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Happenin' First Friday showing its ETSU pride

By Doug Janz
Press Tempo Writer
djanz@johnsoncitypress.com

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It looks like one of the biggest and busiest First Fridays yet, as four art exhibits, a handful of bands, the Little City Roller Girls and the East Tennessee State University men’s and women’s basketball teams are part of the free monthly downtown arts and music festival on Friday, Nov. 6.

The problem won’t be finding something to do downtown, as people have often complained about, but instead the challenge will be deciding where to spend time during First Friday.

“I’m hoping people are getting the idea that there’s not ‘nothing’ going on down here,” said Cate Abraham, marketing manager of the Johnson City Development Authority and one of the First Friday organizers. “There’s a lot of different things going on. It’s definitely an energy and synergy.”

It’s the first Big Blue ETSU basketball pep rally for First Friday, and there’s also an ETSU involvement in the live music as well as the art exhibits.

The ETSU men’s and women’s basketball teams and coaches will be at Majestic Park to meet fans and sign autographs, along with the pep band, cheerleaders, Bucky the mascot and broadcaster Jay Sandos, the Voice of the Bucs, starting at 6:15 p.m.

The nominees for ETSU homecoming king, queen and court will also be on hand. Music will be provided by the ETSU Bluegrass Band in the gazebo starting about 7:30. People will have a chance to scale the ETSU ROTC climbing wall or play basketball toss and football toss on Spring Street.

Everyone is encouraged to bring nonperishable food items to the collection barrels on Main Street to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee.

Art is always a big part of first Friday. Among the exhibits and openings:

• At the SR404 Contemporary Art Gallery, 404 S. Roan St., “Figure Studies” will feature work by Wayne Dyer, Mary Ruden, Mira Gerard, Derick Morton, Megan Levacy, Autumn Hill and others. The show is an exhibition of works exploring the human figure. An opening reception starts at 6:30.

Then at 7 there will be a grand unveiling for the First Friday Body Painting Exhibition. Those who enjoyed last month’s body-painting exhibit at Nelson Fine Art will get more of the same unique art with eight artists and eight live models. (All models will be wearing bandeau tops and shorts, so the event is family friendly.)

• Nelson Fine Art will host an exhibition of artwork from the local tattoo community, “Neo-Permanence.” Artists include Travis Wasko, Ryan Fink, Derick Morton, Mary Ruden and others. Also on display are several prints from the personal collection of Travis Wasko.

• The Tennessee Association of Craft Artists will have its annual Holiday Show & Sale at the Johnson City Area Arts Council inside the King Centre, 300 E. Main St. The works of more than 20 area craft artists will be on display and available for purchase. The opening reception is from 6-8.

• Slocumb on Tipton Gallery, 126 Spring St., will have an opening reception from 6-8 for “Pending,” featuring work by Stacy Isenbarger, Anna Kell and Jackson Martin.

Live music will include a host of bands at SR404 starting at 8 — Oliver Twisted, Transmissions from a Dead Star and The Pillarist. The Little City Roller Girls, this area’s female flat-track roller derby team, will host the Little City Big Party derby fundraiser starting at 9 on the second floor of Numan’s.

There will be live music by The Garrett Harris Band, Boiler Room Gang and Building Shadows, and people can participate with the roller girls in games of giant Twister, Corn Hole and Musical Chairs, as well as the spanking booth. A late-night dance party will follow. Admission is $6.

The Adsmarts Creativity Auction, taking place at The Charles, 308 E. Main St., will benefit advertising and media arts at ETSU. A live auction offering creative works from a variety of different artists and craftsmen and a silent auction (advertising media, services, gift certificates and more) will run simultaneously. Proceeds from the auction sales will be used to create endowed scholarships for students in advertising and media arts at ETSU.

The event will begin at 6 with a cocktail hour, silent auction and a preview of the live auction items. The live auction starts at 7. Admission is $10 in advance or $15 at the door and includes live entertainment, refreshments and two beverage tickets.

Other notable First Friday activities include Mountain Yoga’s first-anniversary celebration, from 6-9, in the lobby of the King Centre, with door prizes, food, cake and a free all-ages yoga class at 7 with instructor Judy Jackson; at Unique Treasures, 232 E. Main St., belly dancers, a band, an art exhibit and a free one-card pull Tarot reading with student ID; and at Beadworks, 257 E. Main St., will have free earring assembly, music and home-cooked food.

“The things that make me happy,” Abraham said, “are good times for everybody, bringing business to the downtown merchants and having people who don’t usually come downtown realize that there is stuff to do downtown.

“There’s something for everyone, with different kinds of music and activities.”

This First Friday is sponsored by ETSU, downtown businesses, Friends of Olde Downtown and the Johnson City Development Authority.

The First Friday holiday celebration and Christmas parade is set for Dec. 4.