First Friday Downtown Las VegasBrings the Hot, Funky Art Scene

Group Of Guys Attending First Friday

I haven’t attended First Friday in over a year. Because of my work schedule, and my general laziness, I haven’t felt motivated to attend. But now that I’m shooting models in the area during LV Glam, and hanging out more in the Downtown area, it seemed the right time to see what was happening and what I’ve been missing.

It’s June in Las Vegas. It should be hotter than hell here right now, but for some reason, it hasn’t been. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still hot. While you are walking around admiring the art and listening to the music and watching all the people, you are burning up on the asphalt, until the sun goes down and you can get some relief.

For those people not familiar with what First Friday is, it is a huge block party held the first Friday of every month in the Downtown Arts District. Since its inception in October of 1992, it has grown into Las Vegas’ premier arts happening, combining art appreciation, street theater, live bands,and lots of people-watching. Free trolleys take patrons on arts tours throughout the evening. I usually take one starting at the Government Center, and make sure I get back on one before they stop their shuttling, usually by 9:30 p.m. They start picking up riders about 6:00 p.m. and you can catch one every 20 minutes or so.

The El Cortez Hotel & Casino is now sponsoring a trolley stop. It takes riders from the El Cortez to the Funk House trolley stop and back again. For a while they were charging admission to First Friday, at its main hub at Colorado and Main, where all the central activity is, including live bands and food and drink for sale. But they must have stopped charging admission, because we wandered freely amongst all the people and exhibits and were not stopped for admission.

At the Brett Wesley Gallery, I spied a wonderful chair and ottoman designed by Gaetano Pesce, a famous Italian architect. According to Victoria Hart, the director of the gallery, these pieces were very special and rare to have in our area. I thought they were whimsical and fun. Just wish I could afford to have them sitting in my house. But a girl can dream.

I also visited R2K Studio, a new photography studio in the Arts District owned by Roxanne. She welcomed my friend Drew and me warmly, and then went back to her photo shoot with a bevy of female friends that she recruited to model for her that evening. The studio offers 25 x 55 feet of unobstructed shooting space and 30 foot-high ceilings, lighting equipment and backdrops. My current budget does not include renting studio space, but hopefully in the future I can utilize their services. Plus they have a monthly drawing for free studio time, and all I have to do is drop off my business card and I’m entered to win.


Guitar Chair

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All photo credits: Julie Kasperson ( click pictures to enlarge )

-VegasJules ( Julie Kasperson ) can be contacted through her facebook page.

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