Abandoned buildings . . . construction signs . . . dark alleys. In the evenings, this is the usual canvas of East Broad Street. But one night of each month sets itself off from the rest – bright lights pour onto the street from open art galleries and music echoes around every corner.
First Friday artwalks have become a right of passage, a ritual for the art lovers young and old. Some go to buy what they see, while others simply peruse the latest exhibits. The stretch of downtown galleries resembles a busy night in the SOHO district of New York City.
“There are an amazing number of galleries in Richmond,” Carolyn Henne said.
First Friday Artwalk
7 p.m. Dec. 2
East Broad Street
Between Belvidere and Second streets
Henne, assistant dean for student affairs in the School of the Arts, said faculty and staff encourage students to attend the artwalk, which takes place from September to June on the first Fridays of each month.
While most of the 19 galleries that participate in this ritual display works of only professional artists, Gallery 5, the Virginia Fire and Police Museum, remains dedicated to student artists.
“This year we started handing out detailed maps of the galleries to students,” Henne said. “We came up with the map to disseminate to freshmen so they could see the closeness of the event and get engaged.”
Most art spaces are on Broad Street between Belvidere and Second streets, only eight to 10 blocks from VCU’s Monroe Park Campus. A few galleries, including Gallery 5, sit on small side streets.
“We are trying to be a catalyst for the underground art movement in Richmond,” said Amanda Robinson, executive director of Gallery 5. “Almost 99 percent of the artists we feature are either current VCU students or alumni.”
For instance, Jeremy Parker, the art director for RVA magazine and others such as David Moore, Todd Hale and Annie Campbell feature their work at Gallery 5.
Robinson said her gallery, which opened in April 2005, is relatively new to First Fridays, which in September began its fifth official year.
Street performers, sidewalk vendors and live music are among the new additions to the artwalk since Curated Culture, a nonprofit group, took the responsibility for promoting and encouraging participation.
“Technically, 1708 Gallery started this long before it was an actual Richmond event,” said Kate Groninger, assistant director of 1708.
Groninger explained how a group of VCU professors, who founded 1708 Gallery in 1978, started the tradition of the artwalk by opening their doors at night on the first Fridays of every month. As interest grew, she said more galleries became involved — and it took on a new life.
During the next artwalk on Dec. 2, most galleries will offer free admission along with complimentary food and drink.