Canby Herald Online

First Friday is back

• By: Peggy Savage  
• Published: 7/28/2009 11:39:40 AM
• Last Updated: 7/28/2009 12:52:32 PM

Photo By: Peggy SavageNew features
Wallflowers Framing Gallery will open a new gallery show for the event, featuring 15 paintings in acrylic or watercolor by local artist Shirley Benz.

Canby’s annual First Friday promises an evening of music, art and fun for the whole family at Pioneer Plaza on NW Second Avenue.

Presented by the Canby Arts Association, the event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, with businesses adjacent to the plaza participating. The Crystal Creek Band will provide a background of oldies rock from the ‘50s, ‘60s and country music, while artists, craftspeople and food vendors display their wares.
“Each year, First Friday gets bigger and better,” said Laura Sattler, Canby Arts Association spokesperson. “The evening offers an opportunity for the community to get involved in the arts.”
Featured artists include Tiffany Levesque, Gordon Rasted, Catherine Hingson, Marion Griffith, Leta Belleque-Bunnell, Elizabeth Miles, Mary McCarty, Diane Schnickles and Trish Randall.

Artisans include Tennie Bottomly, Holly Darby, Barbara Covey, Debbie Wilson, Paul and Nancy Stolberg and Susan Dehne.
Sponsored by Canby Telcom, the event gets logistical support from the city of Canby. “City Hall is greatly supporting our efforts and encourages us to make this community event one of the best,” Sattler said. “Along with the creative works of art, finely crafted jewelry, glass art and hand-carved wood items, there will be something for everyone to see and do.”
A long list of local businesses will be participating in the event. Wallflowers Framing Gallery will open a new gallery show for the event, featuring 15 paintings in acrylic or watercolor by local artist Shirley Benz, known for her whimsical series of paintings depicting sophisticated women in elegant settings. For First Friday, the gallery will serve refreshments and hold a sale, with some items marked as much as 50 percent off.
With music in the background, people can stroll the plaza and pop into participating shops. Lady Bug Chocolates and Oaxaca Bakery will be offering delicacies, and Cutsforth’s Thriftway will offer a cheese tasting and wine by the glass. Food furnished by Lupita’s, a mobile cart vendor, will be on the plaza for First Friday-goers as well. Canby Livability Coalition will display a large painted rendition of the Canby Art Park so people can get an idea of what is proposed for the space.
And there will be fun for the kids too. A children’s station will include Parson’s “jump-in” play area. Helping Hands, the youth division of Canby Livability coalition, will provide handmade crafts and face painting. Among other activities, kids can join young friends, get their faces painted, design a pinwheel for the garden bed and create a sun visor to wear.

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