Gendron shows his sweet side

Many of Ric Gendron’s latest paintings exhibit a sentimental, melodious quality.

“I’ve reached a point of acceptance in my life,” says Gendron. “Right now all I want to paint are images that make me feel good and smile a little.”

Among the 15 sonorous pieces in his new show, opening Friday at the Tinman Gallery, is “Sweet Jane.”

“The title is based on an old Lou Reed honky-tonk song,” says Gendron.

“The painting captures two rather plain-looking people out there on the dance floor enjoying themselves and life,” he says. “There is something sweet about them.”

Gendron’s show at the Tinman Gallery is one of more than 30 free exhibits taking part in Spokane’s First Friday Art Walk.

First Friday receptions

During this self-guided Art Walk you can race from gallery to gallery to view all of the new exhibits or linger at just a few. Many of the venues feature live music and light refreshments.

All receptions are Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted:

“ Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave. – watercolors by Jackie Jewett of Coeur d’Alene, including a painting of the Arbor Crest Cliff House.

“ Artisans’ Wares, 1009 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Transcending Abstraction,” watercolors and oils by Garric Simonsen.

“ Artist’s Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Ave. – Works by Denae in her newest series, “Latah Creek Memoirs.”

“ Art and Soul, 1601 W. Pacific Ave. (6 to 8 p.m.) – Karen Swanson’s “The Moon and Me Productions,” and watercolors from “Gallery 1889” by Rhedi.

“ Avenue West Gallery, 1021 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Shades of Color,” paintings by Darrell Sullens; cut and pierced lampshades by Charlotte Yocom.

“ Chase Gallery, Spokane City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. – Prints by Tallmadge Doyle from her recent “Giordano Bruno” and “Mysterium Cosmographicum” series; sawdust-fired ceramic sculptures, termed “sacred stones,” by sculptor and painter John Rawlings.

“ Estudio Felisa Arte, 612 W. Garland Ave. – Abstract works by Jeffrey Loyd, etchings by Michael Cambell and mixed media paintings by Felisa Carranza.

“ Escent Lighting Gallery, 605 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. – Handblown glass light fixtures by Red Oak Glass artists.

“ Far West Billiards, 1001 W. First Ave. – Contemporary art by Ryan Avery.

“ Galleria De Felice, Davenport Hotel, 10 S. Post St. – Oil paintings of landscapes and sea storms by Anatoly Ivashchenko.

“ Gina’s Design Corner, 1 N. Browne St. – Photography by Astazio.

“ GoodWorks Gallery, 1019 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Glassholish,” mixed media, including ceramics, by Sami Perry and Liz Bishop.

“ Grande Ronde Cellars, 906 W. Second Ave. – “Out on Work Release,” wood work, blown glass and other art forms by Pat McVay of Spokane and Callahan McVay of Whidbey Island.

“ Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague Ave. (6 to 8 p.m.) – “Timepiece,” recent paintings by Linda Kraus-Perez.

“ Lyons Lair Bar and Gallery, 104 W. Riverside Ave. (5 to 7 p.m.) – “Clownies and Carnies,” acrylic paintings and toys by Jim Koch.

“ Kolva/Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. – “Refractory Works,” ceramics by WSU students Daiken Asakawa, Matt Boland, Jennifer Gosciewski, Pei-pei Hsu, Sandra Lomeli, Aaron Myra, Mike Richardson, Daniela Rumpf, Marc Wallace and Issei Watanabe.

“ Kress Gallery, River Park Square, third level, 808 W. Main Ave. – “Washington State Heart Gallery,” traveling photography exhibit (including Spokane residents) designed to inspire people to get involved as adoptive or foster parents, mentors, employers or volunteers.

“ New Dawn Books and Shanti Gallery, 509 W. Sprague Ave. (6 to 10 p.m.) – The Collective Invalesco, works by Nicole Hooper, Todd Milne, Thomas Richardson and Savannah Ward. Live world music by Saraswati.

“ Montvale Hotel, 1005 W. First Ave. (5 to 7 p.m.) – Works by Monart Drawing School’s young, emerging artists. Live music.

“ Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. – “Celebrity,” works by Virginia Carter of Chattaroy, Gary Kaemmer of Hope, Idaho, and Samantha Scherer of Seattle. Free admission to museum exhibits between 5 and 8 p.m.

“ On Sacred Grounds: Coffee Shoppe, Steam Plant Square, 163 S. Lincoln St. – “Coming Home,” watercolors by Roberta McSperrin.

“ The Pigeon Hole Gallery, Holy Threads, 20 S. Washington St. – Work by local artists.

“ Pottery Place Plus, 402 W. Main Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – Wildlife-influenced works by potter Linda Garratt, plus an artist’s demonstration.

“ Red Sky Studio and Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. – Pots by Rosemary Coffman and Chris Kelsey.

“ Rock Coffee, 920 W. First Ave. – Photography by Eleanor Lanardo, paintings by local artists and live acoustic music.

“ Time Bomb Vintage Store and Gallery, 711 N. Monroe St. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Stinc ‘O de Mayo,” custom acrylic paintings and toys by Jim Koch, Eric Johnson and Jeff Allison.

“ Tinman Gallery, 822 W. Garland Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Ric Gendron’s Carnival ‘57,” new expressionistic acrylic paintings and drawings with pen, ink and colored pencil. Music by Robbie Stafford and Coyote X.

Other activities

The following places feature art but no reception:

“ Brews Bros. Espresso Lounge, 734 W. Sprague Ave. – “Dumpster Art,” acrylic paintings on recycled cardboard by Jim Battell, and “Surreal Digital Art” by Savannah Ward.

“ ComedySportz, 227 W. Riverside Ave. – “Interactive Improv Experience,” 8 p.m.; free admission to the first 15 people who stop by between 5 and 6 p.m.

“ Global Credit Union, 726 W. Riverside Ave. – Look through the windows and take in paintings by local artists.

“ Mootsy’s, 9 N. Washington St. – Works by local artists.

“ Huneke Gallery, Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard St. (5 to 7 p.m.) – Works by textile artist Louise Kodis, “Tabled Motion and Stand-Ins: A Banner Maker Holds Her Ground.”

“ Spokane Transit Authority Plaza, 701 W. Riverside Ave. – “Remembering Natatorium Park” display.

Bank Left Gallery

Nelson Duran’s show, “Women Baroque Volume I,” opens Saturday at the Bank Left Gallery in Palouse, Wash.

The acrylic paintings tell “the stories of inspirational women in my life – a book on canvas,” says Palouse artist Duran in an e-mail.

An artist’s reception is Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. with guitar and vocal music by Charlie Sutton and April Heyde.

The gallery, 100 S. Bridge in Palouse, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information and directions call (509) 878-842.

Entree Gallery

The Entree Gallery, a perennial favorite in Priest Lake, returns for its 29th year when oil painter Mary Maxam’s show, “The Colors of Nature,” opens Friday.

“My subject might be wildflowers, a garden, or a fly fisherman,” says Maxam in a news release, “but in looking closer, you’ll see that the subjects I paint are really light and color.”

A reception will be May 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. The gallery, open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is on Reeder Bay Road, two miles east of Nordman, Idaho, near Elkins Resort. For directions call (208) 443-2001 or go online to www.entreegallery.com.