Artful space

Area artists have added life, light and color to the building at 5 N. Main St. One by one, the rooms have been transformed from dark, empty spaces with drab walls and sometimes hideous flooring into colorful, vibrant grottos full of works by local artists.

From the O'Tenem Gallery spaces with photos from Stan Crader and jewelry by Marcia Williamson, to Jeanie Eddleman and Dr. Joel Ray relocating the Westray Gallery to the building, the space now shines with activity and beauty.

Marti Wingo and Leslie Compass have joined the party, calling the newest suite Mozaic Art Studio. They call it "a collage of artists." Aside from the glass art the two women make, they've invited a woodworker, photographer, potter and more to display in the studio.

Wingo and Compass operate Soul Reflections and make glass mosaics. Most of their creations are quite practical. They make things like wine chillers, platters and pots as well as simple transparent aesthetics to hang in a window and scatter tinted sunlight through a room.

Mozaic features works from Julie Bricknell, Thomas Ertman, Russell and Louise Callihan and Roger Sanford, who has invaded the art scene this month with exhibits at Aartful Rose and Edward Bernard Gallery as well.

The opening of Mozaic and the promise of a new space, Gallery of Inspirations, on Spanish Street in September makes trying to see all the new exhibits on First Fridays more challenging.

It also gives people more to do throughout the month, though. Mozaic will be open from noon to 8 p.m. Fridays and noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and the proposed Gallery of Inspirations will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturday.

My advice -- and my personal plan -- is to clip out our monthly First Friday list and stick it to something. When you're bored, when you need to entertain visiting family members, when your children need some culture, simply choose a gallery and go.