First Friday Art Walk March 2009

March 2, 9:02 PMPhoenix Events ExaminerFrank Sanchez

Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Phoenix Events Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Photo courtesy of Artlink (2009)

Nothing to do this weekend? Strapped for cash? Well this Friday will be a treat for you, as First Friday returns to the Downtown Phoenix Arts District. Run by Artlink, First Friday featured artists from in and around the Valley area, not to mention several museums as well. Everything from galleries, studios and art spaces to restaurants, boutiques and cafes light up the desert night downtown from 6pm-10pm. Did I mention it's free? That's right, the artwalk itself, complete with shuttles to the hot spots, all free and you can bring the family.

So who can attend? Everyone from the art connoisseur to the art student, to just the average Joe whose artistic career ended in elementary school, the artwalk has something for everyone. Check out many of Phoenix art museums for free as well. The Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Center for the Arts, Children's Museum of Phoenix, and PHiX are all on the Artwalk and all can be perused at no charge. This month there is also a special feature in the Metropolitan Arts Institute. Open only to the public during First Friday itself this month, the institute for brooding young right brainers is a must see. Yes, some of these places may be just a little far to walk but not to worry because you don't have to actually walk everywhere.

Don't have a car or a bike? No worries, just get to Downtown Phoenix anyway you can. If you need to get there by light rail even better. It stops right in front of the Phoenix Art Museum, the hub of it all. Once you check out the museum hop on a shuttle to one of the 4 routes and take it all in. The North Route heads up toward 7th and Indian School and features the Metro Arts Institute and links to 14 other locations. The Central Route takes you over to the ASU Mercado Galleria and the Rosson House among 17 other locations. The West Route swings you by Grand Avenue and features PHiX among 16 other locales. The East Route and probably the more frequented of all drops you at several stops along Roosevelt and the surrounding area and features a mini art festival and plenty of artistic vendors, a must see. If you think this is all to much to handle for one night, you may be right.

Is First Friday only on the first Friday of each month? Yes and no, actually. If you cannot all there is to see from 6pm-10pm this Friday, there are 2 other occasions, the very next day dubbed Saturday After (1pm-6pm) and the Third Friday (6pm-10pm) of each month as well. Only about 20 locales are open, and the may charge a small fee, and there are no free shuttles so check out everything you can on First Friday itself. Drop by any of the locations on the artwalk anytime, including First Friday itself and pick up your official Artlink First Friday map/guide. See you there!