If you don't know what First Fridays are, you are missing out on a cultural phenomenon that is happening right here in Kansas City's Crossroads district. On the first Friday night of every month, dozens of art galleries open their doors to the general public and thousands of people show up. Artists range from students to professionals and the galleries range from renovated service garages to a flower-shop-by-day to an old bank, complete with a walk-in safe.

The popularity of the Crossroads district (see map at www.kccrossroads.org) has led to a growth of art galleries just beyond the traditional boundaries, especially to the north and east. Just off the beaten path, 18th Street has developed into the new hot-spot, with galleries stretching from Wyandotte to Cherry. Even the sub-zero wind chill didn't keep the crowds away for February's openings.

DalArts is a gallery on 18th and Cherry. Gallery Director Alex Whitney is exited about this month's show, "Concrete, Glass, Metal, and Oil," and offers hot coffee to frigid visitors. DalArts has been a gallery for four years and features artists locally as well as nationally and internationally. Whitney has sold pieces to the Sprint Collection and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College, but her credibility in the art world lies in that half of her sales are to other artists.

The show is aptly named, featuring just those materials in a collaborative effort from local artists John Northington, Ken Rizor, and Matthew Shepherd. Northington features two large sculptures: "The Fallen," a cement and glass combination that fills the room; and "The Bomber," a masterful use of traditional shapes and materials in a modern context. Rizor's work involves intricate glass sculptures mounted on metal frames of varying size and balance. The glass portions aren't more than a square foot, but the attention to detail is almost obsessive. The oil portion of the show is provided by Shepherd, who uses his strokes to portray a dark, abstract picture, even when using bright colors. His showcase piece is "Plaza Study," which portrays Plaza buildings melting into a gray background. Perhaps a silhouette of capitalism fading, or maybe the skyline on a winter morning, the image leaves much to the eye of the beholder.

Across the street from DalArts, the smell of cookies is overpowering at The Bakery, one of the newest galleries on the circuit. Oliver Wright is the Co-Curator and Director of the gallery he started seven months ago with fellow curator Dane Bonner. The Bakery features the show "4 Square" with four artists from St. Louis. The show is a collaborative effort by Caleb Hauck, Jacob Hauck, Megan Singleton, and Ben Pierce, with multiple mediums represented, including sculpture, photography, painting, and just plain dumpster diving. "The four artists live under the same roof, so it provides an opportunity for them to critique and feed off of each other," says Wright.

On this night, Caleb Hauck is the lone representative of the artists featured in "4 Square." His work involves expert pinstriping on non-traditional objects, giving a polished look to rusted out scrap metal and formerly useless objects. "If I find something that's cool enough, I paint it," says Hauck of his work. Obviously patrons think his work is cool as well, as Hauck sells two pieces throughout the night.

Also at The Bakery is the handmade paper sculpture made by Singleton, "Quintessence," accompanied by a series of photographs featuring the sculpture and a nude model in an outdoor setting. The series adds depth to the project and shows Singleton's multiple talents in many mediums. Other work includes an acrylic paint series by Pierce that doesn't catch the eye at first, but makes you stay the longest to explore the detail enclosed in the 8 by 11 wood blocks, and a sculpture series by Jacob Hauck reminiscent of window panes.

Also on East 18th Street is the Pi Gallery, run by Director Jody Wilkins. The Pi Gallery is separated into two floors and, seemingly, two separate shows. Downstairs, the centerpiece is a collection of over a thousand handmade vehicles, roughly six inches long. The piece is called "Parking Lot," by artist Rueben Sorenson (featured Feb. 8 on KCPT's "Rare Visions and Roadside Revelations"). Sorenson also contributed a half dozen tapestries with a mix of futuristic and tribal designs. Jesse Reno and Tobias Hawthorn, the other artists downstairs, were featured for their painting talents.

The upstairs show features Indonesian artist Yoes Rizal. Work from Rizal seems to portray everyday island life with placid scenery and vivid colors. The brushstrokes might not be the cleanest, but the raw sense of believability and life experience shines throughout the work. "Relax" is a piece that depicts four girls grooming and bathing by the waterside, and "Blue Women" shows women dancing on a vibrant blue background. Approximately two dozen of Rizal's paintings are displayed.

The next First Friday is March 2, and odds are it will be warmer and much more conducive to walking outdoors. Galleries open their doors at 7p.m. and most run until 9p.m. The Crossroads is the place to begin, but be sure to explore the perimeter to find the other galleries.

For more on First Fridays, see our story in this issue.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College