Art, food and music at May First Friday

This month’s First Friday on May 3 will bring the usual combination of fine art, history, food and music.

At the Slate Valley Museum there will be an exhibit opening for “Economic Geology: A Study Through Photography—Photographs and Geological Studies from the post-Civil War to Early 1900s.”

On display will be a variety of images from glass plate negatives from the collections of the New York State Museum and others, reflecting the slate industry of the Slate Valley and the roots of geological study through photography in North America.

“The study will include the period from the end of the Civil War to about 1900 and represent how mining/economic geology was important in the development and expansion of our nation and the use of natural resources in a burgeoning economy and industries,” said Bob Isherwood, coordinator of education at the Slate Museum. “The geologic/geographic studies of the Slate Valley from this period, which have been represented through mapping and diagrams, are seen through some of the earliest photographs on this subject.”

Nearby, the Pember Library and Museum will usher in spring with art and herbs.

Local Photographer Clifford Oliver Mealy will display his equine photography, which Trustee Bo Young describes as “beautiful pictures of horses.”

And the paintings of local artist Don Taylor’s mother, who recently passed away, will be shown as well as a tribute to her. Don Taylor has previously exhibited at First Friday at the Pember.

“We’re honoring his mother with a show of her work,” Young said. And to get ready for spring, Young said Ellen Malona, of Second Nature Herb Farm in Wells, Vt., will bring in various herbs to sample and purchase, so attendees are encouraged to come ready to buy herbs for their kitchen garden.

First Friday takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information about the Slate call 518-642-1417 or visit slatevalleymuseum.org. For more information about the Pember call 518-642-1515 or visit pember.sals.edu.