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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Warm up with art for First Friday

By Audrey Overstreet For The Spokesman-Review

November’s First Friday Art Walk is a time to start squirreling away locally crafted cool stuff for the winter. Or just come enjoy what the creatives cooked up.

Two of Spokane’s most masterful printmakers, Mary Farrell and Reinaldo Gil Zambrano, have teamed up to present “Preservación” at Saranac Art Projects. The exhibition is an exploration of the ceremony of printmaking as a planar technique. You can Google planar, but better just to see for yourself. Farrell is a Gonzaga University art professor who has shown all over the world and locally at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene and Davidson Galleries in Seattle, among others. Zambrano is an Eastern Washington University art instructor who co-founded the Spokane Print & Publishing Center dedicated to teaching the art of printmaking to the masses. The exhibition opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. at 25 W. Main Ave.

Pottery Place Plus will host members of the Spokane Jeweler’s Guild who currently have their handmade pieces for sale in the shop. Rub shoulders with Janet Brougher, Kris Howell, Linda Malcolm, Valerie Fawcett, Sarah Peterson, Joan Ashworth and Sandra Phoenix as they discuss their art and the processes they employ to make all the earrings, bracelets and bangles on display – and (hopefully) on your body. From 5 to 9 p.m. at the Liberty Building at 203 N. Washington St. Step across the hall to Auntie’s Bookstore after 8 p.m. to catch Spokane’s new poet laureate Chris Cook as he hosts his monthly 3-Minute Open Poetry Mic session.

An epic evening is planned for visitors to the Avenue West Gallery as the featured artist this month is retiring gallery member Cheryl Halverson and her show “fini.” The Idaho native, who works in water media and collage, joined Avenue West in 2003 and will remain a gallery consignee. Lois James Kirkwood’s luminous landscape abstractions will share exhibition space. It is fitting that a portion of all sales of these images from nature will go to the Friends of Manito. From 5 to 8 p.m. at 907 W. Boone Ave.

A chance to hear artists talk about their work is always enlightening. Spokane-based artists Kat Smith and Jackie Treiber and Moscow, Idaho-based artist J.J. Harty will exhibit and give a talk about their fascinating mixed-media works from 4-5 p.m. at the Chase Gallery. From paper collage to 3D works of disassembled objects, the pieces on display through Dec. 19 will prompt viewers to re-examine the familiar. Artists’ reception starts after the 4 p.m. talk and continues until 7 p.m. at 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. in the basement next to City Council Chambers.

Many artgoers seek solace in art. Comfort can be found at a new show by painter Megan Martens-Haworth opening this Friday at the Kolva-Sullivan Gallery. The Spokane Falls Community College art professor’s exhibition “Nocturnes” is a reflection of the artist’s own desire for quiet and introversion – and a respite from current politics. More brooding landscapes, resting horses and starry skies, please. 115 S. Adams St. Reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

Next door to Kolva-Sullivan is another event to lift your spirit … and do some good at the same time. The Trackside Studio sent out a community-wide invite for artists from all over to participate in a benefit for Meals on Wheels. For just $10 a pop, attendees can purchase the resulting drink coasters created by artists, students and friends of the arts. It ought to be fun to see (and purchase!) what Spokane creatives thought to doodle, paint and write on coasters. Sales benefit the local nonprofit that provides 110,000 meals each year to those who need assistance. From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. 115 S. Adams St.

Sally Jablonsky’s paintings and felt sculptures investigate what it means to have an animal body and how it feels to be on Earth. There is a homespun goodness and sometime darkness to her work, which will hang in V du V Winery this month. Alongside Jablonsky will be new photo story work from Milo Krims, who will share black-and-white 35-mm photo prints documenting the alleys, leaning homes and other objects barely hanging on here in Spokane. Music by Gil Rivas and friends. From 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 12 S. Scott St.

Check out all the First Friday listings by the Downtown Spokane Partnership at downtownspokane.org/first-friday/.