Monthly arts, music event returns downtown

First Fridays in Downtown Aurora is back to “wow” with art, music, dancing, and more.

This week, First Fridays returns with nine venues throughout downtown Aurora. The events are free, and art is for sale.

Artist Janet Wickham is displaying her “Tree Bark” paintings from 7 to 11 p.m. at If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave. The popular downtown gallery welcomes guests with free drinks, appetizers, and good times. The exhibit runs through Aug. 29.

Allen+Pepa Architects, 121 W. Benton St. opens “Digital Mashups” featuring artist Steve Sherrel’s digital prints from 5 to 9 p.m. The architectural firm in the old Holbrook Mill displays local art on a bi-monthly basis curated by Rebecca Allen.

The Light of The Heart: A Community Art Therapy Project in Aurora, upstairs at 14 W. Downer Pl. is celebrating its upcoming Art Jam event with client art and more from 7 to 10 p.m.

Local musicians will perform at an open mic hosted by Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., from 6 to 9 p.m.

Attendees can enjoy acoustic, family-friendly performances as well as art from Aurora Art League artists.

It’s a jazz affair (and a show not to miss) at David L. Pierce Art and History, 20 E. Downer Pl. from 6 to 9 p.m. On the first floor, Aurora Historical Society presents a book launch and signing: “Aurora’s East-West Football Rivalry” by Steve Solarz, and their fun History Mystery game.

On the third floor, Aurora Public Art Commission presents the Jazz Occurrence Sextet, which will play free jazz and spontaneously composed music, and Achenbach will paint on canvasses placed around the band. Achenbach’s goal, he has said, “Is to capture the frequency of the room through form and color and create an environment of complete freedom.”

Also from 6 to 9 p.m., VARA Design, 15 W. Downer Place is hosting an art opening featuring the works of April Dippy and Jen Evans.

SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton is open from 6 to 8 p.m. with free fun for the whole family. Local works of art along with art stations are set up during the evening for $1 each, and a display features cameras throughout the years.

Green Buddha Life Sustainability Center and Eco-Arts Gallery, 205 W. Galena Blvd., is open from 6 to 9 p.m. with environmentally-friendly art.

River’s Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Place, will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. with music on the back deck starting at 7 p.m.

Murals by local artists are also on view in windows along Galena Boulevard as part of the grassroots Vacant Window Project.

First Fridays in Downtown Aurora invites the community to enjoy art, music, food, theater and more on the first Friday of the month. For more information and for a map of participating venues, visit www.auroradowntown.org. The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse will return in September.

–News Bulletin news sources