A walk on Geneva's artsy side

Those who immerse themselves in the world of art know one of the most popular traditions is for galleries in a city to stay open late on the first Friday of the month in a coordinated effort to attract visitors.

When Scott Sichterman opened his One Fine Art Gallery at 121 S. Third St. in Geneva eight years ago, his was one of only two galleries in the city.

As more became staples along Third or State streets in Geneva, Sichterman began to brainstorm with Gallery 28 owners Beth Franke and Jan Schmuckal about proposing a monthly gallery walk evening.

"We had to have more galleries in town and have them get involved in the concept," Sichterman said.

Schmuckal credits Sichterman with the enthusiasm that was needed to get the First Fridays Gallery Walk in downtown Geneva off the ground late last year.

"He was the guy who said we should do this and he was talking about it even before the city brought in a consultant who recommended it," Schmuckal said.

The result is an ongoing First Fridays event forged by a partnership among the galleries in downtown Geneva with support from the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Geneva Arts Commission and Geneva Downtown Partnership.

The walks -- which occur from 6 to 9 p.m. at One Fine Art Gallery, Gallery 28, Proud Fox Gallery, Verve on Third, Down to Earth Pottery and Terra Cottage -- allow the galleries to showcase special features or have artists on hand to speak to visitors.

As today is the first Friday in May, the walk is scheduled for this evening.

The event last month represented the first since last fall in which Mother Nature loosened her winter grip, allowing a lot of activity along State and Third streets -- and pleasing gallery owners.

"Everybody coming in tonight has been commenting about the weather," said Alyce VanAcker, during the event last month. VanAcker works at Verve on Third for owners Sharon and Jeff Liberman.

Other gallery owners also noticed how much their special nights bank on people being downtown for dinner or evening strolls in nicer weather.

"The First Fridays in general have been phenomenal, but the warmer weather will increase foot traffic," said Mary Ann Diggory, who was celebrating the fifth anniversary of her Down to Earth Pottery business located inside owner June Caddy's Treasure Hunt store at 221 S. Third St.

In addition to viewing art on display, visitors at a First Fridays event tend to take more time to visit with shop owners and learn their stories.

For Diggory, that meant being able to express her joy in discovering what it takes to become a potter, a skill she learned eight years ago in classes at Waubonsee Community College.

"When you take a ball of clay, put it on a wheel and at the end you created something useful, you get hooked, and I was hooked," Diggory said.

Marge Schuett of Batavia and Vaughnese Williams of North Aurora were taking in their first Fridays gallery walk last month and were pleased with what they were seeing.

"It's a lot of fun and I have been wanting to come for some time now," said Williams. "I remember all of the art galleries on Michigan Avenue and Oak Street in Chicago moving their art to empty warehouses and having a Friday gala opening."

"All of the artists had more exposure and that's how I got into these art gallery showings."

Schuett said she read about the First Fridays event and figured Geneva would be a great setting for the gallery walks.

At Gallery 28, at 28 N. Fourth Street, owners were busy with a large crowd, many of whom were sipping wine and visiting with artist Deidre Schanen of Campton Hills, whose "Poetry in Paint" work was on display.

"My paintings have been here since the gallery opened," Schanen said. "This is an amazing gallery and they have such a good eye for hanging paintings. Being able to do that is a special gift."

Schanen said she moved to Geneva from New Jersey in 2002 and was thrilled when she first encountered downtown Geneva.

"So few small towns have nice areas to walk in," Schanen said. "And this is really perfect."

The Proud Fox Gallery took advantage of the April First Fridays event to showcase work of Geneva High School students.

The names of Kate Byrne, Anthony Roesch, Maddy Wenzel, Cody McBain, Kevin Massoth, Liza Fox and Lauren Radlinski may be not be household names in the art world, but they were among the more than 30 Geneva High students whose skills were displayed at Proud Fox.

"People who appreciate the arts like to come in and see what the next generation is up to," said Andie Burchett of Proud Fox. "The teachers also come in here and explain what the assignments were for this art, and it is interesting to then see what the student interpretations were."

Proud Fox owner Patricia Farr is pleased Geneva offers a Friday night entertainment alternative for art lovers and curious shoppers. As for the students, Farr said, "I think the community is awed at the instruction these kids are getting, and I also hope it means that kids are more comfortable coming down here, especially those majoring in arts."

Farr said parents of the students tend to go to open houses at the schools to see the art and discover what their children are learning, but "the displays at the gallery open it up to the entire community."

More information on the event is available at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at (630) 232-6060 or at www.artgalleriesgeneva.com.