If you are new to First Friday, let me explain. Art Galleries across the nation have rotating exhibits. This way they always have something new to show their regular customers. They often rotate their exhibits on a monthly basis. (I know, I know, you know all this. Just stick with me.) Well, galleries need people to come through the doors. Art is often for sale, (isn’t everything for the right price) and artist need to eat (cliche’ but still true). To encourage people (that’s you and me) to come in to their gallery and possibly purchase something, they entice us with and ‘Opening’ (this often includes refreshments, sometimes they are more sophisticated than juice and cookies).
The smart galleries have regular openings, like clockwork. (they play to our human nature). See if they have the openings the same time every month a couple things happen. 1) They are predictable. (you always know when they will happen) 2) Since you know when they take place, you will go (you are predictable). 3) Since they have them regularly you will attend regularly (thus creating a habit, once they got you, your hooked).
Put all these pieces together with a Friday Night, and you get First Friday. This is the day that galleries across the nation open their doors, turn on their ‘people’ lights and attempt to lure you into their traps (err I mean galleries). You will predictably go because of the variety of amazing work (that and Americans are fascinated by such things) and it’s educational. 
One of many local meccas of art is Parrish Studios. What is Parrish Studios? It is the abandoned 2nd floor of a downtown building that has been taken over by a motley crew of creatives and turned into one of Lincoln’s most happening cross-roads. This is the place where locals from every walk of life gather to observe, interact and be awed by the handiwork and labor of the human genome.
Watch later this week as we will do several posts about this week’s First Friday events in Lincoln. You can find a map of most of the local galleries, and even plan your route to several. In the mean time, read Kent Wolgamott’s article on Parrish Studios at JournalStar.com
