Visual art

Images of opulent globes coated in heavy, viscous fluids appear to stick to the walls of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s Orientation Gallery.

On closer examination, Wendy Franklund Miller’s “Seduction” series of encaustic and mixed media paintings presents not only images of beautiful, rounded forms covered in sweet, syrupy substances, but many also depict dangerous objects such as nails, pins and rocks.

“The intention is to create tension in this beauty,” says the Spokane artist. “We are often pulled in by the magnificence of something without realizing there is almost always a negative side that we don’t see right away.”

Miller will do a walk-through of her art on Friday beginning at 1 p.m. in the Orientation Gallery, 2316 W. First Ave. This is the final installment of the museum’s six “In Focus: Regional Artist Spotlight” shows.

The work is on view through July during normal hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum today, and on the first Friday of each month, is by donation.

First Friday for children, too

First Friday, a joint program of the Spokane Arts Commission and the Downtown Spokane Partnership, continues Friday with artist receptions, live music and a special, family-friendly celebration.

“Kids are the Center of the Universe” blasts off at the corner of Main Avenue and Wall Street between 4 and 9 p.m. with free children’s activities including chalk art, face painting, balloons and ice cream.

Among the half-dozen new art openings is a show at Joel Inc., 165 S. Post St., featuring Tuscany and Provence scenes painted by soon-to-be-Spokane artist Mary Lehner.

“We came up from Huntington Beach, Calif., to visit my sister in the spring and fell in love with the area,” says Lehner, who is in town for the artist reception on Friday between 6 and 9 p.m.

Lehner’s tapestry-like, bold acrylic canvases have a plein air feel.

“I call them interpretative realism,” she says. “They retain the feeling of watercolor, but they are really alive.”

During the opening at Joel, Le Cordon Bleu master chef John Pierce will be on hand to talk about and give free samples of specialty gourmet cheeses.

Other galleries with opening receptions include:

• Artist’s Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Ave. across from the Davenport Hotel, reception 5 to 9 p.m. See vibrant abstract paintings by Marcus Bausch.

• Avenue West Gallery, 1021 W. First Ave., reception 5 to 9 p.m. On view are Mexican-influenced watercolors, painted and stained glass tables and painted stemmed glasses by Nadine Kay Sherman.

• GoodWorks Gallery, 1019 W. First Ave., reception 5 to 9 p.m. The functional and sculptural, kiln-formed glass works by Louise Telford of Post Falls are on display in “Going Solo.”

• Spike Coffee House and Art By Yourself, 122 S. Monroe St., reception 5 to 10 p.m. “Drawing Out The Eye,” the drawings, sketches and paintings of Shannon Currier and Rose Weaver are on display. Tracy Carr plays acoustic jazz guitar beginning at 7 p.m.

• Village Gallery at Kaufer’s, 907 W. Boone Ave., reception 5 to 7 p.m. Stop by to see sculpture by John Gilliam, including a life-size bronze of Mother Teresa.

More First Friday art

The following downtown locations also are showing art as part of First Friday’s activities between 5 and 8 p.m.:

• Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St., offers the bronze sculpture of Louis Davenport and a self-guided tour of the hotel. Pick up a tour map at the concierge’s desk.

• Far West Billiards, 1001 W. First Ave., continues showing the paintings and mixed media pieces by Isaac Grambo, Miriam Gregg and Aaron Cunningham.

• Flour Mill Gallery and Pottery Place Plus, 621 W. Mallon Ave., both are featuring art around the theme of “Valuing Freedom — Celebrating Patriotism in the USA.”

• Galleria De Felice, 10 S. Post St. in the Davenport Hotel, is spotlighting the original oils of California artist Elio Camacho.

• Huneke Gallery at Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard St., is open until 7 p.m. with the “Ceramic Form: Regional Faculty” show by 14 potters.

• Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St., is featuring “Ceramics: Current and Former Bray Directors and Board Members.”

• Kress Gallery at River Park Square, third floor behind Twigs, continues with the paintings and drawings of “Karen R. Mobley: Out of the Vortex: Selected Works 1987 to the Present.”

• Rainbow Regional Community Center, 508 W. Second Ave., is host to Peggy Winkel’s art during July.

• Red Sky Studio and Gallery, 115 S. Adams St., hosts the “Ceramics: Former Archie Bray Residents” show.

• Rocket Bakery, 24 W. Main Ave., is open until 6 p.m. for a look at Spokane artist Tim Lord’s “Mirror Mirror on the Walls.”

• Sculpture Gallery, 221 N. Wall St., in Old City Hall, is featuring crystal and bronze limited editions by Vidal.

• Stone Crazy in the Liberty Building, 203 N. Washington Ave., is displaying Gretchen Wilson-Paukert’s “Encore Exhibition” of metal leaf with acrylic works.

Other First Friday activities

• ComedySportz, 227 W. Riverside Ave., is having an “Interactive Improv Experience” at 8 p.m. Free admission to the first 15 people that stop by between 5 to 6 p.m.

• Fox Theater, 1005 W. Sprague Ave., features music by the Christopher Moyer Quartet between 6 and 8 p.m.

• Moose Lake Company, 707 W. Main Ave. at the Crescent Court, is offering a “First Friday Special’ of 10 percent off any item, including sale merchandise.

• Wall Street Banners, hanging between Spokane Falls Boulevard and Riverside Avenue, were painted by Spokane Falls Community College art students.

New show at Studio 901

Gonzaga University graduate Allison McGree is showing a series of her recent oil paintings in “Montana Inspired Landscapes and Still Lives” at Studio 901 in the Garland District.

McGree’s work has been exploring organic forms and their interaction with light, specifically natural light. “Hopefully these paintings help to share my love for painting and for the natural world,” she said in a news release.

Meet McGree at an artist’s reception on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 901 W. Garland Ave. View the work Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Othello’s Old Hotel Gallery

The paintings of the Whitstran Art Group of Prosser, Wash., are up during July at the Old Hotel Art Gallery, 33 E. Larch St. in Othello. An opening is Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.