Beat the August heat with some of the coolest art in southwest Missouri this First Friday with live art, live music, live authors, history, mystery and much, much more in 24 participating venues. Two very special, one-night-only events this month are the emerging artist innovations of the Sixth Annual Master of Arts in Studio Art and Theory Exhibition at Drury's Pool Art Center Gallery and an Arts Open House with Wesley Downtown, 413 E Walnut, featuring a variety of artists in photography, painting, computer animation, graphic design, plus an live musical performances including Irish folk music.Get details on all the shows below, and visit www.ffaw.org for maps, artist slideshows and more.

Art Inspired celebrates its One Year Anniversary

Art Inspired, 310 S. Campbell, adjoining Springfield Hot Glass Studio,is proud to celebrate its One Year Anniversary during the August Art Walk. We will feature all works of art developed by individuals with disabilities, including Guest Artist Taylor Crowe, who will also have artwork and other items for sale (417) 868-8084 www.artinspired.me/ Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M-Sat

At the Creamery: Caught My Eye invitational exhibit

The Creamery Arts Center, 411 N. Sherman Parkway, is proud to present Caught My Eye, The 2nd Annual Member Show Invitational, on display at The Creamery through Aug. 30. The Springfield Regional Arts Council will host a public opening reception during First Friday Art Walk 6-9 p.m. Aug. 2. Experience the incredible artwork of SRAC Artist Members in this invitation-only show. www.SpringfieldArts.org Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F; closed major holidays

DB Design presents Oils by Karolyn Farrell Aug. 2

DB Design Salon & Art Gallery, 326 S. Campbell, presents Oils by Karolyn Farrell and Digital Art by Deanna & Robert Henion for the Aug. 2 Art Walk. DB Design also offers a unique collection of original pottery by John Ehlers and Duane Bone. (417) 864-4343

Drury Pool Art Center Gallery: MART Exhibition

Drury Pool Art Center Gallery, 940 N. Clay St., usually closed in MART August, presents a very special one-night-only event during the Aug. 2 Art Walk: the Sixth Annual Master of Arts in Studio Art and Theory (MART) Exhibition. The MART Exhibition features artwork created this summer by current graduate students enrolled in the program and will be on view exclusively from 6 to 9 p.m. during the Aug. 2 Art Walk. The Master of Arts in Studio Art and Theory (MART) is a 30-hour graduate degree program offered through DruryUniversity's Summer Institute for Visual Arts. The Sixth Annual MART Exhibition is the culminating event of the two-month summer session in which students explore and develop both theoretical concerns and an intensive studio practice. Work presented in the MART Exhibition is wide-ranging in form, material, and theme, and reflects a curriculum that supports multidisciplinary and individualized approaches. The Sixth Annual Exhibition features the third year cohort's Thesis Exhibition including work by Dax Bedell, Melissa Briggs, Steven Buck, Jessica Jones, Chris Kaspar, Kristi Patterson, Catherine Russell, Jolie Russell, Alison Simmons and Steven Spencer. The exhibition also features work from second year cohort: Suzanne Axon, Matej Baran, Carlynn Forst, Jan Gill, Thomas Primm, Jennifer Rice, Dina Shisler, Bill Shultz, Kelli Stricklin and Lee MART 3 VonAllmen; and first year cohort: Neil Adams, Kelsey Cogorno, Holly Goodwin, Adrienne Klotz-Flloyd, Paul Little, Bill McKie, Rebekah Polly and Shon Cele Rainey. The Annual MART Exhibition is always a wonderful opportunity to view a new group of imaginative, innovative, emerging artists in the region. The diverse range of interests and approaches will surely make for a highly engaging visitor experience that is not to be missed! (417) 873-7263 www.drury.edu/pacgallery Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. M, T, W, F; 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Evangel Bellwether: Oil Paintings, Photography

Photography by Lane Simmons

The Evangel University Bellwether Gallery, 600 W. College, Ste. 116, presents Oil Paintings by Mike Buesking and Photography by Lane Simmons for the Aug. 2 First Friday Art Walk. (417) 865-2815, ext. 7258 Open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. W-Sat

Farmers Gastropub: Artists Sketching Live!

Farmers Gastropub, 431 S. Jefferson, Ste. 160, presents Artists Sketching Live during the Aug. 2 Art Walk. Farmers Gastropub is a great place to start or end your First Friday Art Walk with a burger and a pint! Named "Best British Restaurant in the USA" by The Telegraph. (417) 864-6994 www.farmersgastropub.com Food service 11 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Th, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. F-Sat, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday

Fresh Gallery: August Featured Artist Doug Kelly

Fresh Gallery, 400 W. Walnut, is proud to announce August Featured Artist Doug Kelly. Meet the artist and enjoy a Wine Tasting with Oovvda Winery. For Doug Kelly, making art is an extraordinary experience. The process of making art is where he finds his passion for life. Kelly says, "It's as near to a magical thing as I can imagine. Making art and enjoying the art of others nurtures my spirit. It's exhilarating and creates a cascade of wonderful emotions in me that regenerates me, invigorates me. Making art is virtually a spiritual experience to me, because through it my heart can touch my mind. And that nurtures my soul." In addition to being a member at Fresh Gallery, Kelly is a member of the Missouri Watercolor Society with works accepted in the Watercolor Missouri National 2011 Exhibit as well as in the Missouri Watercolor Society's Annual Showing in 2011-2013. Kelly was awarded the Merit Award from the Missouri Watercolor Society's Annual Showing at the Missouri Historical Society's Annual Exhibit. www.freshgallery.org (417) 862-9300 Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. T-Sat, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. during Art Walk

Good Girl Art Gallery presents Fake Dreams by Max Rosen and Jeffrey Allen Price's Rust and Fruit

Good Girl Art Gallery, 325 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101,

presents a new show in August, Fake Dreams by Max Rosen. Max Rosen is a recent MSU graduate in Electronic Arts Video, which in his words is "a somewhat clumsy phrase for "filmmaking." Max states, "I plan to follow this not-exactly-real-world-applicable degree to New York to work on freelance videography and getting my foot in the door for working on larger film productions. The goal is to make music videos, commercials and then, hopefully, feature films full time. But the thing about filmmaking is you generally need a lot of money to do it right. With collage, I'm able to create images that interest me with very little in the way of a budget. All it takes is time - sometimes a lot of it. As long as I have that time, I feel like I'll always be making collages." Regarding Fake Dreams, "I would say that I'm very drawn to dream-like imagery. But then, I don't know that that phrase has much meaning. Because who's to say that the imagery in my dreams

Rust Mandala by Artist Jeffrey Allen Price.

is anything like the imagery in yours. Or the dreams of that guy over there sipping wine. It's not a very reliable descriptor. I could say that the imagery in my dreams is not too similar to what's found in this world we have here, and that I'm attracted to that, but maybe that's just my waking perception of said imagery. Furthermore, I do not think I have dreamed any of these things you see here on display. But who's to say for sure? Who's to say anything really? What can you say? What am I saying?Oh well, enjoy ..." Good Girl Art also continues Jeffrey Allen Price's show Rust and Fruit by Jeffrey Allen Price (417) 865-7055 www.goodgirlartgallery.com Open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. T-Sat

The History Museum on the Square: Route 66

The History Museum on the Square,155 Park Central Square, presents Woodruff's Dream: The Mother Road Through Springfield, The Route 66 Exhibit. The new exhibit runs through Sept. 14. FREE admission to first-floor exhibits during Art Walk! (417) 832-1200 www.historymuseumonthesquare.org

IdeaXFactory presents Inside Out, Outside In Aug. 2

IdeaXFactory, 351 N. Boonville, invites you to Inside Out, Outside In for the Aug. 2 Art Walk. Inside ideaXfactory, see large 4-by-8-foot paintings created on Mill Street during the Contemporary Art Street Jam, then refined over the following weeks by Gary Bedel, Scott Sauer, Nicholas Tarr, John Worcester, Meganne Rosen O'Neal, Houston Hands, and nine other local artists using stencil, paint, spray paint, and magnum marker techniques. Participate in live music jam and experimental DJ sounds using the Sonic Paintbrush and Phosaphon lightsound instrument invented by Russ RuBert in interaction with the neon Harmonic Wall installation. Outside ideaXfactory on the grass, walk in, sit, and lay down inside the supersize "Nest" woven by Drury University's Art of Space out of black irrigation tubing. For more information, please visit http://ideaxfactory.com

Mostly Serious presents trio of artists in August

Mostly Serious, 315 Park Central East, a proud Art Walk sponsor presents Art by Brittany Bilyeu, Illustrations by Chris Gerringer and Photographs by Jenna Garrett. An interactive design studio, Mostly Serious offers branding and marketing as well as the latest breakthroughs for interactive design, development and SEO-ready writing. Their experienced team has the expertise to deliver projects with the staying power to meet their clients' immediate goals and long-term goals as their businesses continue to expand and evolve. (417) 501-6552 http://mostlyserious.io

Nomad: Live Art and Live Music Aug. 2

Nomad, 318 W. Walnut next to Flame, presents Live Art plus Live Music by Larry Redmon for the Aug. 2 Art Walk, along with its huge sidewalk sale. Enjoy Nomad's latest new arrivals from around the world and always, a few surprises! (417) 559-9695

Obelisk Home presents Playing with Light

Obelisk Home at the Inspired Commerce Building, 214 W. Phelps, presents Playing with Light by Jim Mayfield in August. "I've been doing photography seriously for over 40 years. Once the addiction to light coaxed me toward her tunnel, there was no escape. I do photography because I am drawn to the light. I can walk out onto the deck on an unseasonably warm winter's day and be seduced by the crosslight on the boughs of the trees. The shadows extended by that light create another interesting element of enticement. I do photography to capture this play of dark and light; hopefully in a meaningful manner," Mayfield says. "For me it's the quality of the light that defines the subject. It takes the ordinary to the extraordinary.

What could be a mundane snapshot becomes a masterpiece. It's all because of the nature of the light. What makes any photograph stand out? It's the quality of light! In many cases it's being there at the right time, and in others it's just noticing what the light is doing. Mostly I like working with "straight" images. Occasionally I enjoy employing other available tools to combine several images into something more surreal. Early on my art interests were influenced by Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, and other Surrealists." ... "I really enjoy the act of doing photography. It is being in the moment! Saving various moments in your particular life. It is not something experienced in the same way by anyone else on the planet. It is a personal expression unique to one individual. And on top of being there in that moment, you have the ability to put your own very personal spin on what everyone else sees when you present it. Is it reality? It is that reality, for that moment." (417) 616-6488 www.obeliskhome.com

Park Central Library: Service with a Smile, Maddog

Park Central Branch Library, 128 Park Central Square, invites you to enjoy Service with a Smile: Photographs of Service Stations in the Ozarks by Lynn Sanders in celebration of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival. Enjoy music by Maddog and Blue. Visit with local authors and find out about their work during our first Authors at Art Walk event. Authors and their latest releases are: Kaye Calkin: "Deverell's Dilemma" Beth Carter: "What Do You Want to Be?" Jean Rosenow: "Blessed Are the Pure in Heart" and Cecily White: "Prophecy Girl."www.facebook.com/parkcentrallibrary Open 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. M-Th; 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. F-Sat

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Paintings by Rebekah Polly

Qdoba Mexican Grill, 401 S. Kimbrough, presents Paintings by Rebekah Polly for the Aug. 2 Art Walk. Rebekah is a native of Southwest Missouri, living and working in Springfield. She received her undergraduate degree in Art Education and subsequent to that, attends the Graduate Program in Studio Art and Theory at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Rebekah's work typically represents colorful depictions of the human form. (417) 866-1399 www.goodwillandguacamole.com

Revel Advertising: Featured Artist T.D. Scott

Night Crossing by T.D. Scott

Revel Advertising, 429 N Boonville, presents Featured Artist T.D. Scott. "My work reveals a passionate exploration of primitive cultures and the interpretive documentation of my artistic journey. Organic forms, colors and textures define my style and ground my expression." - T.D. Scott (417) 368-6966 www.reveladvertising.com

RSVPaint: New Location, Art Walk Open House

RSVPaint has moved two doors south to 440 S. Campbell, next to Ball Architects. A proud Art Walk sponsor, RSVPaint will be open to the public from 6 to10 p.m. for First Friday Art Walk Aug. 2. Come watch local artists teaching a class, or better yet join in. RSVPainters are welcome to bring wine or any drink of choice. A fun, casual atmosphere with a ton of art going on, RSVPaint has added new classes. See the schedule at www.RSVPaint.com . Classes fill up quickly, so be sure to book your spot! (417) 413-4331

Springfield Brewing Co. presents Art by Gavyn Sky, John Payne and Robin Coulter Crabb

String Theory by John Payne

Springfield Brewing Company, 305 S. Market Ave.,

presents Art by Gavyn Sky, John Payne and Robin Coulter Crabb. Enjoy gorgeous local artwork in the Brewing Company's display space, and check out their great menu and variety of unique, locally brewed beverages including seasonal brews. 417-832-8277 www.springfieldbrewingco.com

Springfield Hot Glass: An Evening of Cobalt Blue

Image by Terry Price Photography

Springfield Hot Glass Studio, 314 S. Campbell Ave., presents An Evening of Cobalt Blue Glass. Hot Glass Studio artists will be making a wide variety of blown and solid glass pieces in the Midwest's favorite color: intense royal blue. A working hot glass studio/gallery with facilities for furnace, torch and kiln work, Springfield Hot Glass offers live demonstrations on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and First Fridays! (417) 868-8181 (417) 868-8181 www.springfieldhotglass.com Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Sat

Art Walk features Open House at The Calaboose

Springfield Police Museum at The Calaboose, 409 W. McDaniel, is open to the public during First Friday Art Walk! The recently renovated Calaboose was built in 1891 and used until the 1940s. The museum offers displays of uniforms, badges, equipment and weapons from the proud history of the Springfield Police Department. Learn about the history of Springfield policewomen. See what a real striped prisoner's uniform was like. You've heard of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping in 1932, but have you ever heard of the Baby Lloyd Keet Kidnapping and Murder - a story that made national headlines from Springfield, Mo., in 1917? The historic display covers a wide variety of fascinating crimes, lawmen and relics of law Le Mans enforcement past, including the hangman's rope and the black hood worn by the last condemned criminal to die by hanging in 1935. A great addition to last month's display was a vintage 1970s Le Mans cruiser. The Calaboose is a stop well worth your time - drop in on First Friday! For more information on Springfield law enforcement history, visit www.springfieldmo.gov/spd/AboutUs/history.html

Springfield Pottery: Fine Craft on Display

Springfield Pottery, 416 S. Campbell Ave., is a fine craft gallery and community clay center that features examples of fine craft by over 45 local, regional and national artists. (417) 864-4677 www.springfieldpottery.com Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Sat

Studio 417 presents Photography by Nate Strake

Studio 417

Studio 417, 444 W. McDaniel, invites visitors to enjoy Photography by Nate Strake in August. Studio 417 is a group of passionate, hard-working individuals who are serious about their work, but not about themselves. We are artists who perform beautiful hair and make up services Monday through Saturday. Although internal beauty is the most important feature, we are dedicated to making you look good on the outside as well! We appreciate all types of art and are energized by beauty. Come see what inspires us! (417) 866-6455 www.studio417salon.com Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. M-F, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat

TAG Media: monthly Magazine Release Party!

TAG Media, 334 E. Walnut, invites you to its monthly Magazine Release Party! Check out a new artist painting part of a wall in TAG's office. Also, pick up a copy of TAG's monthly magazine that supports the local entertainment scene - including visual artists. (417) 501-8605 http://tagsgf.com

University Plaza features 5 artists for Aug. 2 Walk

Art by Gavyn Sky

University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center,

333 John Q. Hammons Parkway, welcomes Featured Artists John Payne, Brian Mooney, Gavyn Sky, Andrea Ehrhardt and Judah Fansler in August! (417) 864-7333 www.upspringfield.com

Wesley Downtown Arts Open House: August Only!

Art by Gavyn Sky

Wesley Downtown, 413 E. Walnut, joins the August Art Walk with an exciting multimedia arts event! Wesley's Arts Open House features artists in photography, painting, computer animation, graphic design and more. A special exhibit including work from a variety of students from MSU, Drury and SBU will be on display. Throughout the evening there will be live musical performances, including a selection of Irish folk music. (417) 350-9806

I look forward to seeing you downtown this Friday!

Sincerely,

Clarissa French
First Friday Art Walk