OGDEN’S FIRST FRIDAY ART STROLL: OCTOBER
Where to go, park (or take OGX!), and what to do.
Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll is Friday, October 6, 6-9 p.m. with art exhibit openings and live entertainment all over downtown. This month, a new multimedia art installation opens at Dumke Arts Plaza with dance, film, and photography with a live dance performance at 7:30 p.m.; Van Sessions has a poetry reading in conjunction with the Utah Book Fest, and comedian for the first time along with three musicians—Alicia Stockman, Sammy Brue, and Vincent Draper and the Culls. The Banyan Collective’s live audience music podcast, Van Sessions, is located at The Monarch starting at 7 p.m. If you’re in town this weekend, it’s the perfect time to check out the Ogden arts scene.
Ogden’s new OGX electric bus system makes it even easier to get around downtown. Start at the Jefferson stop by the library to get to Eccles Art Center and take it from there to Washington Blvd.
Ogden First Friday Art Stroll happens every first Friday of the month at participating locations from 6-9 p.m. Coffee shops, event spaces, businesses, and art galleries open their doors for the night to showcase local visual and performing artists. New art exhibits and live music performances all over the downtown area are all within a walkable distance. The free community event is hosted by Ogden City Arts. A list of locations and things to do is available every month, here.
Here is our guide, separated it into zones so you can plan your stroll.
Some of the major art stroll stops, in order: Ogden Union Station, The Local Artisan Collective, Emmisoure Gallery, Ogden Contemporary Arts, Dumke Arts Plaza, The Monarch, Eccles Art Center, and Fiction. Photos by Deann Armes
PARKING
First of all—the art stroll is the perfect chance to take advantage of Ogden’s new OGX, the UTA electric bus system that is free for the next three years. Check the site for all the stops, and you don’t have to wait long; on weekdays there’s a bus every 10 minutes! Plus, there is beautiful artwork at every stop.
Not many people know this, but there is a huge FREE parking lot at The Junction. This is an idea place to park for the art stroll. You can walk from this parking garage to many art stroll locations, and, for some, it’s even possible to walk to all of them. Or, start at either Union Station, with its large free parking lot, or The Monarch if you get there early—there is a small parking lot across the street. Fiction, just two blocks south on Washington Blvd., has a large free parking lot and is a great spot to start at. If you start there, hit Angry Goat or Harp and Hound for dinner & drinks, or the taco cart, on your way to The Monarch and Historic 25th Street.
Places to Park
1) The Junction Parking Garage, 2347 Grant Ave.
2) The Monarch, 455 25th St.
3) Fiction, 2717 Washington Blvd.
4) Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave.
ART STROLL STOPS
Categorizes by area/district
NINE RAILS CREATIVE DISTRICT (in order east to west)
Eccles Community Art Center, 2580 Jefferson Ave.: Utah Watercolor Society Fall exhibition, 5-8 p.m.
Ogden Contemporary Arts, 455 25th St.: Spell Field, a new exhibit with featured artists are Holly Wong and Stephanie Leitch. Guest speaker Kelly Carper on writing on curating art.
The Monarch Open Studio Night, 455 25th St.: Open Studio Night, Van Sessions Live Audience Music Podcast, Artist Studios, Happy Magpie Books, Art Box.
Dumke Arts Plaza, 445 25th St.: COINCIDENCES, presented by Weber State University’s Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery, dance, film, and photography, live performance at 7:30 p.m., free and open to the public
HISTORIC 25TH STREET (in order west to east)
Ogden Union Station, 2501 Wall Ave.: Closed for repairs
Grounds for Coffee 25th Street, 111 25th St.: TBA
Historic Tattoo Shop, 171 25th St.: TBA
Salt and Sage Art Studio, 115 25th St.: Art vendors
The Diamond Room, 131 25th St.: TBA
Alaskan Gold Connection, 167 25th St.: featured artist Natural Beauty.
The Bonneville, 221 25th St.: “Naked,” a solo art exhibit by local artist Isabel Valentine.
Cara Koolmees Gallery, 256 26th St.: Vibrant fall colors for the holidays. Original paintings, prints, calendars, and cards for purchase.
Gallery on 25th Street, 268 25th St.: TBA
Serendipity, 274 25th St.: Featured artist Summer, photographer
WASHINGTON BOULEVARD & THE JUNCTION (in order south to north)
Fiction, 2717 Washington Blvd.: One Year Anniversary Party: late night lattes, giveaways, swag, music. Six creatives, gallery tour, sale items: Company; Chelbie Hunger Glassworks; Wild Meraki Creations; Emily Cook Fine Art; Molly Painter Fine Art; and Thomas Printers Letterpress and Design.
The Local Artisan Collective, 2371 Kiesel Ave.: Featured Artist Summer from FalkenCraft. Workshops, demos, giveaways, and classes.
Emmisoure Gallery, 2246 Washington Blvd.: New featured artist every month with resident artists.
Weber State Downtown, 2314 Washington Blvd.: featured artist JohnPaul, pottery
Hilton Garden Inn, 2271 Washington Blvd.: TBA
Ruby Relics, 2487 Grant Ave.: “Disquieted,” art show (POSTPONED TO FRIDAY THE 13TH)
Sacred Rose Tattoo Sanctuary, 2562 Washington Blvd.: featured artist Angie Malmstrom, nature art, Black Thistle Oddities @blackthistleoddities
Weber Human Services, 237 26th Street: Services Mental Health Matters Art Exhibit
Studio 333 Architects, 333 24th St.: TBA
Blankspace Gallery, 298 24th Street #435 D (the Old Post Office): TBA
The Lab Arcade Bar, 2432 Washington Blvd.: New art stroll stop! Featured artist Cora, Aiteal Art @Aiteal.art
WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY
Shaw Gallery, 3964 West Campus Dr.: TBA