First Friday Art Walk^TM

Join us for Bas Bleu's First Friday Art Walk Open House on Friday, May 2nd, 2025 from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.  This is a fantastic opportunity to explore our latest showcase, meet the Bas Bleu staff, and learn about ways to get involved in our productions.

Connect with the community and discover the work we're passionate about.  Elizabeth Morisette, Gallery Curator, and Christine Hogg, the featured artist, will be present during the showing.  Light refreshments will be served, and the bar will be open for drink purchases.
Christine Hogg - christinehogg.design

CC’s Flowers in Old Town is hosting two Good Bones members: Sarah Mays and Madalyn Walker. Sarah is a painter and mixed media artist, specializing in bold color. Watch her paint live in CC’s front window during First Friday. Maddy, of Indigo and Goldenrod, is a botanical dye artist with a deep love of nature and its healing properties. She creates wearable art & wall decor dyed with flowers, barks, leaves, & roots- often locally grown. Visitors can learn to bundle dye silk with fresh marigold petals ($40). Shop their beautiful paintings, mixed media pieces, dyed silks, dye kits, and other works of art- on display at CC’s Flowers throughout May!

Artists: Jim Benest, Bob Coonts, Kate Dardine, Jeanne Grove, Victoria Kempf, Carol Schinkel, Jennifer Spencer, and Bernadette Youngquist.

Exhibition Title: Driven to Abstraction 8

Photo: Attached

Exhibition Statement: "The Driven To Abstraction 8th annual Art Exhibition and Sale invites you to immerse yourself in the vibrant, evocative world of abstract expression. This showcase is far more than an exhibition—it’s a tribute to the artistry, passion, and dedication embodied by eight remarkable artists. Together, they carry the weight and synergy of a collective 284 years of experience, each one a testament to the transformative power of art and the unwavering commitment to their craft.Featuring the exceptional talents of Jim Benest, Bob Coonts, Kate Dardine, Jeanne Grove, Victoria Kempf, Carol Schinkel, Jennifer Spencer, and Bernadette Youngquist."Amenities: Complimentary wine service (*while supplies last) for guests of legal drinking age. Soft drinks available for our underage guests.

Complimentary wine service (*while supplies last) for guests of legal drinking age. Soft drinks available for our underage guests. Petrichor will also be hosting a concurrent event featuring custom-made mocktails in the Golden Aspen room, free to the public.

Midnight Apothecary was founded to provide people with incense made without the use of any additive essential oils, synthetic fragrances, or perfumes. Owner Harrison Houlton creates each stick by hand using the Japanese style of making incense using only herbs, flowers, roots, resins, gum powders and water to create a high-quality, low-smoke incense. Transparency is one of the core tenets of the Midnight Apothecary, and enjoyers of incense deserve to have the confidence that they're only burning natural materials that are safe for combustion. Also, be sure to check out our new line of natural herbal tea blends!

Join Doozie Jewelry and Andrew Madison Art for a reopening celebration for the May First Friday Walk.  Come see our new space on the corner of Walnut and Linden.  Light snacks and refreshments provided.

May First Friday Art Walk at Edge Optics 
Celebrate spring with us at our next First Friday Art Walk—a night full of local flavor, art, and fun vibes! Ranch Eats food truck will be serving up mouthwatering food!
Local art from: Jaden Scott, Noodle in a Haystack, Davio, Sarah Bott, Micah Baird, Lydia Cruz, Mallory Cash
Outer Eye Iris Photography – come get your eyes captured like never before!
Drinks are on us while you browse and mingle
Curated playlist to keep the good vibes going. No live music this time, but still an unforgettable night of art, friends, food, and community. Stop in and hang with the Edge crew!

Works of Art from Blossom Bird Studio…an ongoing show

Original watercolor & charcoal sketch works by our own multi-talented Christina

We invite you to follow your nose down our marble staircase into the 142bis gallerie this First Friday Art Walk in Mai. Enter by illuminated candlelight fragranced with our signature Rain scented “Parapluie” candle specially poured for us by master chandler Beth of Beldamia. Her “Fleur de Lys” candles will be burning inside to treat you to the timeless Mai scent of muguet, the classic French floral “Lily of the Valley”. Complemented with floral body care originals by Aevum & Grey and EsScentuals signature “Rain” fragrance in velvet enrobed spray vial pens. Celebrate the “Return of the Flowers” with us…

Dominique Montaño is a local artist and educator from Fort Collins that focuses on representing nature in all its forms. Using a scientific lens and ecological principles, she focuses on accuracy and highlighting the roles of nature around us.

For the April 4 First Friday Art Walk, the Global Village Museum of Arts and Cultures will be open from 5-8 pm with free admission.  In the Main Gallery, It's About TIME explores the theories and portrayals of past, present, and future.  Visitors can also explore the Museum's two permanent galleries, Mundoville and John E. Roberts Village Arts.  The former showcases international folk art as well as the world in miniature.  The latter is home to world folk art, fine art, and artifacts from Africa and Asia that were donated by local collectors and founding members.  The Museum also features the Losel Doll House with figurines handcrafted by Tibetan monks in exile in India, an international music room, and a gnome scavenger hunt for children. 

Join us for a live art session and exclusive exhibit meet and greet with local artist Lydia Tarleton.

"Lydia Tarleton is an imaginative, playful artist and graphic designer. With a knack for blending classic with a dash of whimsy, Lydia's work feels like a burst of confetti.Whether she's painting murals or drafting contemporary logos, her aesthetic leaks through, making her a favorite in both the design and artistic spheres. Her work reflects a dedication to creativity, innovation, and the power of visual communication to inspire and connect."

Drinks and hors d'oeuvres served, real-time oil painting, original oil paintings for sale exclusively during Art Walk 

For the month of May, La Boutique will be featuring the works of local artist, musician, and coffee-enthusiast, Ryan Sinner, whose work is known for their dark, gothic, and spacey motifs. Their pieces, mostly consisting of highly detailed ink architectural drawings, charcoal portraiture, and acrylic paintings, will be on display at the shop. Archival prints, photo prints, patches, and stickers all designed by the artist will also be available.

The Museum of Art is currently showing the 21st annual MASKS Exhibition and Fundraiser, featuring over 225 community artists.

In addition to the exhibition, we will also have:

Main Gallery-Ekphrastic Poetry Open Mic (6-7pm)

MoA for All Art Engagement Center (2nd floor of the museum)
- Community Curated Art & Conversation with Partners of Larimer County, "Connection"
- Sheri Lauren Artist Open Studio
- Charming Quail Open Studio
- Freebird Funnday LIVE Fingerpainting!

Scott creates fine art paintings for personal and business commissions. Contemporary and abstract paintings in acrylic and mixed media. His passion with pencil sketches and cartooning has greatly influenced his abstract fine art. His work recalls to mind master artists from the past – Jackson Pollock. He has taken the abstract style and added a personal touch with polarized glasses to give a deeper depth to the images to make it pop no matter if you are looking with or without the glasses. No matter the subject or color medium used, being able to help others color outside the lines and open their minds to new ideas has always been his goal.

Carla Wilson, owner/Artist of CJ Sudden Art is a self-taught abstract artist located in Colorado who specializes in one of a kind abstract art.

From her canvas work to the galvanized metal letters that she became known for throughout the local art community, Carla not only paints individual letters but has painted letters for storefronts across the country.

The original one-of-a-kind art grew into repurposed home goods, jewelry, and hair clips. All one of a kind works of art.

Carla offers commissioned work along with custom letters allowing the customer to have input on the colors and design of their choice be it for a gift, business name or for themselves.

Tellus is proud to sponsor the upcoming Only Music Snake River Tour—an off-the-grid, music-powered expedition by Fort Collin’s own A Brother’s Fountain.

Join us Friday, May 2 from 5:30–7:00 PM during First Friday Art Walk at our Old Town store for an exclusive Meet & Greet + Mini Performance with a couple of the band members. Enjoy drinks and light snacks while hearing some of the songs they'll perform on their 120-mile float down the Snake River—and help send them off in style!

About the Tour:
The band will float from Swan Falls to Farewell Bend, relying solely on music and generosity for food and lodging. Along the way, they’ll perform in six towns—and a film crew will capture the journey for a documentary about the healing power of nature and mental health.Learn more: abrothersfountain.com/onlymusic
Follow the journey: @a.brothers.fountain + @stoked.ember

For the month of May, The Masonic Event Center is excited to host four local artists:

• Oil paintings by Lisa Pentz; lisapentzart.com 
• Palette knife paintings by Anna Schneider; annaschneiderart.etsy.com 
• Resin casting art by Chelsey Greenwood
• Surrealist paintings (and first time Art Walk feature) by Ariel Sophabmisay

We are also pleased to announce that we will have special guests from The Gulo Gulo Poetry Collective who will be reciting some home grown Colorado poems at 7:30pm.
Lastly, we will be providing refreshments and snacks for anyone who wishes to join us, and we will provide a tour of our historic building near the end of the night! We hope to see you there!

Featured in May we have: Bespoke Bowls and Boxes. Come see the compelling work of two distinct local artists that are united by their use of wood. Amanda Warren presents intricate box assemblages, combining layered textures to create narrative-rich sculptures.  Andrew Banister is showcasing finely crafted wood-turned pieces, highlighting the natural beauty of the wood grain with elegant, functional shapes.  Together their work offers a dynamic exploration of wood as both medium and muse. 

Here is the artist we are going to host for the Art Walk in May:
Logan Tompkins @LTOriginals - TikTok and Facebook @LTOriginals_ IG 
He makes black light activated paintings

Visit Fort Collins will be hosting two artists, Vicki McCargar & Mila Solodovnikova, both of whom are Artists featured at Blue Moose Art Gallery. Vicki, specializing in watercolor and Mila in abstract will both be live painting in their respective mediums! There will be light refreshments.

First Friday Art Walk Feature — Drawing Without Limits
May 2 – 5
Featuring: Ian Richling, Lia Ditslear, Tabbitha Manuel, Alora Graf & Kendall Gallien
These five artists, all specializing in drawing, have collaborated to present a cohesive and compelling Capstone exhibition you won’t want to miss.

Special First Friday Celebration — May 2nd
In addition to our art openings, we’re thrilled to announce the Grand Opening of Twisted Stitch, a unique fiber arts retailer and educational space now located in our Stone Room.

• Enjoy snacks, refreshments, and hands-on crafting fun!
  
• Learn more: www.twistedstitchfoco.com
  
  

Mark your calendars and join us for an inspiring evening full of creativity, community, and celebration of CSU’s emerging artists!

This month we get to share TWO amazing artists with you. We welcome you to enjoy the musical stylings of Nadalands and the visual artistry of Taryn Coulombe amongst our 35+ vintage and maker resident vendors. 

Taryn is an amateur local print artist, creating under the name Dark Nooodle Art. She specializes in black & White abstract design.  You can find more of Taryn's art @darknoodleart.

From Nadalands:Amidst a strummed 12-string acoustic guitar, ambient soundscapes, and foreboding drones, Fort Collins-based songwriter John Lindenbaum (The Lonelyhearts, Rust Belt Music) narrates densely lyrical tales of apocalyptic nostalgia. Two decades of live shows have serenaded five time zones with stories of societal discord, prophetic clairvoyance, imperial decline, environmental collapse, and doomed romance. The Days of Awe LP, the 15^th record by Nadalands, was released in 2023.

Join us at the Publick House for First Friday art opening of Her hands, My Hands by Liz Ortiz, and live music by Bevin Luna. Her Hands, My Hands is a new print series by Liz Ortiz celebrating the women, biological and chosen, who shape our lives. Installed during the artist’s birthday month, these hand-carved portraits honor the quiet strength of those who create, care, and connect. Featuring live music by Bevin Luna at the First Friday reception.