A mostly virtual First Friday as businesses, venues gradually reopen
It’s another First Friday and again it’s a virtual one online.
Mostly.
Easing coronavirus restrictions are allowing restaurants, clubs, galleries and shops to reopen to a degree if they choose but with strict health, cleanliness and social distancing measures in place. Many are taking the opportunity but easing into it. Several gallery operators said they’re beginning to stick their toes into the reopening waters to see how it works and who’s willing to come.
Many restaurants and clubs are doing the same but remember, for the time being, it’s a good idea to get the latest information from venues or their websites because situations and openings remain very fluid.
Julie Wilkerson of the Macon Arts Alliance said their First Street gallery has been open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all week with an added online “Clear the Racks” art sale at www.maconarts.org/shop. There is an in-person First Friday aspect to the sale at noon. Wilkerson said the gallery will then close until July but the group’s live “Fired Works” pottery show and sale is at Central City Park June 12-18.
The 567 Center for Renewal’s gallery has been offering virtual classes through Facebook and will continue to do so although artist Colin Penndorf, the 567’s curator, said a couple of live classes that were stopped when the pandemic struck have restarted with most participants returning.
For First Friday, Penndorf said he will lead a virtual gallery tour called “United Apart” featuring work by himself and 567 instructors. It will be online at www.facebook.com/the567 beginning at 3 p.m.
It and other First Friday Art Crawl events, such as a 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. virtual opening of a show by Resa Taylor at Travis Jean Emporium, www.travisjeanemporium.com, can be discovered by searching “First Friday Art Crawl” on Facebook. Be sure you’re seeing Macon’s events.
Theatre Macon will repeat their 2020-21 season preview for First Friday at 8 p.m. at www.facebook.com/theatremacon438.
Check other galleries and venues for more events.
“The virtual First Friday worked well last month with everyone having timeslots,” Penndorf said. “This month is a repeat but with added possibilities of openings and the restaurants generally being open under their social distancing guidelines. A lot of bars and clubs are looking at opening to some degree, too.”
Theatres and cinemas with live audiences remain closed under Georgia’s COVID-19 regulations.
Penndorf said like many organizations – and many individuals – The 567 is taking a tentative approach to balance new online classes with possible future live events as well as fully opening the gallery.
“We’ve definitely canceled our July summer art camps for this year,” he said. “It’s a sad necessity. As a gallery we have nothing giant planned but may end up hosting some smaller shows and, technically speaking, the gallery is open if a small group wants to contact us and come have a look. We can do that. We’re encouraging artists to talk to their patrons and if some want to do a private showing then we can prepare the space and accommodate them.”
Aside from work with The 567, Penndorf also leads a group of artists called the Ocmulgee Artist Guild. They encourage one another in creative efforts, promote their work, shows and organize four major pop-up shows each year, including their popular “Dysphoria” and “Euphoria” shows.
But there will be no more of those until 2021.
“Another really tough call but something we had to go ahead and decide,” he said.
But being a creative bunch, Penndorf said the guild is already tossing around ideas to uniquely promote art, show work and create enjoyable evenings.
“There are innovative ideas we’re thinking through about bringing people out to have a good time safely in a specific area away from each other, but we’re still working out details,” he said.
As an artist in contact with other artists, Penndorf said social distancing has hit creatives hard economically but in different ways creatively and emotionally.
“At first I was in a fog,” he said. “I just couldn’t focus or get much done creatively. Then it lifted and I started getting some really good things done. I know others who’ve gotten stuck but others who’ve been more productive than ever. But it’s been difficult for everyone in one way or another. Buying art isn’t the first thing most people think of during a pandemic but I’m glad there are some sales and that there have been generous people donating to individuals and arts groups. That has been a help in a very tough time.”
Penndorf said The 567 created a penpal program where people send letters to the gallery listing three favorite things or a situation. From that, an artist is assigned to create a small, envelope-sized work. It costs $25 for the original piece based on patron input.
“Just a way to bring in a little something for artists,” he said. “Plus it’s a great way for artists and patrons to connect. I did one for someone whose three things were music, Macon and outdoors. I did something with Little Richard and cherry blossoms. Seemed appropriate.”
For those wanting to go out to a restaurant or similar this First Friday, NewTown Macon offers pages on their website with as up-to-date as possible reports of who’s open and how they’re serving. Go to www.newtownmacon.com/powering-newtown/covid-19 and look for maps and links related to restaurants and retail stores. On maps, click on venues for details.
NewTown’s Josh Rogers said supplemental outdoor furniture is being put out along Poplar Street and elsewhere to help people grab a bite downtown and remain socially distant.
Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You might want to visit:
http://www.facebook.com/theatremacon438
http://www.travisjeanemporium.com