First Friday: Street festival or art event?

Friday, Feb. 9, 2007 | 7:11 a.m.

By Kristen Peterson

Las Vegas Sun

Debate about the direction of First Friday continues. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, city staffers and a few gallery owners met privately last week in the city manager's office.

Jack Solomon, owner of S2 Art, said he had requested the meeting because he was upset by a contract awarded to Whirlygig, a nonprofit organization, that would allow it to operate First Friday. The contract is a result of a visit by Karen Craig, a paid festival consultant from Reno who met with First Friday business owners and participants in April to assess and manage the festival's growth. Craig concluded in an August report that the festival needs to be professionalized by using private funds and hiring a professional director for Whirlygig. The city partners with Whirlygig for the event.

Cindy Funkhouser, president of Whirlygig, started First Friday four years ago as an art event with galleries hosting exhibition openings.

It has become more of a street festival with multiple stages, rock performances, arts and crafts booths, and performance art. It has also become a popular draw for teenagers, frustrating some of the festival participants.

Solomon would like to see First Friday return to an art event for adults. He closed his gallery during the last two First Fridays and even posted a note on his door that read: "We closed because we object to the way First Friday is being handled by Whirlygig."

"We need to reposition what it stands for," Solomon says.

There is talk of bringing in a mediator to help resolve the dispute.

The city confirms that a meeting did take place to talk about the future of First Friday and that discussions are ongoing .

Funkhouser says: "The same plan that's been going on with Whirlygig taking over the event is still in place. The city will stay on as a host sponsor and we are still negotiating our contract."

Art calls

Sara Kellner, formerly of Hallwalls in Buffalo, N.Y., and Diverse Works in Houston, is the juror. Work not selected may be shown in the accompanying "Salon de Refuse." This will be CAC's first juried show in its new space in the Holsum Lofts.

Submissions must be made by Feb. 20. Fees are $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers.

Details: Contemporary Arts Collective, 231 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 10, 382-3886 or info@lasvegascac.org

Details: 229-6844, lasvegasnevada.gov/LVAC

Details: 455-7301