Guide to May’s ArtHop/JazzHop
The first Thursday of every month is the biggest night for downtown Fresno the Tower District Area. Venues welcome Fresnans to celebrate our rich art culture during Art Hop and Jazz Hop. Residents can move one venue to the next within a close proximity.
About 45 venues are listed on the Fresno Art Council’s official list of ArtHop venues for Downtown and the Tower District alone. View the 2015 venue list here and the map here. There are a handful of JazzHop concerts taking place, as well. You can view a schedule, here. However, there are many more venues not on the official list…there are too many to count!
I created a short guide of mine own:
Bike Hop provides another option of transportation during ArtHop: cycling! Bike Hop meets, at 5:30PM, at Fresno High School. Source: "Fresno Bike Hop" on Facebook.
HIGHLIGHT: UCP ARTISTS AT GAZEBO GARDENS
When I toured Central California’s United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), I got to watch students preparing for May’s ArtHop at Gazebo Gardens. UCP serves students with a broad range of disabilities and special needs. They are passionate about making sure that their students are not blocked off from the community because of their disabilities. Through their arts program, UCP makes sure their students have the ability to learn through art and to showcase their creations to the public.
For these students, art has a big part in their lives. Some have been exposed to art through family members. While other didn’t start creating art till they started attending UCP. Students work in a wide variety of mediums: paint, water color, chalk, pencil, ceramics, etc.
Some use art as an outlet to relax. For other students, art has become the only way they can express themselves due to their disabilities.
Reading each artist’s statement I noticed the artists create art for the same reason: because art makes them smile and they love seeing other people smile.
You can see how their environment inspires them in each art piece. And for this month’s ArtHop, at Gazebo Gardens Nursery, each art piece was inspired by the garden. You’ll be able to look at ceramic wind chimes, signs, and other garden pieces designed and made by the students.
Artwork displayed will be available to purchase. A perfect gift for your garden or the fast-approaching Mothers Day! A commission goes to the student artist. For many, the sale of their art enables them to receive a paycheck which they would not otherwise receive.
ArtHop coincides with the bustling Gazebo Garden’s beer garden. There will be live music, beer, and gourmet food trucks. You can enjoy coffee and view the artwork of local artist, Kasey Madden, at Cafe Van Ness.
Photo I took while students were making wind chimes to sell at this month's ArtHop at Gazebo Gardens.
3204 N. Van Ness Blvd., Fresno (Shields & Van Ness)
5-8PM
HANNAH EVANS & MIKE GREGORY
I met photographers, Hannah and Mike, at Fresno’s first World Wide Instameet. You can read my blog post about the event, here. I was taken away by their creativity! They capture the simple beauty of both urban environments and nature. I’m looking forward to seeing more of their work!
1612 Fulton St., #107 (San Joaquin and Fulton St.)
5-8PM
VISIBLE MUSIC
Travel down and you will find 1812 Gallery. This month, the gallery welcomes San Francisco artists, Peggy Gyulai and Jeremy Sutton. For their joint show, Jeremy will be doing a live art demonstration at 7PM.
1812 Calaveras (Calaveras, between Broadway & H St.)
5-8PM
FRESNO FUTURE
The Fresno Future Project will team up with Fresno State Interior Design students for an ArtHop at the Warnors Theatre. Check out what students envision for Fresno.
1400 Fulton St. (Fulton & Tuolumne)
6-8PM
NEW MURAL CEREMONY
Part of the new mural by Robert Amador and Joshua Wigger. More Murals mission is to change "a cityscape of soda-pop and fast-food advertising into a cityscape of beautiful imagery."
If you were on the Fulton Mall during the Catacomb Party, you might have seen local artists, Joshua Wigger and Robert Amador, working around the clock painting a mural on the back side of the historic Helm Building. This ArtHop will celebrate the hard work they have done for the past month. You will have the chance to buy prints of the mural!
The Helm Building (Little Bean Cafe)
1101 Fulton Mall (Fulton Mall & Mariposa)
5-8PM
FRESNO IDEAWORKS
Fresno Ideaworks provides workshop, resources, and learning opportunities for people who are interested in learning more about metal-making, wood work, sewing, technology, glass-blowing, fibers...and so much more!
Ever been curious to see a 38,000+ sq. ft. community workshop? Well, Fresno Ideaworks will be open to the public during ArtHop. There will be five artists, three musicians, and plenty of makers crafting. The maker movement is important to Fresno. In fact, Fresno is the first city in the world to declare a month Maker Month!
1755 Broadway St. (Broadway & Amador)
5-9PM
BLACK & WHITE EXHIBIT
Chris Sorensen’s studio is one of ArtHop’s very first venues. Today, you can spend an entire ArtHop in Chris Sorensen’s studio and gallery alone! The studio is celebrating its 6th annual Black & White Exhibit. Featured artists include photographer, Donovan Conway, and Kerby Smith.
Chris Sorensen’s Studio & Gallery
2223 S. Van Ness Ave. (Van Ness & Railroad)
5-8PM
LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT
ArtHop comes and goes too quickly. Luckily, there are a few events taking place for the late-night crowd that wants to stick around Downtown and the Tower District:
Fresno’s Monthly Disco Night at Peeve’s Public House - Starts at 9PM. - More Info.
Live Music & Art at Frank’s Place - 6-11PM - More Info.
Espacio Performing at The Landmark - 8-11PM - More Info.
MORE CHOICES?
Fresno Arts Council Official ArtHop Venue List
JazzHop’s Venue List & Schedule
The Fresno ArtHop Guide Group on Facebook
Click on map to enlarge. Source: Fresno Arts Council
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Have a lovely day in Fresno!
Veronica Stumpf, Broker
Stumpf and Company, Real Estate
BRE Lic. #01906952
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