First Fridays Opens Venues for Art and Music on May 1
First Fridays in Downtown Aurora opens new spaces to experience on May 1. The monthly open house of art galleries and businesses in downtown Aurora features 14 venues with art, music, and more.
Aurora Art Studios at 50 E. Galena Blvd. is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with open studios and a book signing. Experience real artist studios and visit with the artists.
Künstlerhaus is going mobile this month. The gallery and cultural center is moving temporarily to 114 S. River St. and will offer photos by Cloud Foto from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Replacing Künstlerhaus on the ground floor of the Metropolitan Business College building at 14 W. Downer Pl. Suite 16 is Emergent, a pop-up gallery run by Kit and Jason Sunderland. The gallery features guest artists and is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Yetee Gallery at 110 Cross St. is open from 7 to 11 p.m. with photography by Susan May Moody. Moody, of Batavia, is known for capturing real life in a charming, beautiful way.
If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., is open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. to celebrate "26 Days/26 Artists," a month-long project in April featuring artists from the community who created artwork in the store.
David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Pl., opens from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a celebration of William A. Tanner on the first floor.
The ArtBar presents the Coffee Show this month. The ArtBar, in the tavern at Two Brothers Roundhouse, features more than two dozen local artists for one night only. Visit the ArtBar from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family-friendly open mic.
New Hites Studios and Gallery is open for browsing upstairs at 14 W. Downer Pl. Visit the studios of artists Martín Soto, Kit Sunderland, Toty Pix, and others from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Get a professional headshot taken by Prairie Pro Photo.
Mission Possible, 63 S. Broadway, is open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring the art of Stefanie Anderson and Nancy Gatfield, as well as music by Ivan Truman.
The Light of the Heart at 52 W. Downer Pl. is holding an open house from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St. is open from 6 p.m. 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.
River's Edge Cafe, 14 W. Downer Pl., is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with live music starting at 7 p.m.
Chef Amaury at 33 West, 33 W. New York St., has live music starting at 9 p.m.
"Squirrel Lake" is showing at The Riverfront Playhouse, 11 Water Street Mall. The comedy runs through May 9.
Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
First Fridays in Downtown Aurora invites the community to enjoy art, music, food, theater, and more on the first Friday of the month.
All events are free and art is for sale. For more information, a list of First Fridays specials at participating businesses, and for a map of venues, visit www.auroradowntown.com.