TAKE FIVE: COMPARING FIRST FRIDAYS

By Kristen Peterson

Thursday, June 7, 2007 | 7:16 a.m.

The day of networking and lectures behind them, Americans for the Arts members headed downtown. Six bus loads ended up on Fremont Street for Jenny Holzer's public art display. Three buses headed to First Friday.

Karen Mobley, arts director of the Spokane Arts Commission, opted for First Friday, an event in which she is well versed. Mobley is part of First Friday Art Walk in downtown Spokane, Wash., and has observed the trend of First Friday festivals in other cities.

"Most cities over (a population of) 250,000 have some type of First Friday," Mobley says. "Each is unique to the city."

Phoenix has First Friday. So do Honolulu; Santa Rosa, Calif.; Portland, Maine; Philadelphia; Albany, N.Y.; and San Antonio, Texas. Louisville, Ky., has a First Friday Gallery Hop. Lubbock, Texas, has a First Friday Art Trail.

On the ground in Las Vegas, Mobley spoke with support staff and artists, and observed our young festival.

Spokane and Las Vegas have as many as 10,000 visitors to each monthly event.

So how does First Friday in Las Vegas compare with First Friday Art Walk in Spokane?

We take a look.

1. Quality of art

Art may be the big difference. Spokane's Davenport District has an older art scene with more commercial galleries with varied art. It doesn't have temporary booths for artists to show work on First Fridays. Las Vegas has only a handful of commercial galleries open on First Fridays. Most are working studios. Tents and booths are installed for the event. Many artists are not established . Mobley says, "Where I live the art is edgier, but the culture is more genteel."

2. Sales

Buying art at First Friday in Spokane is part of the event. In Las Vegas several artists and gallery owners complain that they don't sell work on First Friday. Mobley noticed: "I didn't see anybody at First Friday buying anything except for hot dogs and beer. I think a lot of people were there because they wanted to drink beer and hang out with their friends, which is a fine and admirable thing. It's building people's sense of connection on the ground."

But, she says, "To get good art, the community has to buy the art."

3. Age of the crowd

Though Las Vegas First Friday draws visitors of all ages, most are in their 20s or early 30s. Those attending First Friday in Spokane are more likely to be in their 30s, 40s and "even 80s," Mobley said. Teenagers are common at First Friday in both cities.

Las Vegas participants discuss whether the teenage contingent at First Friday is positive or harmful. Some say it lends to reckless street partying. Others argue that it provides a cultural outlet in a city built for adults and that it instills interest in art at an early age.

In Spokane, teachers in high school and college assign First Friday as a curriculum activity. Students take notes and write reports on the event.

4. Downtown and food

Downtown Spokane has a rich collection of restaurants, shops and galleries. Retail stores have guest artists and River Park Square mall lets artists use its space on First Fridays. In addition to commercial galleries, there is a strip of craft and co-op spaces.

For dining, Las Vegas has Casa Don Juan on Main Street, Tinoco's Bistro in the Arts Factory and the Grill at Charleston in Holsum Lofts. Chicago Joe's is on nearby Fourth Street. Agave's taco stand is very popular.

Spokane's Davenport District has more than 20 restaurants and cafes. That doesn't include bars.

Mobley said she felt a lack of synergy at Las Vegas' First Friday:

"I looked at stuff and I wanted to go eat dinner, but there aren't the facilities."

5. Other tidbits

First Friday in Spokane is presented by the Spokane Arts Commission and the Downtown Spokane Partnership. The groups pay for the police working the event. First Friday Las Vegas is a partnership between the nonprofit Whirlygig Inc. and the city. The city helps with crowd control and provides security.

Streetscapes, trees, benches and more fill out downtown Spokane. Downtown Las Vegas is still gritty and industrial. "It doesn't feel like there is a lot of investment in the infrastructure of the area," Mobley says.

Spokane doesn't have the downtown collaborative studios found in the Las Vegas Arts District. Finding affordable space in downtown Spokane's art district is difficult.