“First Fridays: Home-Grown at the Pember,” month two, kicks off with three new artists, music and an old-fashioned ice cream social featuring the acclaimed ice cream of the Battenkill Creamery. The free monthly event is from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Pember Library and Museum in Granville.
“The premiere First Friday was a hit,” says Pember Executive Director Pat Wesner. “We’re looking forward to seeing just how much the event grows this time. More than 80 people showed up for the October show, which is pretty exciting for downtown Granville. We’ve been working with the newly-appointed Slate Valley Museum Director Kate Weller, looking for ways the two institutions can collaborate and make First Fridays into a must-see Granville tradition. For now, the Slate Valley Museum will be keeping their doors open for this First Friday and there are plans to create complementary programming so visitors can make a real evening of it.”
Artists showing at the Pember this month include Bob Dienst, who works in copper and is yet another local artist who takes advantage of the Pember Natural History Museum, using specimens from the collection as models for his stunning natural sculptures.
Tony Mesaric is self-taught, studying videos and books “and a lot of wasted wood” as he puts it. He turns locally found pieces of wood into elegantly formed bowls on his lathe. “The native woods of the Northeast are exciting for me, though I will occasionally use exotic woods for accents” says Mesaric.
Granville newcomer, Beth Elam, creates beautiful patchwork quilting, table runners and wall-hangings. All the works of art are for sale and benefit the artist as well as the Pember.
The Pember event opens the first Friday night of every month and features artists, artisans or craftspeople working in any medium. All entries are juried by the Pember First Friday Committee before being accepted for a First Friday show. All shows will be up for the month.
In addition to local arts and crafts, the First Friday’s Home Grown event features local artisanal foods. For the November event, the Battenkill Creamery, recently named “Best Milk in The State of New York” will be selling ice cream cones and sundaes. Mayor Jay Niles has also agreed to tend bar for the Nov. 5 event.
Live music will be performed by Richard Phillips.
Interested artists should contact the museum at 642-1515 or e-mail firstfridays@pembermuseum.com.
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