First Fridays | Metromix Greenville
First Fridays

Greenville has a thriving arts scene, but if you don't know anything about it, it may be hard to figure out where to start looking for it.

First Fridays will help you dive into the Upstate's creative culture, exposing you to the work of dozens of local artists. On the first Friday of every month, 22 galleries and art venues open their doors to curious eyes from 6-9 p.m. The venues are scattered across Greenville, so you may want to hit up one area of town each Friday. And you want to give yourself time to linger; you'll have plenty of art to soak up, and you may want to have a glass of wine or two.

Here's a list of participating venues. Start planning your route!

Artist Guild Gallery of Greenville

200 N. Main St. - Greenville
864-239-3882

The Artists Guild Gallery of Greenville aims to cultivate a vibrant, cooperative art culture in Greenville. Featuring the works of about 15 local artists, the gallery offers paintings in a wide range of styles, and some jewelry items, too. The gallery is located in downtown Greenville, at the intersection of North Main and East North streets.

Julie Hughes Shabkie

1272 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864-884-5607

Julie Hughes Shabkie is a figure and landscape painter who has done some abstract representational work. Shabkie, a native to Greenville, works in oils, pastels and acrylic, and has been an artist for 20 years. She hosts drawing workshops in her studio so give her a call if you’re interested, or if you want to set up an appointment to see her work.

Llyn Strong-Fine Jewelry

119 N. Main St. - Greenville
864-233-5900

Llyn Strong Fine Jewelry, located in Greenville’s downtown near Piazza Bergamo, offers a variety of luxury jewelry and art glass. Many of the jewelry pieces are Llyn’s own designs, and combine precious metals, stones, pearls and other elements. Pieces offered include rings, watches, cufflinks, and even baby jewelry, with prices starting at $99. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Marty Epp-Carter

12 Lois Ave., Unit B - Greenville
864-423-8728

Intense and thought-provoking work can be expected from Marty Epp-Carter. Very well defined and bold elements are used to express and explain larger concepts in a way that words would not be able. Her Studio is in the arts district in West Greenville and it is a place of work. Visit the studio during Open Studios or call to make an appointment.

Mary Praytor Gallery

26 S Main St - Greenville
864-235-1800

Mary Praytor Gallery is located in downtown Greenville. The gallery first opened in 1987, and got its start in folk and outsider art. Contemporary pieces are also regularly featured. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment.

Michael McDunn Studio and Gallery

741 Rutherford Road - Greenville
864-242-0311

Michael McDunn’s Studio and Gallery sits atop a hill near the intersection of Rutherford Road and North Main Street. Inside, guests will find a collection of beautiful wood-turned pieces. McDunn’s studio is behind the gallery, and occasionally visitors can watch him at work.

Savage Art Studios

300 River Street, Suite 109-B - Greenville
864-221-2323

Savage Arts Studios is not only conveniently located in downtown Greenville, but also on the art walk on the Reedy River. Rebecca Savage’s art focuses on making jewelry out of beautiful art. You can see her work in person by stopping by her studio or on her Web site.

Three @ 811

811 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864-354-6342

You might think you are going into a doctor’s office, but the wooden door with the number 18 on it is where you’ll find the three at 811. Located off Pendleton Street on the way into the arts district in West Greenville, this studio is home to three artists: Diane Hopkins-Hughes, Donna Shank-Major, and Olof Sorensen. Visit the studio during Open Studios or call to make an appointment.

Village Studios and Gallery

1278 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864-295-9278

Village Studios and Gallery provides studio space to local artists and a gallery for their creations to be displayed. The gallery is only open to the public by special appointment, for special exhibits, and on the first Friday of the month. The resident artists are primarily painters or photographers, but their themes and genres are diverse and make for an eclectic display in their extremely up-market gallery.

The William Felton School of Crafts

1252 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864-325-4233

This studio is in the new arts district and is a true working pottery studio. It is as well the home of clay artist Shane Bryant who also teaches pottery at all levels. Shane’s work includes tableware, ceramic instruments and architectural pieces. Classes for other mediums are also taught. Information on the Saturday Art Market is available through them as well. Visit the studio during Open Studios or call to make an appointment.

Catherine Hayes Art and Sculpture

121 Cleveland St. - Greenville

Specializing in European fine art, Catherine Hayes Art and Sculpture features contemporary local, regional, national and international artists in its gallery. The gallery displays a wide range of media, from watercolors to sculptures to ceramics and beyond. Catherine Hayes Art and Sculpture also uniquely offers artistic consulting for businesses or homes.

Daly Designs

421 S. Main St. - Greenville
864-325-4445

Daly Designs is unique in that its gallery focuses on functional art, such as jewelry, ceramics and glasswork. Furthermore, Daly Designs is not only a gallery but an art studio as well. So the visitor to this venue is not only treated to the visual stimulation of the art on display, but also the sights and sounds of local and regional artists creating new pieces. Glass jewelry designer and maker Liz Daly has been part of the Main Street art scene for nearly ten years. Her studio and kiln are located within Daly Designs and she makes various types of jewelry. Classic Daly designs are stained-glass style pieces and her more contemporary wearables resemble vibrant abstracts. Rings and pendants are her primary designs. And if this fun, friendly and creative atmosphere leaves you longing to create something yourself, Daly Design offers an assortment of classes for novices.

Glen Miller

1266 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864-918-5658

Glen Miller has been an artist his whole life and has lived in Greenville since the early 1980s. He primarily creates figurative art. His work is shown in his home studio in the Pendleton Street Arts District and also at the Hampton III Gallery. Miller teaches drawing and painting at Converse, and teaches figure drawing at the Greenville Museum of Art. His home studio is open for First Fridays/Open Studios. Otherwise, his studio is open by appointment.

Art & Light

1211 Pendleton St. - Greenville
864- 363-8172

Art & Light gallery is located in the Pendleton Street Arts district. It is open the first Friday and Saturday of each month from 6-9 p.m. on Fridays and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays. Art & Light focuses on unorthodox pieces.

City Lights

415 W. Washington St. - Greenville
864-271-0045

City Lights gallery recently moved from their Main Street location to Washington Street near St. Mary's Catholic Church downtown. The gallery shows the work of more than 20 regionally and nationally known artists.

Metropolitan Arts Council

16 Augusta St. - Greenville
864-467-3132

The Metropolitan Arts Council is an arts organization that provides support, networking, promotion and other services to artists in a wide variety of media.

Lois Silk Art Gallery

460 Old Hunt Bridge Road - Greenville
(864) 294-9860

Lois Silk is an Upstate Visual Arts award recipient for peoples' choice and also got an honorable mention at the 2008 summer show. Lois Silk focuses on contemporary, figurative paintings and also dabbles in photography. Check out her work during Open Studios or call to make an appointment.

Julia Peters Studio

24 River St. - Greenville
864-370-0301

Julia Peters Studio focuses on architectural and mosaic signage. The studio is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Vitti Tile & Pottery

300 River St - Greenville
864-248-0637

Vitti Tile & Pottery is located at RiverPlace along the Reedy River. The studio and gallery houses functional pottery and porcelain. Classes are also offered.

Dabney Mahanes & Polly Donohue

1267 Pendleton St, - Greenville
864-220-1338

In the newly reenergized West Greenville, you'll find the shared studio of Dabney Mahanes and Polly Donohue. The two are suited to share a studio since their primary subjects are people. Mahanes uses paint and Donohue photographs. All of the work is an expression of their interest in people and their placement in the world. The studio is a place of true work by the artists yet also inviting and relaxed.

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