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LOCAL TAKE Ashland Gallery Association First Friday art walk Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 4, 2015 at 8:01 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 4, 2015 at 8:01 PM » Social News As part of Ashland’s restless, ceaseless drive to make a holiday out of anything and everything and celebrate it to the max, the First Friday art walk has blossomed into a rolling party, spilling itself up and down the sidewalks of Main Street and the Railroad District around A, Fourth and Oak streets. Promoted by the Ashland Gallery Association, which publishes a monthly map of attractions at www.ashlandgalleries.com/events/first-friday-artwalk, the wildly popular stroll runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and takes you into the heart of artistic sensibilities of the town’s plethora of awesome artists. The spots with good vino and noshes are well-known to locals, who confess to salivating as they approach, often finding old friends to chat and giggle with, sharing tales of their lives, travails and triumphs of the past month. In short, it’s a cocktail party. But without the cocktails. Just these little thimbles of wine. But ah, the town is crammed with amazing restaurants and after you mob around with old pals — bumping into friends is probably the big attraction — it gets pronounced: “Hey, I’m hungry! Let’s all get a bite and a pitcher of margaritas.” So, it’s really an art-dinner-wine walk. And it’s a boom for the town, as if it didn’t have enough booms. A new twist is the costumes. We’re not talking masks or anything scary or that covers your face. It’s more like the Roaring '20s or Psychedelic '60s dress-up. This month it was the pagan holiday Beltane, or May Day, and costumes resonated with it, most colorfully. Talk about conversation starters! We stopped several bedecked revelers and asked them: “What brings you down to art walk? What do you get out of it? Are you having fun?" Natalya Koogler — First Friday offers fabulous costuming opportunities and incredible people to watch. We are truly art-walking here. We are the art also. We run into so many friends with costumes and have a wonderful time.  Victoria Christian — At art walk, I get such wonderful visual stimulation and a healthy sense of community. I’m also a big supporter of the arts and am an artist myself. A visionary artist. That’s one thing we need, a gallery for visionary art. I’m a visual arts addict. Anna Christiansen — Today on art walk, we enjoy experiencing happy people with good cheer and amazing art. It’s so fun to just be a walking piece of art. I made this dress of deer skin myself and the feather headdress I got at the Country Fair. Mira Brockelman — The art walk so inspires me to jump in my own creative world. I really enjoy the community and feel Ashland is the place to support such freedom of expression. It’s all so enjoyable doing this every month. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted May. 4, 2015 at 8:01 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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