First Friday Art Walk

Join us for First Friday on November 7th from 6 - 9 pm at CC’s Flowers in Old Town! Enjoy an evening filled with live music and local art featuring Jenny Eggleston’s Floral Chambray series and Lisa Nevot’s vibrant mixed-media works. The night includes performances by a local singer-songwriter Brendan Nichols and a father-son bluegrass duo, Dad and Me. Stop in for flowers, art, and community vibes in the heart of Old Town.

Gallery A - Tree Ring Circus
Artist: Johnny Plastini & Robert DiGrappa

Trees are elemental books, measures of time, and poetic repositories. Their changing seasons punctate our lives in the moment, remember the lives of those before us, and look towards the growth of future generations. The exhibition “Tree Ring Circus” unites two generations of Colorado-based artists who speak collaboratively through trees with the mediums of wooden sculpture, handmade ash inks, and prints on handmade papers. In direct connection to Sylvia Plath’s poem “Circus in Three Rings", the exhibition “Tree Ring Circus” evokes the sense of a hurricane tearing apart a circus as a mirror to emotional turmoil, resilience, and life beyond the storm.

Gallery B - The Art of Being Seen
Artists: Grace Payne, Izzy Beesley, & Brooke McGibben

The Art of Being Seen is a meditation on transformation - how life, like the seasons, moves through cycles of growth, grief, release, and renewal. Through art, we give form to what's fleeting: emotion, memory, identity. In creating, we process. In sharing, we practice vulnerability. Each piece reflects a moment of becoming, a glimpse into the inner landscape of the artist. As you move through this exhibit, we invite you to pause, feel, and reflect on your own seasons. Thank you for witnessing ours.

Gallery C - Celebrating 30 years of Art in Public Places!
We are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of our Arts in Public Places program! The exhibit will be available to view in Gallery C at the Center for Creativity. Join us for a special celebration event on November 8th from 6pm-8:30pm!

Lisa Nevot is a seasoned member of the creative arts industry, and Certified Therapeutic Arts Practitioner. With a career spanning just shy of 4 decades Lisa has run a business fashioned to suit her lifestyle, craving for adventure, freedom in expression, and passion for art. Lisa’s work varies in style and medium making her accessible to multiple clientele tastes and needs. Her mediums include watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, graphite, canvas, and wood. Even painting on glass and brick. Her style is recognizable yet vastly different based on current inspiration and influences. Her artwork has won her awards, been published, licensed, auctioned, in galleries, in stores, and sold online.

All through her own marketing and distribution channels. Her love for the arts has brought her to speak on panels, speak to large audiences, judge art events, and paint live on stage with best-selling authors. It has taken her work to Italy to tour for a year, to hang alongside the likes of Diego Rivera and even Michelangelo. She has been published in multiple magazines, and it has led her to teach art history through the artists of the past as well as teaching beginners to bring out their love of creation. Lisa believes in conscious creation. The connectivity of all living things and the entanglement theory of the quantum universe. Her art represents the thinning of the veil and our ability to move through life not being identified by it but rather a passenger on a journey in this dimension. She has intuitive gifts that present themselves in her vision and dreams feeling the connection to the collective consciousness. She asks that we see ourselves not as our bodies or suffering, but as creators. Architects of our lives through our passion and desire for the health of ourselves, our community and the planet. Through personal power we can then join each other and light up the world, exposing the underbelly and driving it out with the light. Everything that is alive now walking and living on the earth should be treated with reverence. 

Lisa is still creating and teaching to this day, continuing to live her way and loving the life she leads. "Success is in the ability to live the lifestyle you choose, not just the power of acquisition. ”She creates from the soul for the soul. When she is not locked up in her studio or spending time in the galleries, Lisa can be found wandering Old Town Fort Collins enjoying the local flavors or taking road trips and doing photography. She lives in Colorado with her old but sweet kitty Candy. 

Hi there! I’m Harper - a 12-year-old 6th grader at Webber Middle School with a big love for all things artsy and creative! Ever since I can remember, I’ve been happiest when I’m making something with my hands. Whether it’s drawing, painting, crafting tiny miniatures out of polymer clay, beading, or my newest obsession - crocheting - there’s always a project (or three!) in the works.

I actually taught myself to crochet by watching YouTube videos and spending time at Lambspun’s open craft sessions. I especially love making miniature plushies because they’re just so cute - and there’s no limit to the creatures and objects you can bring to life with a hook and some yarn! Crocheting helps me relax, and it’s extra fun because my little creations make perfect gifts for friends and family.

Doozie will be hosting visiting artist, Fitz Farm (@fitzfarm) for her opening of "Foothills and Flora".

This collection brings together landscapes and botanicals. half of the painting turn outward toward sweeping views and vast horizons; the other half look closely into the intricate language of leaves and petals. Together, they remind us that beauty exists both in the distance and in the details. Meet the artist for an opening reception from 6 - 9 pm.

🎄✨ First Friday Art Walk at Edge Optics – Holiday Lights Edition! ✨🎄
Friday, November 7th | 6–9 PM |📍 Edge Optics – 121 Laporte Ave, Fort Collins, CO
Join us in celebrating the magic of Old Town’s Holiday Lighting Night with an unforgettable First Friday Art Walk at Edge Optics!

Grab your friends, bundle up, and stop by for an evening full of local art, delicious food, and festive vibes.

Here’s what’s happening:
🍔 Burger Buggie – Serving up juicy, flavorful burgers and fries that pair perfectly with a crisp fall evening.
🍫 Voulez Vous Bonbons – Handmade artisan chocolates that are as gorgeous as they are delicious.
🧵 JES Creations – Unique handcrafted fiber art, perfect for early holiday shopping!
🎨 Bonnie Lindstrom – Beautiful, expressive paintings full of color and life.
📸 Dan Matriccino Photography – Stunning local photography showcasing creative perspectives of Colorado.

✨ Make it a night to remember — explore local art, eat incredible food, and soak up the glow of Old Town’s twinkling holiday lights.

First Friday is one of our favorite times to celebrate community, creativity, and connection here in Fort Collins — and we can’t wait to share it with you. Whether you’re here to shop, snack, admire local art, or just soak in the atmosphere, this night will be packed with good vibes. Stop by, bring friends, and let’s make this First Friday one to remember!

On Going Offerings Featuring: Blossom Bird Studio (@blossombirdstudio), handarbeit (@esscentualsfortcollins), Beldamia (@beldamia) & Antique Chandeliers as Art.

On this First Friday of November the night will be illuminated both inside & out. Follow your nose descending the marble staircase as candles light your way to enter our enchanted 142bis gallerie space. By the time you ascend the marble steps the lighting ceremony will have illuminated the streetscape…

Celebrate the return of the lights with us, our artists & our downtown neighbors.

Clay Metamorphosis: From Mud to Modern explores the many ways the humble element of clay has enhanced our lives. Clay is ubiquitous – it can be found throughout the world and in quantities that some claim could cover the entire earth a mile deep. It is the original plastic material and has been used by humans for thousands of years in ingenious ways.

This exhibit explores the context in which clay evolved from its natural unbaked state (mud) to the modern fired ceramic objects that are now considered a natural and important part of our lives, locally and around the world.

Madeline Bechtel (MCCB) (@mccb.design) is a full-time artist, graphic designer and illustrator located in Fort Collins, CO. Her daytime work is for The City of Fort Collins as their Senior Graphic Designer, while all other work is created through MCCB Design - her whimsical personal business that focuses on creating powerful art and brands. Through these outlets, she’s able to stay deeply connected to her community; a symbiotic relationship between creative people and a vibrant place.

Erin Greenberg of Silverthaw Jewelry (@silverthawjewelry) creates sterling silver and gemstone pieces for dreamers, romantics, and the beautifully strange. Handcrafted in her Fort Collins studio with traditional metalsmith techniques, each design is touched with whimsy and inspired by the graceful elegance of antique jewelry.

David Theissen Bio: As a painter I feel that things have come full circle of late (or maybe I’m just finishing another lap). I grew up in Rapid City, SD and that tether to the natural surroundings; that foundation found in spaces and places is something I’ve always known. In so far as I paint, landscape is the primary subject of my work, but in a deeper vein, our (human) imprint on and interaction with the land is a reoccurring, if not consistent, theme.

After graduating from St John’s University I was more than content to chase after the intriguing compositions of shape, line, and color that present themselves effortlessly in any urban environment. Such images of opportunity could occupy anyone in possession brushes and canvases (and an eye for that sort of thing) quite happily and quite endlessly. But being an ardent observer of your surroundings eventually leads you to something beneath the veneer. That something may be closer to structure or spirit, meaning or message, but the interconnections between things start to surface and you see both your subject and your work from a new perspective.

For me the consideration and execution of landscape as subject has generally been sans figure yet rife with evidence of human activity. I used to think of that as incidental, but as I create new and more intimate views of the areas that you and I occupy, there is revealed a continuum rather than a coincidence in the absence of humans. Disregard, trivialization, abandonment, and exploitation are all words that describe our relationship with our natural surroundings. The ground on which we stand, however, requires more from us than we let ourselves believe: more in terms of respect and much more in terms of stewardship. The land and water that sustains us must in turn be matched with sustainable, human enterprise. It’s a little surprising (or maybe not so surprising at all) that what I am now consciously conceptualizing as the basis for my work going forward appears to have been an integral part of my visual expression for some time now. Full circle? Awakening? Epiphany. Purpose.

EMILY PROUTY - DESIGNER AND FOUNDER

Emily Prouty is a powerful creative who seeks to share beauty she sees around her in the world. Trained at Vanderbilt University in Latin American Studies, Cultural Anthropology, Ethnography and International Community Development, her travels in the developing world during college and graduate school solidified in her a deep love of her fellow human beings and a powerful pull towards the art of living well as your true self.

She found that the women she worked with around the world - but most especially in even the most difficult and deeply impoverished communities across Latin America - adorned themselves daily with deep reverence, bright vibrant color and incredible grounded joy. Self-possessed and powerful these women with their incredible stories and their singular style are something Emily has carried in her heart ever since. When we begin to dress for ourselves alone we are on the path of reclamation of our wild selves. The ones who know who we are most truly. The ones we most need and are most likely to forget in a culture that is forever telling us how to look and who to be. The power of seeking our own self-possession through self-expression is very real. You alone know what you love. You alone what makes you soul sing. You alone know you Truth. You should wrap that knowing around your own shoulders everyday and wear it with the same grace as you do your own skin. Dressed in your own knowing you are your most powerful, beautiful and free.

Emily designs and makes all Beloved Sovereign pieces with love and intention in sunny Northern Colorado.

For the month of May, The Masonic Event Center is excited to host three local artists!
We are also pleased to once again have our special guests from Photo Booth Events who will be offering their services so that guests can take home a memento of their historic visit!

Lastly, we will be providing refreshments and snacks for anyone who wishes to join us, and we offer rotating tours of our historic building throughout the night! We hope to see you there!

Liz Ortiz (@madharepress)

Christine Hogg (@christine.f.hogg)

Chelsey Greenwood

Painting became a joyful way to honor the places and moments that shape us. My work often features vibrant acrylics and playful mixed media to capture the soul of historic architecture and the gentle rhythms of nature. I hope my art lives in spaces filled with warmth, laughter, and shared stories.

Beyond the canvas, I bring my whimsical spirit to community outreach events like the Guinea Pig Paint Class Fundraiser - where guests paint cozy guinea pig scenes to support local rescues. It’s art with heart... and a little quirky joy.

Instagram: @paintingbyjf

Come explore cozy still life scenes, peaceful landscapes, and beloved pets --- plus a few surprises like are on slides! Expect warm vibes, colorful canvases, and a chance to chat with the artist.

Get ready to sparkle and celebrate the season. Our featured show for November and December is all about handcrafted ornaments, lovingly made by our cooperative artists. From whimsical creations to elegant treasures, each piece is one-of-a-kind and made right here in NoCo.

This festive collection will have a wide variety of materials, from wood and glass to ceramic and more, showcasing the creativity and craftsmanship of our local makers. Come find the perfect ornament to add a touch of handmade magic to your holidays.

Seth Painter (@sethpaint33) does amazing 3D printed art as well as paintings!

Heather Reid (@heatherannereid) does incredible embroidery art!

Also including a FREE CBD Drink Taste Testing (21+) by A Sweet Sip, a Colorado made brand!

Wayward is so happy to welcome the holiday lights and YOU this November Art Walk! This month we have Alisha Johnson with Redwood Crystals. They specialize in crystals, driftwood sun catchers, crystal ornaments, and malas.

"We believe that crystals make a beautiful addition to any space and we offer a wide selection of colorful pieces! We draw our inspiration upon the natural elements of the Earth and create unique handmade gifts."

Find more about Redwood at @redwoodcrystals

Our doors will be closed on Friday, November 7th for a private event. Visit us in December as we resume our enthusiastic support of Art Walk!

Wolverine Farm presents Book as Canvas: a group art exhibit and silent auction Join us for the 10-year anniversary of the Publick House, and our 23rd year as a non-profit literary arts organization, and celebrate the wild talent of our community through multidisciplinary arts, using the book as a canvas.

This art exhibit celebration will include a silent auction of book artworks, live music, and literary interludes. Join us November 15th from 6-9pm for the big fundraiser and literary arts event of the season!