Aurora's First Fridays to feature 'Renewal, Games & Youth' April 6

Posted April 02, 2018 11:00 pm

Submitted by Aurora Downtown

Chicago artist Rupali Kumbhani's work will be featured in the solo show "World Through My Eyes" at If These Walls Could Talk. Courtesy of Rupali Kumbhani

Spring is in the air at First Fridays in downtown Aurora April 6. Art openings featuring renewal, arcade games, and young artists are included in the lineup that totals 20 venues.

Gallery 1904, 1 E. Benton St., features "Renewal, Recycle and Rebirth," a show inspired by water and recycled materials. Musician and artist Joe Eddy Brown performs from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

The ArtBar, 205 N. Broadway, hosts "The Arcade Show" from 7 p.m. to midnight in the tavern at Two Brothers Roundhouse. Lauren Schmidt will perform in the lounge.

Fox Art Studio, 9 S. Stolp Ave., hosts a community youth art show from 6 to 9 p.m. Curator Roxie Murphy invited local children to submit works of art that will be on display throughout the month of April.

Also at First Fridays, stop by Leland Legends, 1 S. Stolp Ave., from 5:30 to 8 p.m. to purchase tickets for "Downtown Aurora Magic" on Saturday, June 9. Visit pop-up shops at Aurora Regional Fire Museum and All Spoked Up, and ride the free trolley from 6 to 10 p.m.

Art openings, live music and more are featured at First Fridays April 6 at several locations throughout downtown including:

• Aurora Public Art presents "Rhonda Wheatley: At Your Soul's Discretion" from 6 to 10 p.m. on the third floor at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place. Musician Sam Trump from Sidewalk Chalk performs at 7 and 9 p.m.

• Oddlots Gallery, 121 W. Benton St., presents "Bill Austin: Zendaddy and the False Selves" from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Waubonsee Community College Aurora downtown campus library, 18 S. River St., hosts an open mic night from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

• Metropolitan Coworking, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 16, hosts Culture Stock's M.U.S.I.C. Mondays on First Fridays as the bookstore invites Neil Potter and Olivia Ports to perform favorite tunes from 6 to 9 p.m. Respect the Mic, a popular, monthly spoken word event, will be 9 to 10:30 p.m.

• Endiro Coffee, 29 W. New York St., features Jake Mack performing live from 6 to 9 p.m. Artist Bill Austin is featured in the lower level Brick Gallery.

• Gremlen Recording Studios, 130 W. Downer Pl., offers studio tours and karaoke from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Community Christian Church, 78 S. LaSalle St., features "Holy Art" from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Aurora Historical Society, 20 E. Downer Place, hosts "Vintage Aurora in Color Photographs 1950s-1970s" and "Aurora's African-American Heritage" on the first floor and "Aurora Story" on the second floor from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

• Santori Public Library, 101 S. River St., hosts "Placeholders: Photo-Poems" by poet, artist, and professor George Miller from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. the Fox Valley Orchestra Chamber Series - Fox Valley Woodwind Quintet performs at 6:45 p.m.

• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., opens "World Through My Eyes: Rupali Kumbhani," a solo show featuring the fine art of Rupali Kumbhani from 7 to 10 p.m.

• The Web, 134 W. Downer Place, hosts "Fat Guy Yoga Club" feat. Alfredo Castil, Jason Arthur and Joshua Schultz from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

• Gillerson's Grubbery, 33 W. New York St., welcomes Whiskey Acres spirits sampling starting at 5 p.m.

• SciTech, 18 W. Benton St., hosts the traveling exhibit "Climate Change Oceans: Acid vs. Life" from 6 to 8 p.m.

• Zen Loft Wellness Center, 6 W. Downer Place, is open with $5 mini classes, demos, massage, and more from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Christian Science Reading Room, 34 S. Stolp Ave., is open with prizes, gifts, and free kids crafts from 6 to 9 p.m.

First Fridays maps are available at all venues. Free trolley rides run approximately every 15 to 20 minutes from 6 to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.auroradowntown.org.

The exhibit "Your Soul's Discretion" features the work of Chicago artist Rhonda Wheatley who combines such diverse materials as vintage electronics, moss, crystals, and more in her work. Courtesy of Rhonda Wheatley

Chicago-based artist Rhonda Wheatley opens "At Your Soul's Discretion" at Aurora Public Art during First Fridays on April 6. Courtesy of Rhonda Wheatley

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