What: First Friday
Where: Cortland, NY
When: October 5, 5 PM to 8 PM
October’s First Friday takes place on the 5th from 5-8pm and features fun for the whole family. This event is organized by the Culture Council of Cortland County (CCCC) in concert with arts venues as described below.
Visit the Cortland Free Library for the eighth Juried Regional Photography Exhibit, sponsored each year by the CCCC. This show features twenty-two regional photographers and includes refreshments as well as the lyrical music of harpist Lisa Fenwick*. At 5:45 nationally published photographer Bob Gates will announce the winning entries. Visitors will also witness the announcement of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as a display of entries from the “Foto Frenzy” Cellphone Photography Contest*.
At the 1890 House Museum, you can join their Death and Mourning Tours. You’ll have the opportunity to experience a 19th Century wake and learn about Victorian funerary customs and superstitions. While there, you can hear Victorian funeral music, taste period food, and learn the truth about the death of one of Cortland’s most famous citizens.
Between 6 and 8:30 you can stop at Cheerful & Creative to participate in make and take Halloween masks. Mizu Marbling will be helping visitors create colorful, fun and customizable masks in three shapes: butterfly, princess, and superhero. Please note that there is a cost to make items.
Come to the Corset Building to hear New York’s premier veggie folk-rock band, The Local Farmers Union. From 6 - 8 p.m., the band will be playing selections from their new album, Kale-In-It, which will be available at Cinch Art Space in addition to the works of over 60 local artists and craftspeople. Hayley Hammond of Hammond Rustic Creations will also be on site, and you can create an 8 x 8 fall décor pumpkin sign. Advanced reservations are required, and there is a cost to participate in the activity.
Also in the Corset Building, Instant Artist will be offering guests a geode workshop. There you can create your own striking 10-inch round resin geode or agate art plus an additional 8 x 10 canvas geode/agate art piece. Advanced registration is required and there is a fee for participation.
"Abstrakte Eleganz" is an exhibition at “SikoraArts” of abstract paintings created by Martha Phillips. Phillips uses the basic elements of form, shape, line and color to bring forth simple yet elegant images. A grand reception is planned with German themed refreshments and live music. SikoraArts is located at 1010 McLean Road, at the corner of Pleasantview Drive and McLean Road, in Cortlandville.
"The Clothesline Project," the current YWCA Cortland exhibit, is taking place in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness month. The display includes t-shirts painted by victims of domestic violence. Additional information will be available in the gallery.
Pick up a map at any First Friday venue noted above to use for navigating to the venues participating in First Friday. For more information, please visit: https://www.culturalcouncilofcortlandcounty.org/first-fridays.
Additional inquiries may be forwarded to Kat McCarthy, CCCC Executive Director at [email protected]
*Ms. Fenwick’s performance and the foto frenzy contest is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by CNY Arts.
