It is Third Friday in downtown Phoenix and a great time to head out and enjoy the flavor of local art.  Similar to First Friday, Third Friday is a night where many local art galleries and other businesses are open late for your entertainment.  According to the Phoenix New Times, “Third Friday offers another chance for Valley art lovers to get out and see all that the downtown art scene has to offer without having to fight the crowds or scarcity of parking that First Friday entails.”

Tonight at {9} The Gallery on Grand Ave., seven MFA candidates from Arizona State University are splashing the scene.

“The show features a variety of different styles and techniques, from drawing, painting to collage. Work shown includes both representational as well as abstraction,” explains Cam DeCaussin, one of the seven artists in the show.   The show also features the work of Travis Ivey, Swapna Das, Joe Holdren, AJ Nafziger, Rory Alan MacLean, & Lisa Hoffner. 

Left to Right the work shown is by Joe Holdron, Cam DeCaussin and Lisa Hoffner. Photo courtesy Laura Dragon of {9} The Gallery.

The show is located at 1229 Grand Ave., a building which also plays host “The Lodge Art Studio” and features a fresh new mural called “The Painted Desert” by Illustrator Rebecca Green.  The mural was completed just a few weeks ago. Take a walk around to the north side of the building to view the piece.

Other hot spots to visit in the neighborhood include Bragg’s Factory Diner just north of {9} The Gallery towards Roosevelt.  Bragg’s is a vegan and vegetarian restaurant definitely worth checking out.  They have a fabulous blueberry crumb pie.  They will be open tonight until 10pm.  Next door to Bragg’s is the Frontal Lobe Community Space and Gallery.  Tonight’s event is the 8th annual Mutant Pinata Show from 6-11pm.

So head on out to the Grand Avenue Artwalk, a part of Third Friday events downtown.  There will be plenty of free parking.

For more information about art and business on Grand Ave. Click Here.

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