Beat City Music, Tri-County Arts Council and Christie’s Boutique are leading the way in presenting a First Friday Art Walk, set for 3 to 7 p.m. in uptown Olean.
The free community event on North Union and West State streets is meant to celebrate the region’s vibrant arts and music scene, welcoming visitors to stroll, listen and explore.
“That’s something the Olean really has to offer — art and music,” Colleen Gaynor of Beat City Music said Monday, adding that she got the idea from other communities that do a good job of highlighting their arts and music scenes on he First Friday of each month.
She described First Fridays as “popup” art galleries and music venues “right on the sidewalk.” She added, “I would love to see this happen every first Friday to allow Olean to showcase what we have to offer.”
Live music coordinated by Beat City Music will fill the streets outside of several local businesses:
• The Eatery — Old Dawgs New Tricks, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Beat City Music — Dylan Snyder, 3 to 4 p.m.; Beat City open mic, 4 to 7 p.m.
• ASK Design Jewelers — The Buck and the Bunny, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
• Christie’s Boutique — Jason Wedlock, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Michelle Smith, 5 to 6 p.m.
• Kaleidoscope Boutique and Gallery — Max Morton, 4 to 6 p.m.
• Tri-County Arts Council — John Tomerlin, 5 to 7 p.m.
• RocketCup Coffee Company — Lennox, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Nothing to Lose, 5 to 6 p.m.
• For Crafts Sake — Alex Leyva, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Union Whiskey — Andy Hannon, 5 to 7 p.m.
• Beef ‘N’ Barrel — Scott Warner, 4:430 to 6:30 p.m.
In addition to musical performances, local artist and event coordinator Mikel Wintermantel will help showcase visual artwork in a variety of genres, stretching from the Tri-County Arts Council gallery on West State to Beat City Music on North Union. Artists of all mediums will be featured, offering a unique opportunity to meet the makers behind the art.
“Olean is rich in art and music — and we want to make that available to everyone,” Gaynor said.
Organizers hope to draw residents and visitors uptown for a relaxed, art-filled summer evening while gauging interest in future events that support the creative economy in the Southern Tier.
“I really want this to develop organically into something that becomes a regular thing,” Gaynor said.
Meanwhile, she is also working with a group of children interested in the arts in creating artwork for the First Friday Art Walk to raise awareness about the issue of feral cats in the community — and how residents can help by participating in trap and spay or neuter (TNR) programs mean to reduce the population.
“It’s another passion of mine,” Gaynor said. “At one point I worked to have about 45 cats spayed or neutered in one year. … This event is another way to raise awareness on where people can go to have cats spayed or neutered” throughout Western New York.
She noted there are several low-cost spay/neuter clinics throughout the region, including Almost Home Animal Sanctuary in Little Valley, almosthomeanimalsanctuaryinc.com and the SPCA Serving Allegany County, spcaallegany.org.
Beat City Music is an independent music store owned and operated by local musicians who bring their passion for music to work every day.
For more information, visit beatcitymusicinc.com or call (585) 376-4672.
