Art lovers invited to spend evening strolling in Geneva

Spend an art-filled September evening in downtown Geneva from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. The event includes seven downtown Geneva galleries who are hosting special events, artists show openings, or live performances in an energetic sampling of local, regional and national talent.

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

Treat yourself to a wide range of artistic forms, and explore Geneva's best art galleries.

First Fridays is sponsored by the Geneva Arts Commission, the Geneva Chamber of Commerce, the Geneva Downtown Partnership, and the Galleries of Geneva. For information please call the Geneva Chamber at (630) 232-6060, or on the web at www.artgalleriesgeneva.com.

• At Down to Earth Pottery and Inside Treasure Hunt Antiques, 221 S. Third St., www.downtoearth-pottery.com or (630) 262-9555 From 6 to 9 p.m., they will be featuring the work of Connie Gurley. She uses nature and women as inspiration for her work. Her wonderful covered jars have the texture of a tree's trunk. Visit the artgalleriesgeneva.com site for pictures of her work.

• Gallery 28 Fine & Functional Art, 28 N. Fourth St., www.gallery28.biz or (630) 845-9673. It will present another free three-band Concert on the Lawn in conjunction with a First Fridays Gallery Walk starting at 6 p.m. The concert is presented at the gallery in downtown Geneva. Dan Zahn and Kate Moretti will take the stage at 6 p.m., followed by Sugar Grove's own Sunny Side String Band at 7 p.m. Performing at 8 p.m. is the DeKalb band the Blues Shakers, performing original material. Concert-goers are kindly asked to please bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets. In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors. Personal coolers and Ravinia-style picnics are welcome as well. Visit www.artgalleriesgeneva.com for information!

• One Fine Art Gallery, 121 S. Third St., www.onefineartgallery.com or (630) 262-0800. Representing both local and international talents in all media from sculpture to paintings to jewelry, One Fine Art is able to help the seasoned collector or those looking for the perfect piece for their living room. An open house will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Out of the Mainstream Designs, 107 S. Second St., www.outofthemainstreamdesigns.com or (630) 232-2419. Join them at the studio for "It's All Geometry" from 5 to 9 p.m. to enjoy the proportion and arrangement in textile design. Stop and see the exquisite new work by a group of local artisans. Refreshments will be served.

• Proud Fox Gallery, 213 W. State St., www.proudfoxgallery.com or (630) 262-8797. Proud Fox Gallery will host an evening with Eulojio Ortega from 6 to 9 p.m. Born in 1976 in Durango, Mexico, and coming to Chicago when he was only 2 years old, Ortega did not think much about where his artistic abilities came from. Growing up, he assumed that his keen visual perception and natural ability for drawing was completely self-taught. But at the age of 15, when he traveled back to Mexico, he discovered that he had many aunts, uncles, and cousins who were all quite proficient in art. Ortega has always pursued a deeper understanding of art. It has never been enough to simply paint or draw what he sees, he must know why it looks the way that it does and the best way to paint it. In pursuit of this knowledge, he attained a degree in fine art with an emphasis in illustration from Northern Illinois University and followed it up with advanced training at Studio Incamminati in Philadelphia where he studied with Nelson Shanks, the world's premier portrait painter and a recognized master. Since 2002, he has been painting murals, commissioned paintings and portraits. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America and The Oil Painters of America. He currently lives in Sandwich with his wife and two children.

• Terra Cottage, 325 South St., www.terracottagepottery.com or (630) 208-6810. All Terra Cottage watercolor students will be set up and painting from 6 to 9 p.m. They will have food and drink as usual.

• Verve on Third, 217 S. Third St., www.verveonthird.com or (630) 845-1399. Verve on Third promotes all of its artists, but since they represent over 150 creative, talented people, they want to focus for the next few months on the concept of peace. The peace the artist feels creating their work, the peace the customer feels in our store and then at home or work with the art they have purchased, and last but most importantly we pray for peace in the world. Stop in the gallery and receive a token of our promotion of peace from 6 to 9 p.m.