Art galleries invite you to an evening stroll

Shake off the winter blahs and come out to Downtown Geneva's First Fridays Art Gallery Walk from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Eight downtown Geneva galleries are hosting special events, artists show openings, or live performances.

All of the galleries are within walking distance of each other. Just look for the large, "First Fridays" Flags outside each participating location. A directory and map is available at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, at www.artgalleriesgeneva.com, or at any of the participating galleries.

It is sponsored by the Geneva Cultural Arts Commission, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, the Geneva Downtown Partnership and the galleries of Geneva.

For more information, call the Geneva Chamber at (630) 232-6060, or visit www.artgalleriesgeneva.com.

The following stores are participating:

Down To Earth Pottery: www.downtoearth-pottery.com; 221 S. Third St. Inside the store is Treasure Hunt Antiques! (630) 262-9555.

During March, anything green is 20 percent off.

Gallery 28 Fine & Functional Art:, www.gallery28.biz, 28 N. Fourth St., (630) 845-9673

"The Art of Susan Neri-Waldron" is featured. In addition to traditional art media such as oil painting and pastels, Waldron and her husband raise and breed alpacas at their Elgin farm. She shears the alpacas, turns the fleece into roving and then felt, and then uses her fine art background to create felted tapestries and scarves, bags, jackets and other items. You can meet her, as well as enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres.

She will also demonstrate her tapestry-making process from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Lumina the Fine Art of Photography: www.kingsphotography.com, 211 James St., (630) 845-9912. Shop will feature photographs by Jay King.

One Fine Art Gallery: www.onefineartgallery.com, 121 S. Third St., (630) 262-0800. Terry Hale of Hale Fire Glass Studios demonstrates lamp worked glass. The demonstration will continue Saturday and Sunday during JULIET'S Weekend.

Out of the Mainstream Designs: www.outofthemainstreamdesigns.com, 107 S. Second St., (630) 232-2419.

The shop will highlight "Attention to Detail" featuring Illinois artisans.

Proud Fox Gallery: www.proudfoxgallery.com, 213 W. State St. (630) 262-8797. The gallery is featuring the works of Natalia Andreeva, a Russian artist. Andreeva's studies in traditional art forms have led her pursuit of mastery over portraits, landscapes, and still lifes. In each work, her concentration on form and composition are reminiscent of realist works, while her daring use of color and simulated light show a deep love of modern techniques.

Terra Cottage: www.terracottagepottery.com, 325 South St., (630) 208-6810. The shop features the watercolors of Batavia artist Ray Pittman.

Verve on Third:, www.verveonthird.com, 217 S. Third St., (630) 845-1399. It is focusing on the concept of peace.