First Friday ArtRide This Friday: Fossil Fuel Free Ride July 3

I heard a rumor that Liberace is joining us for the Fossil Fuel Free First Friday ArtRide this Friday, July 3–and he’s wearing this absolutely smashing sparkly red, white, and blue number on the Ride! I know, it’s just toooo wonderful! We’ll stop traffic with Liberace in the lead in this get-up!

What will you wear? Red white & blue? Stars & stripes? Or will you come as a dinosaur? (Yes, I’m talking to you, Tracy!) Flags and pinwheels are fun to fly off the back of your bike, and shirts with the Ventura Bicycle Union logo on them are always in style. (A $25 donation to the VBU on Friday gets you a shirt and a membership!)

We meet at 5:30pm on the Promenade outside or inside Aloha, and we ride at 6pm around the downtown area going to different art galleries, including the Bell Arts Factory, 432 Ventura Avenue:

THE LAO A Snapshot View RIVER – SPIRIT – PEOPLE in the TOOL ROOM GALLERY Photo by Richard Newsham RICHARD NEWSHAM & CATHY FORTUNA – THE LAO Richard Newsham is the Marketing Specialist for the Community Services Department in the City of Ventura. Through the years his support for the artists in the community has been invaluable. Now it’s time to turn the tables on Newsham, and to show his talents to us. He’s a poet whose work is often inspired by the paintings, poetry and sculpture of other artists as well as ‘the unique’ in people, both at home and abroad. For First Friday, July 3, Newsham finally shares his favorite things with us at the Bell Arts Factory – Tool Room Gallery. Newsham partnered with friend Cathy Fortuna, to travel to Laos, and to produce a snapshot’s view of life along the Mekong. River/Spirit/People, is the subject of a photo exhibit, with touches of poetry and a splash of colorful weavings of the region. Friday, July 3, is the reception for the first City employee to exhibit at the Tool Room Gallery. The installation is the work of artist Sarah Kalvin who curates the venue. The reception is from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, with light refreshments. The exhibit runs from July 3 to July 26. Gallery hours are by appointment, call: 805.653.1174. Read about Richard in the Ventura County Star June 28 article Bell Arts Factory is located on Ventura’s Westside at 432 N. Ventura Ave. The Tool Room Gallery is a new addition to the arts facility that exhibits renowned individuals and innovative newcomers. View: Tool Room Gallery location

A MEDITATION INSTALLATION IN THE JANET ADDISON COMMUNITY ROOM FIRST FRIDAY – JULY 3, 2009 – 6:00 to 9:00 PM

And we may get as far east as Midtown’s V2 to see “In the Mood: Part 2:”

As much as I love Erik Reel’s work which we saw at Seabreeze on our March and April ArtRides, I don’t think we’ll stop at Stoneworks to see his show–we get too many flat tires when we go there! We may get to Laurel Street to Seabreeze and to Art and Soul Ceramic Studios–you’ll have to come along and see!

Then follow us to the afterparty where we’ll enjoy beer donated by Anacapa Brewery, music, and food! Bring $10 to donate to the VBU for all you care to eat and drink.

Saturday morning July 4 is the Rotary Club’s “Push ’em Pull ’em Parade;” park at the San Jon Road City of Ventura Maintenance Yard and walk with us up Chrisman to the start of the parade near Chrisman and Main. Later that afternoon,  I heard a rumor about a Stars and Bars ride–about 10 miles round trip including a ride out to the Harbor. We’ll be the ones in the Ventura Bicycle Union shirts!

More Friday themed rides:
Aug. 7: Animal Fair Ride
Sept 4: Full Moon Critical Manners Ride
Oct. 2: Critical Manners Mustache Ride
Oct. 30: Ghost Ride
Nov. 6: Super Heroes Ride
Dec. 4:  Santacon Ride