Art on First Thursday in Boise

Boise offers a rich and vibrant art scene. First Thursdays in Boise feature local artists, musicians, performers, and creatives throughout the city with businesses and galleries staying open late (many of whom hold opening receptions and special shows and performances).

a different vantage point of Freak Alley (Boise's mural gallery downtown)

First Thursday in May is especially fun as it sort of marks the beginning of summer activities and events downtown.  There were several things going on this time featuring many of my artist friends  between the hours of 5pm and 9pm. It was hard to choose what I would go to but in the end I was only able to make it to 2 events.

Jessie and I heading out on the town for a night of creative community

I set out with my friend and fellow VineArts leader/professional artist, Jessie Nilo and we enjoyed a night of art, music, performance art, and connecting with other artists at 2 very different multi-artist
shows.

Unfortunately I only took one photo at this event...so I'm not able to represent the entirety of it.

The art of Debi Bonsack

We attended the huge multi-artist art show at Zion Bank building that sits right downtown Boise where (along with many very talented painters) one of my fellow VineArts leaders (who is a professional artist), Debi Bonsack was showing her mixed media paintings in the annual art show being displayed on 3 of it's floors. The show was free to the public and catered with food and drink and live music on each floor. This show featured mostly landscape and conservative art and it was very well attended.

Modern Art at The Modern Hotel

We then made our way to The Modern Hotel in the Linen District of downtown Boise where they had their annual Modern Art show featuring local artists who are allowed to transform the hotel into an for one night each year. Each artist (or group of artists) is a assigned a room and they can transform it into a gallery space, a studio space, a performance space, or an interactive space. The public can enter for free and view the rooms. There are always food trucks along with a beer garden, and lots of creativity flowing through the atmosphere. It's one of our most urban edgy indy art events in Boise and tons of people come out for it.  We were able to connect with several artists showing whom we know personally and we ran into many other artists we know who where there taking in the show. It was a great way to round out our night of art in Boise.

I took a few photos but this is truly only a snippet of what was being shown at this art event!

West African dancers

West African musicians

3D artist Shelley Jund

abstract artist Lauren Kistner 

art outside

art on doors

video art

black and white written word and paintings

black and white art 

live musicians 

interactive pattern art

interactive "hand signature" art

I thoroughly enjoyed our night taking in so much amazing creativity. There is so much talent in this city! I love being a part of the art scene in Boise (as an artist and as an art supporter).