Philadelphia's Art Scene Opens Up for First Friday

Each First Friday brings out new exhibits, receptions and activities for Philadelphia's creative class. Check out what the city has to offer this month and get inspired by jazz, beer labels, Japanese culture and more.

Kano Pop Up! At Granite Hill

Stephen Starr Events has transformed Granite Hill into a Japanese restaurant, inspired by the "Ink and Gold: Art of the Kano" exhibit. The pop-up will serve lunch Friday through Sunday (times vary), but will serve dinner on Friday only. Reservations required.

5-7:30 p.m. | Pay as you go
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Granite Hill
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
(215) 684-7990

Faience & Firenze: Opening Reception

This solo exhibition of artist Jane Irish's work includes new ceramic works and recent gouache paintings. Irish created by en plein air paintings in Florence, Italy, and the show juxtaposes these outdoor scenes with her indoor decorative art.

5:30-7:30 p.m. | Free admission
Locks Gallery
600 Washington Square South
(215) 629-1000

First Friday: Book Arts

Chemical Heritage Foundation Fellow Stefano Gattei will give two talks on the science of book-making. Guests can then participate in hands-on activities like learning calligraphy, paper marbling and hand-stitching.

5-8 p.m. | Free admission
Chemical Heritage Foundation
315 Chestnut St.

(215) 925-2222

Portamento: Shifting Color

Philadelphia artist Diane Lachman is showing her third solo exhibit at MUSE Gallery. This show, "Portamento: Shifting Color," explores relationships between colors in abstract oil paintings. Fittingly, Lachman taught color theory at PennDesign for years.

5-8 p.m. | Free admission

MUSE Gallery

52 North 2nd St.

(215) 627-5310

A Sense of Balance

The Center for Art In Wood presents "A Sense of Balance: The Sculpture of Stoney Lamar." Lamar is a woodturning artist who uses lathe techniques to create his work. This will be the final stop of the retrospective exhibit's national tour.

5-8 p.m. | Free admission

Snyderman-Works Galleries

303 Cherry St.
(215) 238-9576

Jamaaladeen Tacuma

For Art After 5, the legendary jazz bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma will perform. Tacuma will debut work from his latest project, DNA Galleria.

5-8:45 p.m. | Free after admission ($14-20)
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
(215) 763-8100

Paintings, Drawings + Beer

Philly Beer Scene has turned their beloved Three Round Draw column, which highlights the intersection of beer and art, into an art show. For their first exhibit they'll feature the work of Daniel Endicott, the owner, brewer and artist of Forest & Main. The show will feature Endicott's beer labels, portraits and beer-related still life paintings, plus some beer samples will be available.

5-9 p.m. | Free admission
Indy Hall
22 N. 3rd St.

First Friday at 3rd Street Gallery

Two new exhibits will open at 3rd Street for First Friday. The first, D. S. Nicholas's "implicative_contemplative_formative," deconstructs and reshapes computer generated imagery. The second, Conny Parsons's "Reflections" features new oil paintings by the artist from 2014 and 2015.

5-9 p.m. | Free admission
3rd Street Gallery
45 N. 2nd St.
(215) 625-0993

Life By The Water

Maryland artist Susan Webster presents a solo exhibition, "Life By The Water," open through Tuesday, March 31.

5-9 p.m. | Free admission
Bluestone Fine Art Gallery
142 N. 2nd St.
(856) 979-7588

"Amsterdam Drawing" Reception

Gallery Joe will host an opening reception for its latest exhibit, "Selections from Amsterdam Drawing" featuring artists Ronald Noorman, Paul van der Eerden and Christine Hiebert. In September, Gallery Joe was invited to the 3rd edition of the Amsterdam Drawing art fair and thus included work from three participants in "Selections."

6-8 p.m. | Free admission
Gallery Joe
302 Arch St.
(215) 592-7752

Lights! Camera! Action!

Running with the Flower Show "Celebrate the Movies" theme, the Barnes will spend a night highlighting filmmaker Jean Renoir and chatting with Nicole Juday about flowers' role in impressionist paintings. Denise King will perform a musical tribute to jazz singer Sarah Vaughan.

6-9 p.m. | $25
The Barnes Foundation

2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.

(215) 278-7000

still life with music

A few young classical musicians and Curtis Institute grads have banded together as Ensemble39. The group will play three new compositions influenced by Haitian drum circles, film accompaniments and dramatic epics like "Beowulf," respectively.

8 p.m. | $15
FringeArts
140 N. Columbus Blvd.
(215) 413-1318

Philly's art scene opens up for March First Friday

Get inspired at galleries in Old City and the Museum District