First Friday carries on with block party in front of theatre7

July 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Making sure First Friday goes on, despite the announcement the event is taking a two-month hiatus, theatre7 owner Derek Stonebarger has started "First Friday South," which will debut August 5 in the South Area of the Art’s District.

First Friday South is a block party gathering located on 3rd Street in the Downtown Arts District across from the 'Welcome to Downtown Las Vegas' sign.

Stonebarger, an arts activist, Emmy Award winning television producer and indie filmmaker known for footage he supplied valley television stations after more than 100 cars were towed from downtown Las Vegas parking lots during May's First Friday, is offering free vending space in front of his business.

The vending spaces at 1406 South 3rd Street are free to any Nevada artist who has been displaced due to closure of the main First Friday event in August and September. There will also be available free parking for classic and custom car and motorcycle owners.


"I have been working diligently since the closure announcement with the City of Las Vegas, National Barricade Company and neighboring First Friday South businesses to ensure that First Friday will go on," Stonebarger said. "First Friday is so important for our city, and for our artists. I will continue to do everything in my power to make sure it survives, including offering up my own time and money to barricade the street."

First Friday South will feature a road closure from the corner of 3rd and Imperial to the corner of 3rd and Utah. Local artists are asked to contact Derek at 702.349.2283 or DerekStonebarger@gmail.com if they'd like to join the festivities.

"I know offering free vending spaces sounds too good to be true, but it's not," Stonebarger said. "All we ask is that you are a Nevada artist in proper standing with state and city licensing, and you bring your own table or easels to set up."

Gallery curator Darryl Martin will have his art on display inside and outside of theatre7, along with work from local artists Lynne Jordan and Kelly Haugh. Martin will also be performing a live painting throughout the event, which will start at 7 p.m. and run until midnight.

Outside theatre7, Stonebarger hopes to have as many local artists as he can, showing off their work, while 222 Imperial, just around the corner, has a show called Ice Cream Pop that will feature 25 Las Vegas artists. Fat Daddys Ice Cream Truck will be parked just outside. In addition, the studios Cob4lt Blu3, Graficandus and Photo Bang Bang!, all in the Frist Friday South block, will be open.

Aside from the art on display, the Thai BBQ Restaurant will remain open to serve up fabulous fresh food, and Snick's Place will serve alcohol.

Neon Venus will provide live music from Lums and Leafs, Solid Suns, Firewise, James, Chase Freedom, Neon Envy, Russell Crouch, What Knotts and the venue's house titled band.

First Friday South is free to the public.

"This is a true First Friday event," theatre7's Chad Clinton Freeman said. "This is all about the art, the artists and the businesses of the art's district that are already here. theatre7 is about community and art. We're hoping to take this negative and make it a positive for the city and the artists."

Nearly 50 studios and businesses within walking distance from theatre7 will be open as well, including the likes of Gypsy Den, Artifice, Arts Factory, Emergency Arts, Bar + Bistro, and the Brett Wesley Gallery, which is displaying the work of Photo Bang Bang! photographer Marcos Rivera.

A new app available to Android phones called 18b Arts Walk has launched to help everyone navigate the Arts District.

After more than 100 cars were towed from downtown Las Vegas parking lots during May's First Friday, Stonebarger took matters into his own hands. He grabbed his camera and headed down to the tow truck company that was responsible and shot footage of drivers upset about the situation. He even found himself caught in the middle of a confrontation with a tow truck driver. Thanks to Stonebarger's P2 HD footage, which he drove around to various TV Stations to download, and amazing press coverage of the catastrophe, the tow-truck company was cited for 324 counts of violating 18 towing regulations.

For more on First Friday South, please visit http://www.firstfridaysouth.com/ or http://www.facebook.com/firstfridaysouth

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