First Friday Picks: An Arty Block Party on Frankford Avenue, Something New From Zoe Strauss, and More
Get our weekly picks of what to do this weekend and the latest on Philly's arts and entertainment scene.
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Artists Unite! Project
Fishtown will host Artists Unite! this First Friday, a project which enables local artists to sell early works to support the costs of new projects. The artwork will range in prices, starting as low as $100. You can peruse the work beginning on Friday evening, but the sale will also be held on Saturday, September 6th (noon-9 p.m.), and Sunday, September 7th (noon.-6 p.m.). Friday, September 5th, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., 2628 Martha Street.
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First Friday! French Cabaret
The Barnes Foundation will transport you to Paris with a cabaret-inspired First Friday fete, featuring live music from the Avalon Jazz Band, a film screening, and a short talk on the current featured exhibit, "The World Is an Apple: The Still Lifes of Paul Cézanne". There will also be delicious Parisian-inspired fare—think pommes frites and macarons—to enjoy along with apéritifs. For a full schedule of the evening's programming, click here. Tickets are available for purchase online. Friday, September 5th, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., $25 or free for members, The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
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"Coming Home" by Constance Culpepper
The 3rd Street Gallery will present "Coming Home", the work of local artist Constance Culpepper, this Friday evening. Culpepper, who works primarily with oil painting and mixed media, is inspired by the objects that fill her home, seemingly ordinary items that adopt meaning and become symbolic over time. In addition to the First Friday exhibition, the gallery will host a reception for the artist on Sunday, September 7th from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Friday, September 5th, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., 3rd Street Gallery, 45 North 2nd Street.
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Frankford Avenue: First Friday Fracas
In conjunction with the 2014 Fringe Festival and Neighborhood Fringe, Frankford Avenue will fill three blocks with local food and arts, featuring over 30 artists and street performers. You can take in the "the weird, the wacky, and the bizarre that is Fishtown and Kensington," while enjoying a variety of artwork, performances, and food truck fare. The event is free. More information is available here. Friday, September 5th, 6 p.m.- 10 p.m., Frankford Avenue (between Cumberland and Susquehanna).
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Fringe Festival
The much anticipated 2014 Fringe Festival will commence this Friday evening, with a variety of shows–from theater to interpretative dance–to choose from. The festival's programming for First Friday includes: Till Birnham Wood..., Suspended, 99 Breakups, The Adults (pictured), and many more. A complete schedule of Friday's performances, including showtimes and venues, can be found here. Tickets for Fringe Festival shows are available for purchase online. Friday, September 5th, Fringe Festival, various times & locations.
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"We Are All Made of Stars" by Kristin Schattenfield-Rein
"Every element on Earth was formed at the heart of a dying star. We are all made of stars, isn't that incredible?" In her latest exhibition, "We Are All Made of Stars," Kristin Schattenfield-Rein experiments with layer upon layer of new materials–like graphite flake and silver and gold dust–to create complex, celestial-inspired pieces. Her work will be on display at Bluestone Fine Art Gallery from this Friday evening through October 27th. Friday, September 5th, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Bluestone Fine Art Gallery, 142 N. 2nd Street.
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"New Sight"
THREENINETEEN studios will host "New Sight", an exhibition juried by Sarah McEneaney and Zoe Strauss, featuring work from nine artists, including Katie Dillon Low (pictured), EJ Herczyk, and Michael Keutemeyer. "New Sight," described as "having existed before but only recently been discovered," is focused upon the role of the arts in changing communities, especially in urban environments. More information can be found here. Friday, September 5th, 6 p.m.- 9 p.m., THREENINETEEN studios, 319 N. 11 Street (first floor).
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