5 must-see gallery openings this Final Friday (Oct. 26, 2018)

Every last Friday of the month, Wichita art galleries and other businesses stay open late for social events and open houses — one of the premiere cultural events in town.

It’s an organic movement not formally organized by any one entity.

It’s sometimes confusing to navigate a packed listing, so here’s my suggestions — at least where I’m looking to go Friday evening:

• Commerce Street looks like the place to be this Final Friday, as multiple galleries there are hosting interesting-sounding exhibitions. Fisch Haus once again is opening for an innovative exhibition. The exhibitions curated by this longtime gallery always seem to challenge me artistically and intellectually in a way that I just haven’t been able to find at other Wichita galleries.
• GLeo is big in Wichita right now — literally. The renowned Columbian street artist designed a large-scale mural currently being painted on the Beachner Grain Elevator as part of Armando Minjarez’ Horizontes project. This Final Friday, WSU Shiftspace is hosting an exhibition of other GLeo works.
• It’s not every month that Diver Studio opens for an exhibition, but when they do, it’s usually one not to be missed. This month should be no different, as Pam Bjork is opening a solo show there.
• It seems there’s a whole shindig planned in the 500 block of North Woodlawn this Final Friday. It’s not an area I’d typically associate with Final Friday, but a collective of women-owned businesses in that block are collaborating on a showing that will include art, music, food, beer and more. If you find yourself in East Wichita, you might want to add this spot to your Final Friday list.
• I know it’s two months in a row that I’ve recommended this, but I can’t help but be curious about Studio School’s The Odditorium. It looks like the perfect exhibition for people looking for a spooky Halloween-type show. There’s also a costume contest scheduled for 9:30 p.m., so come dressed in your best getup.

The Q Line trolley will run its Old Town and Douglas (extension) routes from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday. Those routes cover a lot of Final Friday goodness, and may be found online at www.wichitatransit.org.

Use this listing to help plan your Friday evening on the town:

Commerce Street Art District

Sandbar Trading, 414 S. Commerce. 5-7:30 p.m. “A New Beginning with Old Ties” features historical artwork by Native American artists.

Positive Directions, 416 S. Commerce, Ste. 108. 6-9 p.m. “Break the Silence” is an annual event in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

WSU Shiftspace, 416 S. Commerce, Ste. 102. 5-10 p.m. Featuring artwork by GLeo, as part of the Horizontes project. She designed the massive grain-elevator mural currently being painted in north Wichita.

The Fiber Studio, 418 S. Commerce. 6-10 p.m. Art estate exhibit and sale of works by Ginger Tarrer and Tom Siegman.

Diver Studio, 424 S. Commerce. 6-9 p.m. “Ancient Faces” is a solo exhibition by Pam Bjork featuring portraits in encaustic, oil, and mixed media.

HUE Gallery of Contemporary Art, 430 S. Commerce. 6-10 p.m. Featuring artwork by Sean Christopher Ward and Dallas Dodge.

Vanya Designs, 520 S. Commerce. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Featuring artwork by Christina Patton.

Fisch Haus, 524 S. Commerce. 6-8 p.m. Closing reception of “Avian Conspiracy Theory,” which features artwork by Krystal Anton, Kip Haaheim, Steve Huey and Kenn Peters. A bird-themed exhibition complete with bird soundscape.

Old Town

CityArts, 334 N. Mead. 6-8 p.m. Featuring the Arts Council Juried Exhibition in the Main Gallery, “Return to Flight” by Brett Schauf in the Boardroom and Balcony galleries, and “Growing” by Alyssa Brookover in the Main Hall Gallery.

Old Town Square, 2nd and Mead. 9-11 p.m. Fire-spinners Phlox will perform.

Sullivan Higdon & Sink, 255 N. Mead. “The 2018 Sheep Show” features artists from the agency’s Wichita and Kansas City offices.

Harvester Arts, 215 N. Washington. 7-10 p.m. Featuring an interactive art experience, “The Surreal Supper: A Faux Dining Experience” by Linnebur & Miller. $5 suggested donation per person.

Mead Street Gallery, 121 N. Mead. 5-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by gallery artists. Gallery’s second-to-last Final Friday showing.

Mud Haus, 922 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by 2Dogs Designs.

Third Place Brewing, 630 E. Douglas. 8-11 p.m. Featuring photography by Mara Howes.

Gallery Alley, 616 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Mark Thimesch and live music by Riverside Red.

The Renfro (OpenStudios), 612 E. Douglas, Ste. 101. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Casey Joy.

Downtown

Gallery XII, 412 E. Douglas. 5:30-10 p.m. “Iconic Places: Mirrors of Magical Light” features landscape photography by John Ellert.

Tessera Fine Art Gallery, 412 E. Douglas. 5-9 p.m. Featuring Dia de los Muertos art by Novelene Ross.

Garvey Center (OpenStudios), 250 W. Douglas. 6-8 p.m. Featuring artwork from Stix and Stone Gallery, Own My Forever, PassionatePetals and Trish VanOsdel. Also featuring live music, a cash bar, food from Kyoto Garden and coffee from Reverie Roasters’ Kiva location. 24th floor will be open.

Reverie Roasters — Kiva, 220 W. Douglas. 7-10 p.m. Featuring art by Todd Larkey.

Vertigo 232, 232 N. Market. 6-10 p.m. “Reflections” features artwork by various local and regional artists, as well as live experimental video, light and electronica sounds by Mark S Walker.

125 N. Market, 125 N. Market. 5:30-7 p.m. Art for Access is an art fundraiser for Project Access, featuring light refreshments and a silent auction that ends at 6:30 p.m. Free to enter, but $25 is the suggested donation.

Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas. 11 p.m. “ICT Live!” is a sketch comedy show featuring Baylee Braswell, Cameron Carlson, Leo Larson, Ryan Schaefer, Claire Wehry and Joe Wescott, with musical guest MariaElena. $15 at the door.

Douglas Design District

The Workroom, 150 N. Cleveland. 6-9 p.m. Featuring Dia de los Muertos artwork.

Monica’s Bundt Cake, 1328 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Emeline Fuller.

Kerosene Skate Shop, 101 S. Pattie, Ste. 115. 6-11 p.m. Pop-up Halloween show by local artists including Julian Brown, Jesse Gordon, Patience Biggs, Andrew Thompson, Judd Thornburg “Odder Art,” Mai Thuong Nguyen, Dylan McNeil and Sloan, Jimmy & Steve of Time Honored Tattoo.

MakeICT, 1500 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Help paint a mural on “The Power of Art” in conjunction with the 2018 Wichita Big Read, “Station Eleven.”

Youth Horizons, 1601 E. Douglas. 5-9 p.m. “Breaking the Cycle: This is Home” is a showcase of art from children in Youth Horizons’ mentoring and residential programs.

Hopping Gnome Brewing Company, 1710 E. Douglas. 6-11 p.m. Featuring photography by Hannah Crickman. 21+.

TISSU Sewing Studio, 2326 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring “Secrets of the Prairie Spinster Society: A (Fabricated) History of Life on Kansas Plains,” by Leanne Dougherty.

Rutledge Agency — Allstate, 2330 E. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring photography by Trent James.

Journey The Way, 147 S. Hillside. 7-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Christa Chapin.

Reuben Saunders Gallery, 3215 E. Douglas. 5:30-9 p.m. “Paridisaea” features new abstract paintings by Josh Tripoli, co-founder of the Lupoli Collective.

Prairie Vistas Gallery, 3236 E. Douglas. 5:30-9 p.m. “Kansas Skys” features 30 landscape photographs emphasizing and integrating the sky.

Watermark Books & Cafe, 4701 E. Douglas. 6-8 p.m. Featuring fantasy art and a book signing by author Ed Cannon and illustrator Jenny Wine.

Historic Delano District

Symbolic Arts, 553 W. Douglas. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Drone-tography’s Jeremy and Amanda Miller.

Riverside

Midwest Center for Photography, 1215 W. Franklin. 7-9 p.m. Featuring photography by various local, national and international artists as part of the “Developed Work” exhibition.

East Wichita

Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock. 4:30-6:30 p.m. “Filtered Senses” is an exhibition of work by Envision Arts youth and teen groups.

Fairmount Coffee Co., 3815 E. 17th Street North. 6-9 p.m. Featuring artwork by Matthew Thonen and live entertainment by DJ LeviGates.

The Independent School, 8317 E. Douglas. 4-7 p.m. Featuring artwork by Dani Medrano, Indiana Elman, Clayton Barnett and other student, teacher, and community artists.

Relove Studio, 511 N. Woodlawn. 6-8 p.m. Featuring artwork by Christy Skinner, as well as candy and wine pairings. In conjunction with other openings on the block.

Findings, etc., 515 N. Woodlawn. 4-7 p.m. Featuring artwork by Polly Gentry.

Great Harvest Bread Company, 535 N. Woodlawn. 4-7 p.m. Featuring artwork by Charles Baughman and a wine tasting from R&J Discount Liquor.

Invio Fine Furniture Consignment, 535 N. Woodlawn. 5-7 p.m. Open house featuring art by Rachel Foster, live music, food by Sweet Allie B’s and beer from Limestone Beer Co.

Elsewhere in Wichita

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 8021 W. 21st Street. 6-8 p.m. Featuring Wichita paintings by Bill Goffrier.

Krystle Cole Fine Art Gallery, 4600 W. Kellogg Drive. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Featuring animal paintings by Krystle Cole.

Studio School, 751 George Washington Blvd. 5-10 p.m. The Odditorium features artwork by various local artists. Halloween costume contest at 9:30 p.m.

Chateau Holidays, 126 S. Seneca. 5:30-8 p.m. Featuring artwork by Ann Collins and Nanetta Maria, themed after Day of the Dead and Halloween, as well as dog accessories.

Collegiate

Friends University — Riney Fine Arts Gallery, 2100 W. University. 5-7 p.m. “Hole in the Water” features paintings by Jim Simpson.

Newman University – Steckline Gallery, 3100 W. McCormick. 5-7 p.m. “Elements” features artwork by Laura Bigger.

KU School of Medicine — William J. Reals Gallery, 1010 N. Kansas. 5-7 p.m. Featuring works by various medical and pharmacy students from KU Med’s Wichita campus.

This story was originally published October 26, 2018 at 5:51 AM.