First Friday highlights

Upstairs at the Arts Factory

101 E. Charleston Blvd.

Cricket Studio and Face Up Gallery

366-9077

Dar Freeland and Brian Swanson, longtime presences in the arts district (seven years in the Arts Factory), are presenting three ongoing shows: Face Up: The Art of Recognition, Drawings from the Boneyard and 4 Dot. In addition, Dar is on the verge of completing her sand painting mandala, which she has been working on for the past two years.

Downstairs at the Arts Factory

101 E. Charleston Blvd.

Contemporary Arts Collective

382-3886

The group will unveil Our Daily Bread work by five artists whose subject matter deals with edibles. The CAC has been a force in the valley's art scene for 15 years, getting its start as Temporary Contemporary on Maryland Parkway and incorporating as the CAC when it made the move to the Arts Factory.

Outside the Arts Factory

101 E. Charleston Blvd.

Always a great place to start your First Friday, with valet parking and booths behind the building. Dale Matheson will display his frankly mind-boggling made-to-order computer desk with a glass top revealing a set of giant working wooden gears.

On Colorado Avenue

In front of the Funk House

1228 S. Casino Center Blvd.

678-6278

The Pacific Arts Collective comes to town with live music, poets, a DJ and even a dancer. At 6 p.m., Hizzoner himself, Mayor Oscar Goodman, will deliver an opening address in honor of First Friday's second anniversary, followed by Democratic Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.

At the Colorado Cottages

Dray's Place

1300 S. Casino Center Blvd. # 5

384-9674

Dre mixes it up a bit. Instead of his usual wonderful paintings he'll feature wonderful photos by Garald Todd and Shannon Dorn. The work is from and celebrating the release of 702 Subculture Art Calendar featuring tasteful nudes in an urban setting. In Cottage #3, check out the debut of photographer Christine Wetzel's new gallery.

On Main Street

Godt-Cleary Projects

1217 S. Main St.

632-9378

If all goes according to plan, with the paint still drying and the workmen ducking out the back door, the newest addition to First Friday will open. It's the sister location of the Godt-Cleary Gallery in Mandalay Place. The inaugural show is Dennis Hopper's Photographs, Billboards and Paintings. Yes, that Dennis Hopper and, yes, we agree the show should have been called "Hop on Pop," but there probably were problems with the Dr. Suess legal department.