First Friday May

 

Mokita™ Trunk Show

May is Mental Health Month! The Jana Marie Foundation, Skills of Central PA, and Beck Psychotherapy are hosting the Mokita™ Trunk Show. The word “mokita” comes from the language Kilivila, spoken near Papua New Guinea and means “a known truth that we don’t discuss,” often referred to as an “elephant in the room.” The purpose of the Mokita™ Trunk Show is to highlight positive ways to cope with “elephants” that exist in our community – art, music, creative expression, outdoors, whatever it may be. Artists have painted elephant cutouts that will be placed in windows throughout the downtown.

Unity Yarn Project at Schlow Library

The Unity Yarn Project is taking place at Schlow Library at Beck Psychotherapy (moved inside due to weather concerns) presented by Taking Flight Developmental Center. This interactive art project brings people together with the use of yarn connecting to different representative poles.

 

Scribble Bots at Woskob

Woskob Family Gallery is having an all-age art-making Experience: Drawing Together. Create your own “scribble-bots” in a collaborative workshop facilitated by Assistant Professor of Art Education, Aaron Knochel.

 

 

 

Visit “Mo” at Appalachian Outdoors

Visit ‘Mo’, Jana Marie Foundation’s newest mascot at Appalachian Outdoors. This 5 1/2′ chalkboard elephant pull toy provides a fun place for people of all ages to draw and interact with the foundation. Stop by for a free giveaway (while supplies last) and for a variety of activities.

 

 

 

Button Making

Stop by to make a button with Skills of Central PA in Barranquero Cafe!

 

 

Wine and Cheese!

Join us at Harper’s for a wine and cheese sampling.

 

 

 

 

 

The Makery

Visit The Makery for A Very Special Trunk Show!  Market artists including Michele Randall, I.F. Studios, Lola Joy , Mindfully Made Studios and Lisa Cousins will feature their new spring work as a sneak preview to the Art Alliance Spring Studio Tour. Enjoy sweet spring refreshments while you browse unique, locally-made gifts for Mother’s Day, graduations and teacher appreciation! Ten percent of all Market proceeds from this event will go to the Jana Marie Foundation. They will also have a free, fun mixed media activity for children – Mini-Mokitas! There will be mixed media materials galore – papers, fabrics, paints, glitter – for kids to decorate their own paperboard elephants to take home!

 

Your Chariot Awaits!

Take a ride on the Vamos Lion Chariot for FREE!

 

 

 

 

 

Free Bites

The Branch and The Vine will have some tasty treats in addition to their usual sampling of olive oil and balsamic. Definitely checkout their newest addition: a wine bar!

 

 

Art Exhibit

Betsey Rodgers Allen Gallery at Schlow Library is displaying Jana Marie Foundation’s Stompers Project, looking to stomp out the stigmas around mental illnesses.

Anthym Live Painting

Artist Miya Matsui will be at Anthym to do a live painting of an elephant!

 

For the Moment

The Art Alliance Gallery Downtown is hosting an opening reception from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. for their new exhibit For the Moment. Six contemporary artists will explore the rich and inspirational life of flowers in art. Ranging in media, style, and concept, these beautiful expressions of nature’s bounty will remind us to enjoy the season and celebrate the potential to be found in a backyard blossom.  The six artists featured are: Karen Deutsch, Alexis Drobka, Marlee Erwin, June Ramsay, Harlan Ritchey, and Lisa White.

 

 

What’s Your Elephant?

A powerful photography collection presented by Jana Marie Foundation designed to shed light on topics of social concern that often go unaddressed and sometimes unnoticed is being displayed at Webster’s Bookstore Cafe

 

 

 

Isabel Kumerz Art Exhibit

The Expect More Store presents the work of local artist Isabel Kumerz during First Friday! Stop by to view her original work and enjoy cheeses, wine, & beer from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.. Isabel Kumerz is a Spanish painter living in State College, PA. She holds a BA degree in Graphic Design from the Kunstschuele Alsterdamm, Hamburg, Germany and a MFA from Indiana University of PA. Before moving back to the U.S., she lived in Austria, Germany, Australia and Spain. She has taught art at Penn State University, Indiana University, the Art Alliance of Central PA, in the Balearic Islands, and in Barcelona. Her work has been exhibited internationally in Australia, Canada, Spain and the United States, where she has won several awards.

 

 

Barbara Metzner Art Exhibit

The State Theater is hosting local artist Barbara Metzner‘s reception from 5 – 7 p.m. and she will be available to answer questions about her work! The Nittany Knights Barbershop Chorus is preforming under the marquee from 5 – 6 p.m. The Theater is also presenting  information to the public regarding the upcoming Centre Gives event and how to get involved.

 

 

 

Elephant & Piggie’s

FUSE Productions is performing some songs and scenes from their upcoming production of Mo Willems’ “Elephant & Piggie’s: We Are In A Play!” Come see the hilarious characters from the books come to life in front of the inside Schlow Library at 5 pm and again at 5:45 pm!

 

The Penn State Songwriters Club

The Penn State Songwriters Club is performing original music outside of the Music Mart from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Eric Ian Farmer

Enjoy singer, songwriter Eric Ian Farmer from 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. He’ll be performing originals along with some covers! Catch him in front of First National Bank on Allen Street!

 

Strolling Magician

Richard Beinnghoff will be making his way through the downtown mystifying all who pass with his awe inspiring magic tricks from 5-9 p.m.

 

 

 

Matt Doering

Enjoy the Americana/Folk Pop music of Matt Doering in front of People’s Nation from 5-9 p.m.

 

 

 

 

2000 Degrees

Come into 2000 Degrees between 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and get half off studio time!

McLanahan’s Downtown Market

Buy any cafe item at McLanahan’s Downtown Market, and get another cafe item free! Just wear your First Friday button between 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Rita’s

Stop into Rita’s with your First Friday button between 5 p.m.-9 p.m. and get 50 cents off any item!