By Karynn Brown
May 3, 2018
May the Fourth be with you! This month’s packed calendar of First Friday events falls on Star Wars day, giving the date a little extra special ring to it. Lincolnites have put together a heavy lineup on events including two grand openings and one unique benefit. The list below contains all the great art, music and events we could find! Most events are linked to a Facebook page or website with more information, and don’t forget to check out KZUM’s First Friday Guide at the end of the page!
Art
Art Around Town
Pam Anderson Photography at The Coffee Roaster
- 5022 Old Cheney Road | 6-7 p.m.
- Local photographer Pam Anderson will be showing a collection of her landscape and floral photographs at The Coffee Roaster. A continuation of April’s First Friday display, Anderson plans to donate all proceeds for her sales to the Food Bank of Lincoln. The Coffee Roaster will also be holding a coffee tasting that evening.
First Friday with Lincoln Artists Guild
- Against the Wall Gallery and Framing
- 6220 Havelock Ave. | 5-8 p.m.
First Friday at Pepe’s Kitchen
- Pepe’s Kitchen
- 1311 S. 11th | 6:00- 8:00 p.m.
- Pepe’s Kitchen welcomes Lincoln High senior Maia Ramsey’s final art exhibit “Resurrecting the Forgotten Voices”. The event will also feature free chips and salsa as well as live music by Philippe Siassa and Phip Ross.
- Midwestern African Museum of Art, Culture and Resource Center
- 1935 Q St. | 6-9pm
- A partnership with Lutheran Family Services, and the American Arts Festival, MAMA makes its First Friday debut with an exhibit featuring art from refugee and immigrant populations. Largely from Omaha, NE, these artists hail from Nepal, South Sudan, Iraq and Burma. The New American exhibit highlights both folk and contemporary art that arises from such cultures. The opening reception will be accompanied by traditional African appetizers and live music by Oscar Rios.
- This space is just above Soul Coffee, which will also be hosting its grand opening Friday!
Art in the Haymarket & Downtown
- Gallery 9
- 124 S. 9th | 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
- “Peace of Wild Things” is the three-artist showcase at Gallery 9, featuring the paintings of Alais Kane and MC Anderson alongside ceramic work by Pam Young. The exhibit will be on display through May 27.
Men with Dreams at Nonprofit Hub
- 211 N. 14th | 5-7 p.m.
- Men with Dreams is an organization that specializes in creating a positive, supportive atmosphere for youth to achieve their goals. Working out of the third floor office on Nonprofit Hub, Men with Dreams will be present for the First Friday activities which includes art, live music, and refreshments.
- Noyes Art Gallery
- 119 S. 9th St. | 6-9 p.m.
- Noyes Gallery focuses on the role of the fine artists’ collective, with an eclectic gallery that highlights the work of all kinds of artists. Each month Noyes curates a Focus Gallery that brings together the works of specific artists for a special showcase. May’s Focus Gallery will feature art by: Robert Muckel, Ronnie Reid, Dori Minchow, Deb Monfelt, Jeri Kuhn, Dani Lynn, Kris Rosenow,Therese Bauer and Julie Craw.
- 12th & R Sts.| 5-7 p.m.
- The Sheldon’s May Focus Gallery will feature works curated by the Sheldon Student Advisory Board as an end-of-semester celebration. This includes two newly acquired works recommended by the students!
Photo from Kye Ari and Gabriella Parsons
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration
- Nebraska History Museum
- 131 Centennial Mall | 5-7 p.m.
- A joint project with Lincoln High School, Lincoln City Libraries, the Nebraska History Museum, the Asian Community & Cultural Center and Flyover Media, this event celebrates Asian-Pacific culture in Nebraska.Through the presentation of multimedia storytelling, dance, food and crafts, this event highlights this population and culture in Lincoln. Multimedia stories will be presented by a group of Lincoln High students working to tell their cultural and historic tales through new media opportunities.
- 101 N. 14th | 7:00 p.m.
- Local graphic artists Lanny Tunks will be presenting work at 1867 Bar this week. An experienced artists, Tunks work uses graphite and free hand skills to create photorealistic portraits. 1867 will also be hosting live music at 9:00 featuring Domestica, Tonlode and Wagonblasters!
Jan and Tracy First Friday at Jake’s Cigars
- 101 N. 14th| 7:00-9:00 p.m.
- Tracy Murray and Jan Beal will be teaming up this week to present two different kinds of art at Jake’s Cigars. Usually a great stop for drinks and conversation on the Art Walk, this month Jake’s will feature art! Murray is a photographer presenting works of Lincoln and nearby areas. Beal’s work uses found and recycled objects to create unique mobile sculptures.
Photo courtesy of Alex Jacobsen
Alex Jacobsen at Stella Collective
- Stella Collective
- 101 N. 14th | 6-9 p.m.
- Nebraska-native Alex Jacobsen is a multidisciplinary artist focusing on digital and sound design art. Jacobsen’s visual work uses digital and acrylic pieces that incorporate glitched, broken, or fixed elements into an overall landscape. Similarly, his auditory work uses technical sounds and musical structure to weave minute and massive shifts in thinking into one work. In tandem, Jacobsen’s art play with ideas on sex, horror and consciousness. Jacobsen has been a member of Parrish’s Aliens Gallery for the last several months, both displaying art and helping to organize gallery events. Stella Collective showcases the work of local artists monthly in the spring and summer.
Various Galleries
- Parrish Studios
- 14 & O Streets| 7:00-9:00 p.m.
- Blueberry Gallery: “This is Who I Really Am” self portraits by Jessica Prenosil
- Tugboat Gallery: “Episodic Threads”
- Six-16: Photography with Jay Douglass
Events
- Midwestern African Museum of Art, Culture and Resource Center
- 1935 Q St. | 1-9 p.m.
- Specializing in African single-origin coffees, this shop below the Midwestern African Museum of Art, Culture and Resource Center will hold its grand opening event this week. The store works with espresso and pour over coffees especially.
- A Novel Idea
- 14 & N | 10:00 am – 7:30 p.m.
- Join the Novel Idea family in celebrating Children’s Book Week! The store will be featuring 20% off of all children’s books as well as lemonade and cookies.
Crawfish Boil at Turbine Flats
- 2124 Y St. | 5-8 p.m.
- Celebrating their 9th annual crawfish boil, Turbine Flats will host a community dinner in the style of boiling 300 pounds of seafood, served alongside corn, potatoes, and cornbread. As a thank you and celebration to the business-oriented communities inside Turbine Flats the meal is free and open to the public. Live music by Gabe Nelson will also be featured. Free-will donations can be made to the non-profit MakeShift.
- F Street Community Center
- 1225 F St. | 5:30-6:30 p.m.
- A new event for the F Street Community Center, hosts Duane Wunderlich and the South of Downtown Community Development Organization have worked to curate a meal and artist exhibit. Chicken enchiladas will be served at the community center, which will display the art of three local female artists. Jamaica B. Wilson, Katherine Hedges and Sheena Nakagawa will be showcasing their works in modelling, printmaking and illustration,
Jamie Mortara Reading and Workshop
- Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe
- 701 P. St. | 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
- Touring poet and author of “Good Morning America I am Hungry and on Fire” Jamie Mortara will be performing and hosting an open mic night at Indigo Bridge this week. Mortara will also host a spoken word workshop at the event.
- Confluence LNK
- 1627 S. 17th | 5-8 p.m.
- The grand opening of a new yoga and community space near 17th and Garfield will be celebrated this First Friday. Confluence LNK’s opening reception will feature art from locals Nathan Judd and Tolmey Kneally. The space plans to offer yoga classes and memberships as well as play host to art and community events.
Pushing Progress-Celebrating Women in the Arts
- I?S Salon Studio
- 213 S. 9th St.
- Downtown’s artisan hair salon, Iasan and Sebastian Salon Studio, will be hosting a First Friday benefit event that combines art, music, food, fashion and social need. The event will benefit Fresh Start, a local women’s shelter focused on self-empowerment. All proceeds from a silent auction will benefit Fresh Start, as well as any donations for clothing, food, or hygiene products received at the event. Entertrainment and showcase for the evening includes live music by Jonathan Leach, hair by I?S, food by ChezSodo, and art by five female artists.
Music
August Moon at Francie and Finch
- Francie and Finch Bookshop
- 130 S. 13th St. | 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Local bookstore Francie and Finch will host their monthly First Friday reception. Often featuring music or book signings, May’s event welcomes the local Celtic folk band August Moon.
Domestica/Tonlode/Wagonblasters at 1867 Bar
- 101 N. 14th | 9-12 p.m.
- Welcoming three Nebraska bands to their stage, 1867’s First Friday show will include Domestica, Tonlode and the Wagonblasters. Show starts at 9:00 p.m., with doors opening at 8:00. The show is 21+ and asks a $5 cover.
Jerry Pranksters at the Zoo Bar
- 136 N. 14th | 9:00 p.m.
- Longtime local favorites, Jerry Pranksters will be playing the Zoo Bar this Friday! Their collection of Live Dead Music brings favorite from the Grateful Dead to the stage.
Karynn Brown is an editorial intern with KZUM.
