Art Show, Impromptu Musicians Make for Fun First Friday

What did you when First Friday rained out?

Did you stay to watch The Calhouns at Railroad Plaza? Which of you grabbed a slice or two at ? I'm sure others started a tab at Montella's or Molly's. How about some light shopping, and why not? You want to have a good time, you've got money and ... you probably never knew that shop was there.

Our community loves to gather. Lansdale loves to gather. Call it a fellowship, if you will.

It was more than just a meeting of the minds at 3rd & Walnut Friday night: A visual artist and a binaural artist came together under one roof to put on a great show.

Sellersville resident Amy Rims had her Five and Dime Art Show in the upstairs ballroom - which is accessible without going through the bar. 

West Point resident Derek Calhoun had his bands booked for First Friday's Richardson stage. He didn't book the weather. 

The Mahlors and The Gutter Sluts were itching to play. Calhoun packed up the amps, pedals, mic stands and drumset and headed for a new location to continue the evening.

Within minutes, the middle room at became a stage - and the upstairs art show became a gallery. 

With $4 Magic Hat and $2 PBRs, the evening held an air of comfort and satisfaction for everyone.

Art. Music. Beer. It was all they needed.

The Five and Dime Art Show usually began with a greeting from a vintage cigarette girl. What they carried wasn't cancerous, but conspicuous: attractive art eccentricly packaged inside old Parliament and Marlboro cigarette packs.

If you wanted a mustache painted on your face, no problem.

Matted and framed black-and-white and color photographs brought to you by Jason Heffner of Philadelphia. Bobbi Shaw and her son were the table to check out for something different. This artist does leaf painting!

Schwa Rox, husband of Rims, was selling off the last part of his "Up" photography series. He said it was "the corner of the ugliest building in town": . You know, the old Tremont Hotel spot.

What did sell were two collages done on wood and shellaced. One featured an advertisement from an issue of Ladies Home Journal from the 1950s for Malboro cigarettes - with a baby on it.

A second one told the story of 1978 skin flick "Debbie Does Dallas" and its star, Bambi Woods. She cannot be found today. She's "underground," according to Rox, and possibly a normal housewive.

This "Debbie" collage featured ripped ticket stubs and authentic pornographic 8mm film that made up the border. Add in some screenshots - no nudity, all face - of Woods - and you have a remarkable item.

Kynn Peterkin returned to the show for a third time with his style of drawing when it comes to character design and illustration. It's like pin-up meets cartoon, like "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" and "Heavy Metal." 

It's an eyecatching and lush visual palette of comic books, science fiction, girls, hot rods, monsters, bar scenes, exotic dancers, cartoons and beer.

Did you win a piece of art of your choosing when the $1-a-spin color wheel landed on your color? How about getting a ping pong ball into the goldfish bowl and winning a prize?

Ben Robinson had his surreal art reasonably priced at the show. Are those hot air balloons, or heads on that drawing? Is that a ribcage inside a broken spray can?

Multimedia artist Chelsea Allen, of Worcester, is perfecting her painting with acrylic on wood block.

"It's scrap wood," she said. "Rather than burn them, I found a use for them. "

Although a fan of watercolors, Allen chose acrylic for the block art.

"Acrylics help me move fast to keep the price moderate for the everyday person," she said. 

Trauma Rising Design's Michael Schank had artwork that was mystical, mesmerizing and morbid at once.

Multimedia artist Mark Price creates posters that are surreal like some post-postmodern Dali, both extraordinary and extraterrestrial in their design. The art continues to get hyper on his online Tumblr.

Rims said the art show was a success again, smiling behind a blue mustache.

Between the boisterous bar and the gallery in the loft, visual and audio art met right in the middle.

Calhoun, as show organizer Lansdale Local, rounded out the event with his lineup, which was separate and distinct from Rims' show since the beginning.

The Gutter Sluts grabbed a few beers and kicked off their five-song set. Then, singer Michael Prout invited The Mahlors on deck.

Justin Jones, Tony Villar, Ryan DeHaven and TJ Haslett grooved the room with its fresh and deep reggae rock sounds. Don't let the name fool you: Some of it is punky. 

The Mahlors, home base of Doylestown, continued on with a 10+ song set, which demand an encore from listeners. The foursome kept on, delivering original rock and covers like The Grateful Dead's "Scarlet Begonias." (and mixed in the sounds of Sublime and Neil Young).

It seemed like this was meant to be - a soundtrack to a night where all you needed for entertainment was talent and determination.  

Plans are in the works for a fourth art show event in Lansdale.

So what did you do Friday night?