 303-9652
www.projectsgallery.com
"Recycled" features six artists' take on the many ways personal objects and everyday artifacts can be used to create new and distinctive art. If you're feeling environmentally conscious, or, if like Low Brow this week, you want to mock activism, do not miss this exhibition.
Nancy Blum, Don Simon, Darlene Charneco
Pentimenti Gallery
145 N. Second St.
Opening Reception: Fri, 6-8:30 p.m.; exhibit through Mar. 3
(215) 625-9990
www.pentimenti.com
This month, Pentimenti gallery features the work of three artists. Nancy Blum investigates the natural world with precision and grace in large mixed media drawings and sculptures of porcelain and cast-bronze. Don Simon looks at the ways in which the industrialized world has neglected the planet's other inhabitants. Darlene Charneco creates mixed media that illustrate the interconnectivity of our increasingly technological society.
Headlong Dance Theater
Spirit Wind Studio
213 New St.
Fri, 8 p.m. & 9 p.m.; free
(215) 545-9195
www.headlong.org
This is a great place to visit after wandering around the galleries. Headlong's dances are interpretations of popular culture that last anywhere from seven to 60 minutes. Past performances have included "Britney's Inferno" (the experiences of a star in an entertainment world hell) and "ST*R W*RS" (a retro take on Lucas's films and growing up in the 1970's).
Petit 4 Pastry Studio
160 N. 3rd St.
(215) 627-8440
No doubt you'll work up an appetite with all that walking, so, at the end of the night, treat yourself to some art that you can actually eat (and afford). A limited amount of table service is available, or you can take your sweets and coffee to go. Try the delicious 50-cent butter cookies for a wallet-friendly treat.
