First Friday Art Trail
Elliott Cochran & Jamie Williams
February 2, the Lubbock art community will unite for the First Friday Art Trail, a celebration and exhibition of local arts that takes place on the first Friday of every month.
According to their Web site, http://ffat.org, there are 20 participating galleries, studios and restaurants this month, spanning from downtown Lubbock to 82nd Street.
The downtown locations offer a trolley system to take enthusiasts to different exhibits on the trail. The festival is free and open to the public.
Linda Whitebread, coordinator of facilities and membership at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center, has seen the art trail grow through the years, and said she is excited for the art community.
"The growth is phenomenal. People that give it a try have such a good time," Whitebread said. "These exhibits get the rest of Lubbock to appreciate art and learn to love it."
Whitebread said the Underwood Center has between 500 and one thousand visitors during the art trail.
As well as opening all three of their galleriescc free of charge, the Buddy Holly Center offers enjoyments for patrons to enjoy in addition to the art.
Wendy Foster, special events and marketing coordinator for the Buddy Holly Center, said the gallery likes to provide a unique experience for their guests.
"We provide refreshments, appetizers and a cash bar," she said. "We also book live music to play, promoting both music and fine art in the community of Lubbock."
Nine miles down the road from the Buddy Holly Center is the Charles Addams Gallery, the southern-most location on the trail.
Charles Addams, owner of the gallery, said he has been participating in the Art Trail for a little less than one year and without the traffic provided by the trolley routes, still maintains a consistent turnout.
“We have a pretty wide range of people who come,” Addams said. “We get anywhere from 25 to 100 people a night.”
The festival will take place this Friday from 6-9 p.m., and is free to the public. For additional information, including a map of the galleries, visit the First Friday Art Trail website: http://www.ffat.org.