Ithaca First Friday Gallery Night

On the first Friday of every month, a much loved regional event unfolds. According to Michael Sampson, Coordinator of Ithaca’s First Friday Ithaca Gallery Night, 10-20 galleries throughout Ithaca and surrounding areas open their doors to the public from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Exhibits of visual arts, including sculpture, painting, drawings, printmaking, photography, fiber art, performance art, and ceramics can be enjoyed. And interspersed among the galleries, soon live music, or dance performances each month will enliven select galleries.

Michael: “Enthusiastic visitors describe strolling between galleries, and then having dinner at a nearby restaurant, or visiting a brewery along their gallery route, perhaps stopping into a shop they have never visited before…”  Michael notes that the live performances will bring an added element and attention to the exhibits happening on Ithaca Gallery Night.

As the nonprofit fiscal sponsor for Ithaca Gallery Night, Steven Stull, Executive Director of Triphammer Arts, Inc. works with Michael to enhance Ithaca Gallery Night, to introduce more people to this terrific local event. Since 1990 Triphammer Arts have been presenting performances at the CRS Barn Studio, so they know about nonprofit programs and what helps them flourish, and Ithaca Gallery Night is made possible in part with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, administered by the Community Arts Partnership. 

Robin Schwartz, who has been the face and spirit of the CAP for 31 years and is currently the Grant and Program Director, reflected on Gallery Night:

“Ithaca is so fortunate to have Gallery Night! Experiencing Gallery Night is a great way to get out, see people, and check out something new.  As you go around to the galleries, you can’t help but be grateful for how much artistry and creativity we have here in our community.” For more information, see artspartner.org

Nan Rohrer, Executive Officer of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, has glowing reviews for Ithaca Gallery Night  “Ithaca Gallery Night is a long-standing first Friday event in Downtown, and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance is thrilled to see its continued success. The monthly event provides increased exposure for our local and regional artists, while also successfully bringing people to, through, and around Downtown, to experience incredible visual and performance art, while also visiting our restaurants, retailers, and cultural institutions. It is a symbiotic relationship and creates a truly unique Downtown Ithaca experience for all to enjoy! See www.downtownithaca.com for more information. 

Many of us are familiar with Michael Sampson’s art, most recently exhibiting at The Gallery at South Hill. Also known as an art exhibit curator, Michael previously worked at the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira and currently, Michael also works with Ithaca College Art Department interns at The Gallery at South Hill, sharing the opportunity to see the world of exhibition curating from the inside.

Recently, Michael also curated exhibits held outside of our traditional galleries. The Mental Health Association, led by Josephine Cohen, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, headed up by Sandra Sorenson, created art exhibits curated by Michael.

The Mental Health Association’s Self Portraits exhibit provided opportunities for youths to visualize themselves in self-portraits. The exhibit was memorable and moving for many of our young people and those viewing their art: MHA: “Twenty-nine young artists explored inner feelings of identity in an art exhibition organized in October 2023. “How I See Myself” was made possible in part by a grant from The Sophie Fund. Thanks, and bravo to the artists.” The NAMI Fingerlakes exhibit was an all-ages Pathways to Hope conference art show/contest held in August 2023. For more information, see namifingerlakes.org. 

Drawing upon his extensive engagement with so many aspects of art, exhibitions, and community participation, Michael Sampson has not missed a beat since taking on the Ithaca Gallery Night program.

This coming month, plan ahead to take your kids, round up your friends, or take your favorite date to Ithaca’s First Friday Ithaca Gallery Night. Sharing art brings depth of meaning to our lives, and it is especially pleasurable when so many of our neighbors are out savoring art together.

For more information please see: https://www.ithacagallerynight.com  or contact: Michael Sampson at denfieldgallery@gmail.com or 607-229-6076.