- Fabian Ramirez, Elie Piña, Tim LAzure and Vicki Bruner at Quirk Gallery
- Guys and Dolls at Theatre IV
- Richmond Chapter of the American Association of WoodTurners & Firehouse Theatre at Visual Art Studio

Important Art Walk Date Change! Please join us for a Special “First Thursday” Art Walk on Thursday, July 3rd. Your favorite downtown galleries, creative businesses, and restaurants will be celebrating their July exhibition openings on Thursday, July 3 instead of on Friday due to the July 4th holiday. Please check the individual venue listings for details of what exhibitions and programs will be taking place and which venues will be closed.

Have a happy and very safe 4th of July and we hope to see you on “First Thursday”!

Gallery Spotlights & Special Events for July 3…

Quirk Gallery – 311 West Broad Street
Quirk presents three brand new and unique exhibitions for the July 3 “First Thursday” Art Walk, and is host to the raw bluesy sounds of musician Keith Bonnice performing throughout the evening.

Fabian Ramirez & Elie Pina
Born in the province of Chaco, Argentina, Ramirez grew up in Resistencia, also known as the "City of Sculptures."  Ramirez's work, ranging from figurative pieces to highly abstract constructions, "deals with a basic sense of being human and at the same time overcoming our limitations."  For Venezuelan artist, Elie Piña, painting represents a way "to express feelings, emotions, beliefs and one's culture."  At a young age he started painting using a technique called Chimo.  This technique uses a paste made from the tobacco leaf.  Piña has achieved a perfect balance combining oil paint with Chimo and this unique combination has given him the opportunity to combine harmony with his imagination.

Vault Project: Tim Lazure
Lazure uses imagery from the industrial era, as well as objects from nature and the human form; he poses questions about their interconnectivity and invites viewers to draw from their own past to interpret and appreciate the work.  

Shop Show: Vicki Bruner
Bruner's imaginative work is created by using a blend of watercolor, gouache, soft pastels and found objects. They feature whimsical characters and colors.  All of Vicki's unique paintings are on watercolor paper.

First Thursday, July 3; 6-10pm
Exhibition: July 3 – August 15, 2008

Theatre IV – 114 West Broad Street Broad
Street will be all a buzz on Thursday evening with gallery hoppers and theatre goers. Is this downtown?! Sure is! Start your holiday weekend off right with a fabulous night on the town by dining at one of downtown’s top rated restaurants, experience new works by internationally recognized artists on view at many of the visual art galleries, and then grab a ticket and settle in for the hottest show in town!Guys and Dolls will be performing at Theatre IV’s grand Empire Theatre, Broad Street’s historic landmark theatre and one of our best neighbors!

Guys and Dolls
This toe-tapping Broadway favorite tells the story of some small time gamblers and the ladies in their lives. When Nathan Detroit bets his pal Sky Masterson that he can make the next woman he sees fall madly in love with him, that woman turns out to be prim missionary Sarah Brown. The stage is set for an evening of high spirited entertainment full of laughter, love and song, including favorites, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” and the show stopping “Luck be a Lady”!  Presented at the Historic Empire Theatre.

For more information and to purchase tickets go to: http://www.barksdalerichmond.org/season.html#guys

Visual Art Studio – 208 West Broad Street
The Visual Art Studio will be presenting a great array of artists at their July 3 opening both inside and outside. From the renowned work by the Richmond Chapter of the American Association of WoodTurners to cabaret type performances by the Firehouse Theatre, there’s soooo much to experience.

You’re invited to a reception on Thursday, July 3 from 7-10pm to experience the invitational and juried exhibition, As the Wood Turns, featuring fine and functional art by the American Association of WoodTurners, Richmond Chapter, with guest artists Tom Crabb and Phil English. Also on view is, new jewelry by Richmond artists Katherine Benner and Missy Olds and Shellion: New Oil Paintings by Dan Rhett featuring scenes cast with coastal creatures and fenced lots.

Live music will be provided inside by My Son the Doctor, performing Klezmer, Yiddish and Gypsy Music, while a unique opportunity awaits outside with actors from the Firehouse Theatre performing pieces from their hot summer musical Reefer Madness!

First Thursday, July 3; 7-10pm
Exhibition: July 3 - August 1, 2008

Jason Winebarger with "Bubbles"
Attached is a photo of artist Jason Winebarger with "Bubbles", his creation in the Pups on Parade project for sponsor Carreras Jewelers. It was taken at the May 2, 2008 First Friday in front of Quirk Gallery.