Bikes, Dreams, and Survivors at First Fridays on April 1
Mutual Ground hosts Survivors' Art Show at the Santori Public Library as part of First Fridays in downtown Aurora on April 1. The show also kicks off Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
In addition to art, the event features musical performances, poetry readings, and a short theatrical piece. Art pieces are by Mutual Ground's clients as part of their healing journey and by community members interested in supporting the nonprofit organization and raising awareness of sexual assault and abuse issues.
The art exhibit includes a silent art auction of work by local artists. The art auction is denim-themed and focuses on the topics of healing, growth, strength, recovery, and survival. All proceeds from the auction will go to directly benefit Mutual Ground.
First Fridays, a night of art, music, and culture at a variety of venues in downtown Aurora, also features an open mic, three open museums, and several art openings.
Pick up a free First Fridays passport at any venue for a full map of participating venues. Return the punched passport at the last venue visited for a chance to win a First Fridays goody bag filled with gifts from downtown businesses.
In April, the following venues are open for First Fridays.
• All Spoked Up, 14 W. Downer Pl. Ste. 8, is open for The Bike Show curated by The ArtBarfrom 6 to 9 p.m.
• Ballydoyle Irish Pub, 28 W. New York St., features live music by Elissa Sophia on the deck from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Emergent at Metropolitan Coworking, 14 W. Downer Place, hosts Collective, a group of artists from Chicago from 6 to 10 p.m.
• David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, offers three floors of exhibits. Aurora Historical Society presents "Flavors of Aurora: Stirred, Not Shaken - Jewish," an exhibit honoring Jewish history and culture in Aurora, and "Aurora Story" on the second floor. Aurora Public Art Commission hosts an art exhibit curated by Fawn Clarke-Peterson on the third floor from 6 to 9 p.m.
• If These Walls Could Talk, 32 S. Stolp Ave., opens photography by Nolan McCants. 7 to 11 p.m.
• AKA Dance, 14 W. Downer Place, Suite 10, is open with a free dance class at 6:30 p.m. and open studio until 8:30 p.m.
• Culture Stock, 43 E. Galena Blvd., hosts open mic on First Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m.
• The ArtBar at Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, features "The Dream Show," a pop-up art show featuring local artists. Live music in the tavern from 6 p.m. to midnight.
• HealthMarkets, 40 W. Downer Place, features the Mike Smith. 5 to 8 p.m.
• SciTech Hands On Museum, 18 W. Benton St., and Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, are open with free admission from 6 to 8 p.m.
• Santori Library, 101 S. River St., hosts Mutual Ground's Survivors' Art Show from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Allen + Pepa Architects, 121 W. Benton St., hosts the Wayne Art League from 5 to 9 p.m.
• Perroud Images, 31 W. Downer Place, Suite 101, opens for a photography show from 6 to 9 p.m.
• Leland Tower, 7 S. Stolp Ave., features the photography of Doug Nilles from 6 to 10 p.m.
Free trolley service runs throughout downtown from 6 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.