First Friday theme ‘Art-Tober’

Art comes in many forms, and they’ll all be celebrated at First Friday tomorrow from 5 to 9 pm downtown Warsaw.

The theme is “Art-tober.”

OrthoWorx will have an art booth. First Friday coordinator Paula Bowman said they’ll have fun projects for people, which will be displayed at city hall, based on the nationality of a person’s last name.

The elementary, junior high and high school art teachers will be in the big tent so people of all ages can work on art projects.

Lakeland Art Gallery will have its own display.

Inside Latte Lounge will be the Walk ’N’ Wander art contest. People can pick their favorite and text the number on the art to the number provided for the People’s Choice Award.
Red Bird Gallery, which is the Cardinal Center gallery, will be displayed at The Vic, 112 N. Buffalo St., Bowman said. Mark Eckel will have a new display of his work at The Gallery.

“There’s just going to be a bunch of independent artists around here,” Bowman said.
Individual artists will display their wares for purchase. “It’s going to be a beautiful fall day,” Bowman said.

Kate’s Kart also will be on Center Street in front of the county courthouse square. It will be taking donations for children’s book to provide to children to read in hospitals. Kosciusko Community Hospital already has a Kate’s Kart, and Parkview Warsaw will be getting one soon.

Carole Delp said her Brownie Troop #4600464 collected books last fall for Kate’s Kart and ended up wanting to do more by stuffing bags for Kate’s Kart. The Troop decided it wanted to create awareness of Kate’s Kart and do a book drive. At First Friday, Delp said they’ll have new books for sale which people can buy and immediately give to Kate’s Kart. Or, a donation can be made to Kate’s Kart. Another option is to call Delp at 574-376-0159 and she will pick up new book donations in the Warsaw area. “They have to be new because of hospital specifications,” she said. There is a short supply of board books, but all books for children up to 18 years old are needed.

The Mark Allen Band will take center stage from 6 to 8:30 p.m. There will be food vendors all evening.

The November First Friday will be “Thanks for Giving,” which will focus on not-for-profit organizations. “So if you’re a non-profit, we want to know all about you,” Bowman said.

Applications for not-for-profits to have a booth at the Nov. 4 event are available at wcdc.org. Go to downtown events and hit the First Friday button. Bowman said, “Let us know you and what you need in the next year and we’ll find you a great spot. We want to know all about you.”

December’s First Friday is “Hometown Holly Days” with the annual Twinkle Light Parade. Bowman said the parade continues to grow every year.

First Friday is sponsored by the Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation and the city of Warsaw.