Founders Park is the place to be for July’s First Friday Art Walk, with live art, live music and a free movie under the stars.
First Friday Art Walk is a monthly effort in which galleries and businesses line up arts-related events across downtown Springfield. The public is encouraged to walk downtown and pop into many in what organizers call a “self-guided tour.”
The Springfield-Greene County Park Board organized all three activities, starting with live art from Christiano Bellotti and Kevin Wofford, as well as live music from the Domino Kings, from 6-9 p.m.
Following the live music will be a screening of “First Kid,” part of the Park Board’s Movie at Founders Park series. Bring your camping chairs or blankets for the show. Concessions will be available for purchase at Founders Park (330 East Water St.).
The Springfield-Greene County Library’s Park Central Branch (128 Park Central Square) will host work from Gary Holman, an award-winning painter and former exhibit specialist for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library. The exhibit features his display “West in Art.”
Over at Kokoro Training Academy (212 West McDaniel), the featured artist is Dorothy Reisner, a 13-year-old Springfield artist who trains at the studio. Aside from her participation in Brazillian jiu-jitsu, Reisner is also on her school basketball team and plans to join volleyball, cheer and track this year. She draws for fun but has also experimented with painting, diamond art and photography. Her work will be on display from 6-8 p.m.
Live music fans will have several options, including the band Bold Deniers at Formed: An Artist Collective (210 East Walnut). The band is comprised of Jane Caldwell, Turner Collins and Jesse Owsley, singers and multi-instrumentalists who perform Irish dance tunes as well as traditional and contemporary songs. They’ll perform from 6-9 p.m. while guests browse the art for sale at Formed.
Other locations featuring live music are Springfield Vineyard (634 West Wall St.) and Hold Fast Brewing (235 North Kimbrough Ave.). Ralph Hepola will be at Springfield Vineyard, performing jazz, fusion, blues, ballads and instrumental rock on his tuba. There will also be visual art from photographer Travis Bugar and painter Hunter Fritz.
Hold Fast features the music of Kicking Jacksie, starting at 7 p.m. The Fire Family BBQ food truck will also be set up, with service starting at 5 p.m.
Other First Friday Art Walk highlights this month include rural artist Jamie Newton at BookMarx (325 East Walnut St., Suite 101), painter Karla Breeding Trammell at Fresh Gallery (401 North Boonville) and a dual exhibit at Missouri State University’s Brick City Gallery (215 West Mill). Those exhibits are “Explorations in Egg Tempera Painting” and “A Retrospective: Drawings & Prints from the Fowler Archive.” Both exhibits feature work from Judith Fowler, professor emerita.
Several other businesses and galleries will be open for July’s First Friday Art Walk. For more information and a map of participating venues, visit their website.
