Courtesy of NEXT Gallery and 40 West Arts
Take a (Virtual) First Friday Art Tour
Nine ways you can follow stay-at-home orders and still see—and support—local art on First Friday.
By Natasha Gardner • April 3, 2020
It's the first Friday of the month, which usually means that hordes of people are about to spend the night touring galleries, enjoying a beverage (or two), and buying art.
That's not going to happen this month because you're staying at home. But you don't have to miss out on First Friday, a tradition that's a classic Denver experience. While you've been busy adjusting to a new normal, local galleries, museums, and artists have been working hard to transition to a more digital environment.
Tonight, 40 West Arts—Lakewood's art district (its ArtLine was our 2019 Top of the Town pick for best place to see art)—is hosting a virtual First Friday. It will do so via a Facebook Live event from 6 to 9 p.m. to talk art and connect with the district's galleries for virtual tours and more. "We know art can be such a powerful driver in helping us all relate to the human experience that we are going through," says Liz Black, 40 West Arts District's executive director. She adds that they hope this is a way to reach out to and inspire the community.
All of which means that you can still spend First Friday enjoying art, all without leaving your house. Along with the 40 West Arts online event, here are seven other ways to partake in a virtual First Friday. So, go ahead and pour yourself a glass of wine, call your best friend, open some web page links and take a stroll—in the comfort of your home.
40 West Arts District: With a "Spring Glow" theme for April's First Friday, this virtual event is oh-so timely. Make sure to join in the conversation during the Facebook Live.
Art District on Santa Fe: This is where Denver's First Fridays began, so continue the tradition by visiting some of its galleries and shops virtually (there's information on ways to support businesses and, of course, buy art).
River North Art District: The area has launched a "Keep RiNo Rolling" web page where you can find listings with ways to help, online shopping, curbside takeout, and links to creatives selling art.
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art: Take a 360-degree virtual tour or click through the Process and Print exhibit to learn more about prints and lithographs.
Denver Public Art: Denver has more than 400 public art pieces—and you can visit many of them online. Click on the map to find items you may have missed before.
Denver Art Museum: It is quite possible to get lost in the DAM's expansive online archives. So, go right ahead and do that until you discover a new favorite piece.
Colorado Photographic Arts Center: Since 1963, the Center has celebrated the art of photography, and you can scroll through their archives too see stunning images of aspens, Ken Haymen's image of a smiling Audrey Hepburn, and other moments of everyday life.
Museum of Outdoor Arts: Take a virtual tour of the 2019 Natura Obscura exhibit, browse the museum's collections, or watch films about process, artists, and more.
This article will be part of ongoing coverage about how COVID-19 is impacting our cultural community. If you have a story tip, please email us at digital@5280.com.
Natasha Gardner
Natasha Gardner is a Denver-based writer and the former Articles Editor for 5280.