First Friday art walk showcases the Pendleton Street Arts District

During the day, buildings along the Pendleton Street Arts District look old, as if they have leaks in the ceiling and holes in the walls. The blinds are closed in the various art studios and galleries lining the street.

“But on First Fridays, the trees are lit up with white lights and it comes to life,” said Stella Grove, one of the artists renting a space in the up-and-coming arts district.

First Fridays occur every month in the Pendleton Street Arts District in Greenville. From 6 to 9 p.m., people can stroll up and down the district, viewing a range of artwork from photography and jewelry to paintings, woodwork and pottery. They can meet the artists, talk to them about their work and buy most anything they see and simply have to have.

Plus, some studios and galleries offer wine, sangria and other refreshments.

First Fridays began five years ago with Liz Daly, a local artist, and Kim Sholly, projects director at the Greenville Metropolitan Arts Center. The two had seen that “gallery crawls” were popular in other larger cities and decided to bring it to the active arts community in Greenville, said Teresa Roche, marketing director for First Fridays.

“The purpose is to promote visual awareness in our community,” Roche said, “and to create a venue for showcasing emerging and established artists in the area.”

Since First Fridays arrived in Greenville, Roche said it’s been a big success.

“More than anything, I think it’s shown that we are a thriving community and that there are so many artists out there working and selling their work that it’s allowed people to see the magnitude,” she said. “Also it’s been a really wonderful thing for the artists to bond with one another and with the community and customers.”

Roche said First Fridays have changed and grown over the years. In the beginning, there were only a few studios and galleries that participated.

This year there are 27.

First Fridays has also evolved by integrating more art forms, including a fire-throwing artist and emerging musicians.

“It’s very exciting,” Roche said. “You never know what you’re going to find, but it’s always an exciting array of local art.”

Artists can join First Fridays simply by renting a space in the district, which is what newcomer Grove did.

She said she heard about First Fridays through a friend at work who discussed renting studio space. Grove, who makes jewelry, eventually found a studio space to rent with fellow artist Elizabeth Tate.

“It’s every artist’s dream to have a studio,” Grove said. “It makes you feel like you’ve come into your own, and you’re a professional. It’s not just a hobby anymore. It’s something you really want to do; it’s something I want to pursue.”

For Grove’s initial First Friday, the turnout and response were positive, she said.

“It’s exciting to see people appreciate your work, who want to buy it and tell you it’s beautiful,” she said, “knowing it’s something they’re going to wear and be proud of.”

Like any new endeavors, there are still several challenges to face with the studio being past the West End of Greenville’s downtown.

“Our first one was getting in and just being able to set up,” she said. “(The) studio is further down and they’re still developing (the area) … People kind of know about First Fridays, but they may not know what it is, or that it goes that far down the street.”

But she said she is still excited.

“It’s fun to see a place that normally looks like an office building turned into something,” she said. “One night every month it becomes a beautiful social scene with art and food and people and shopping.”

Another artist, 62-year-old Jim Gorman, has participated in First Fridays since last year and shows in Village Studios and Gallery. His work is mainly painting, but he also does photography and pottery, and he said he’s noticed an increase in people’s interest in his work.

“The important part of First Fridays is that you’re there to meet and talk with people,” Gorman said. “It’s more than just seeing the work. If you see somebody’s work you aren’t necessarily going to commit, but if they’re there you can ask about a particular painting, subject matter, how they came about creating it, their background.”

Gorman said First Fridays have brought much more attention, and people, to the galleries and studios than they would have normally received, and encouraged people to come out.

“I think they’re going to really enjoy what they see,” he said. “They’re going to find the social aspect of it very enjoyable. They will be pleasantly surprised at what’s beginning to happen in West Greenville.”

First Fridays have helped more studios to open up and have brought more artists in, he said.

“Oftentimes artists lead the way in communities that may have had some difficulty or were kind of on a downward slope,” he said. “They revitalize it, more positive things start to happen, especially in Greenville because the city has been so supportive.”

Roche had another reason for encouraging people to come out.

“The quality of work is totally amazing,” she said. “They’ll be able to see such a wonderful array of art and different mediums.”

More participating galleries, studios and artists include Dabney Mahanes, Robin Giddings Studios, Gallery 1279, Lily Pottery, Daly Designs, Julie Hughes Shabkie, Lois Silk Art Gallery, Midtown Artery, Montach Studios, Upstate Visual Arts, Vitti/Lunch Studios and the William Felton School of Crafts.