Visual arts: Expect Art Walk to be one cool tour

Freezing temperatures won’t stop more than 30 galleries and businesses in downtown Spokane from opening their doors tomorrow to celebrate December’s First Friday Art Walk.

One of the many new shows features the oil landscapes of regionalist painter Leonard Heid of Moscow, Idaho.

“Leonard has a really strong sense of place,” says Ryan Hardesty, curator of the show and manager of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture’s Art at Work program.

“He has been able to evoke the mystery and beauty of the spaces and places along the back roads of the Palouse,” says Hardesty.

Heid’s exhibit, “Right There by the Side of the Road,” is up in River Park Square’s free Kress Gallery through Jan. 30.

First Friday openings

Go at your own pace during this self-guided Art Walk. Many of the venues feature live music and light refreshments. All receptions are Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. (unless otherwise indicated):

“Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., third level – Impressionistic oil paintings by Kyle Paliotto and live acoustic music.

“Art and Soul, 1601 W. Pacific Ave. – Native American art by Joseph Greywolf; watercolors and pen illustrations by rhedi; paintings by Karen Swanson; design by Christopher Le’on.

“Artisans’ Wares, 1009 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – Handmade ornaments and fine crafts by more than 70 regional artists. Live piano music by Cranford Sutton.

“Artist’s Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Ave. – Mixed-media paintings by Linda Christine; Phoenix SpringWater’s “Sacred Journey” painted silk wall hangings. Live music.

“Avenue West Gallery, 1021 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – Small works by gallery members. Live music by guitarist Tracy Carr.

“Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. – Art in the Alley featuring fiber art by JoAnne Bailey; acoustic blues by Lyle Morse.

“CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave. – Portraiture by Slimm Jacobs in the hallway gallery; oil paintings by Mel McCuddin in the Billiards Room.

“Conexion del Tango, 122 S. Monroe St. (5-9 p.m.) – Paintings and sculptures by Michael Klesert.

“Escent Gallery, 605 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. (6-9 p.m.) – “A Collection of Works by Jennifer Zurlini,” oil and acrylic figurative and botanical paintings.

“Far West Billiards, 1001 W. First Ave. – Large-scale photographs of blues musicians by Carey Eyer.

“Gallery of Thum, 106 S. Madison St. – “Red, White and Blue” installation honoring 911 heroes and others who risk their lives each day. Works by Cecile Charles, Shelly Haas, Conrad Bagley, Colleen Clark, Sally Russell-York, Ricardo Meza, Virginia Dowdy, Brent Hickman and Beth Eacher.

“Gina’s Design Corner, 1 N. Browne St. – “Spokane at Night” photography by John Moore. Live acoustic guitar by Matt Rusel.

“Global Credit Union, 726 W. Riverside Ave. – Work of local artists can be viewed through the lobby windows.

“GoodWorks Gallery, 1019 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – “Palouse: pelouze,” photographic art of Craig Sweat.

“Grande Ronde Cellars, 906 W. Second Ave. – Balinese sculpture and carvings from Callahan McVay’s collection.

“Kolva/Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. – New paintings and drawings by Robin Dare.

“Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague Ave. (6-8 p.m.) – “Mandatory Habits,” landscape oil paintings by Kathleen Cavender.

“Kress Gallery, River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., third level – “Right There by the Side of the Road,” regional paintings by Leonard Heid of Moscow, Idaho.

“Monroe Street Antique District (until 6 p.m.) – Open house. Live piano music by Lindell Reason.

“Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. – Exhibits include Mutual Seduction: Cars & Costumes; Image and Imagination: American Indian Photogravures by Edward S. Curtis; Fibers of Life: From a Weaver’s View; and Spokane Medicine: Heritage & Highlights (in Spokane Timeline). Admission by donation, 5-8 p.m.

“Peters and Sons Flowers, Gifts and Gallery, 170 S. Lincoln St. – Photography by Ned Fox.

“Pigeon Hole Gallery, 620 S. Washington St. – “Oil Barrel Project.”

“Pottery Place Plus Gallery, adjacent to Auntie’s in the Liberty Building, 402 W. Main Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – Father Christmas art dolls by Elizabeth Raol.

“Prago … Argentine Cafe, 201 W. Riverside Ave. (5-10 p.m.) – Three-dimensional wall hangings, lamps and relief paintings by Miriam Gregg. Live music.

“Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard St. (5-7 p.m.) – “Yuletide” Christmas bazaar, work by regional artists and fine craftspeople.

“Studio One Hair and Body Salon, 1311 W. Sprague Ave. – “Images of Life,” photography by Lynne Miller.

“Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, 210 W. Pacific Ave. – Figurative art by Clancie Pleasants and Colton Worley. Live music by Mark Rhodes.

“Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. – “Best of 2006,” small paintings, sculptures and mixed media.

“Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. – Contemporary ceramic art by Chris Kelsey, Mark Moore and Teresa Brett.

“Washington State University-Riverpoint Campus, 410 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. (next to the WSU Bookie, 6:30-9:30 p.m.) – Marc Morris’ large-scale, black-and-white photographs of people affected by HIV/AIDS for the 18th annual World AIDS Day event. Also speakers, drumming and a candlelight vigil.

“Women’s Business Center 827 W. First, Suite 121 (5-7 p.m.) – “Melissa Cole: Recent Painting.”

“”Carousels on Parade” – 26 fiberglass animals painted by local artists displayed on the streets of downtown Spokane.

Sandpoint’s POAC show

The Pend Oreille Arts Council’s newest art exhibit, “Light, Shadow & Words,” pairs two-dimensional artwork with poetry published by Lost Horse Press.

The show opens Friday with an artists’ reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the POAC Gallery in the Power House, 120 Lake St. in Sandpoint.

The work is on view through Jan. 8. For more information call (208) 263-6139 or visit www.ArtinSandpoint.org.

Harrison Sunset Gallery

For its final event of the season, the Sunset Gallery in Harrison, Idaho, is hosting a holiday party on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. during Harrison’s Winter Festival Celebration.

The gallery is spotlighting abstract paintings by Jo Simpson and papier-mache sculpture by Rhea Giffin of Coeur d’Alene, along with acrylic paintings by Jo Fyfe and art photography by Gay Waldman of Spokane.

The gallery, 200 S. Coeur d’Alene Ave., will close after the event and reopen in spring 2007.

Bank Left Gallery

The Bank Left Gallery’s Holiday Open House begins Saturday in Palouse, Wash., with an artists’ reception from 1 to 5 p.m. Pullman pianist Caroline Hilty-Jones and vocalist Nancy Grunewald will perform.

The gallery is showing new acrylic paintings by Palouse artist Eddy Gnaedinger; furniture designed by Deary, Idaho, artist Paul Wisdom; and papier-mache Christmas sculptures by Garfield, Wash., artist Karen Bousman.

Moscow, Idaho, poet Georgia Tiffany will read from her book “Cut from the Score” at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The open house continues through December. Stop by the gallery, 100 S. Bridge St., Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

‘Indian Art’

“The seventh annual Christmas Indian Art and Craft show takes place Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Alex Sherwood Community Center in Wellpinit, Wash.

Look for paintings, prints, beadwork, carvings and feather work by such recognized artists as George Flett (Spokane), Ric Gendron (Colville), Irvin Tso (Navajo) and Tiller Wesley (Comanche).

A silent auction runs between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For directions or information call Nancy Raymond at (509) 258-4485

“The Medicine Wheel Academy at Havermale High School’s Holiday Arts and Craft Sale (in the west gymnasium), 1400 W. Knox Ave., is Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Items have been created by students, staff and members of the community.