GetOut Magazine

Local venues draw artists for Final Fridays
By NICKI ESCUDERO
SPECIAL TO GET OUT

There are certain things you expect to find at an art supply store — colored pencils, canvases, rulers. But a music show attended by more than 300 people?

It's part of Final Fridays, the brainchild of Jesika Jordan, who's been hosting the free shindigs at her Wet Paint Art Supply & Gallery in Tempe for three years.

The popularity of her event has inspired the 25-year-old to get other independent Tempe businesses in on the action.

“(I want to) just kind of unite Tempe, just kind of change something down here because we're so young,” Jordan says. “We do have a strong culture, but it's kind of hidden under a blanket.”

Although Wet Paint won't be part of this month's event — Jordan is too busy selling supplies to returning ASU students — five other businesses are picking up the slack.

Mill Avenue coffeehouse Mill's End will feature three bands Friday, with a DJ between sets. It also will have artists creating paintings and other installations.

Mill's End's Wasef El-Kharouf says he is excited about Final Fridays.

“It allows a lot of us shops that aren't necessarily venues to give artists at least one night to expose their art,” El-Kharouf says. “What's great about it is the Tempe community is really kind of thirsty for an art scene more than anything.”

Stinkweeds Record Exchange owner Kimber Lanning says the arts crawl is a fun way to spend the last Friday of the month.

“Anytime, getting out and going to see art is a good idea,” says Lanning, whose store will feature an exhibit. “It's really easy to make a night of it because there's so many great restaurants. It's always a lot of fun.”

Jordan hopes to have a Web site with maps up and running this fall, and she hopes more Tempe businesses will be part of Final Fridays.

“Without art and without music, life would be kind of boring,” Jordan says.

“Tempe's beautiful, but we definitely need more color out here.”

SIDEBAR:
Final Fridays for August

Mill's End: Three bands, DJ and live art. 8 p.m. to midnight Friday. 310 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, .

Stinkweeds Record Exchange: “Talking Heads” exhibit with about 70 portraits by artist Dan Coy. Until 10 p.m. Friday. 1250 E. Apache Blvd., Tempe, .

Here on the Corner: Paintings, jewelry, music, food and drink. Until 10 p.m. Friday. 714 S. College Ave., Tempe, .

Plaid Eatery: Poetry and open mic, paintings, graphic T-shirts. 8:30 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday. 1044 S. Terrace Road, Tempe, .

Three Roots Coffee House: Paintings and live music. 8 p.m. to midnight Friday. 1020 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, .