MENDOCINO CO., 3/5/25 – This month’s First Friday art walks in Fort Bragg and Ukiah on March 7 offers a chance to explore space and time.
First Friday art walks are held in historic downtown Ukiah and Fort Bragg the evening of the first Friday of each month. Galleries and museums open their doors to the public, for free, often offering live music, beer and wine, and special activities to complement the artworks presented.
Here are my picks for what not to miss during March’s First Friday tour.
Fort Bragg
Keeping it in the family is the creative theme at the Larry Spring Museum on Friday night. Mendocino Coast-based artist Isabel Rucker, whose work is currently on display at the museum, will be joined by her father Rudy Rucker for a conversation “about time, the 4th dimension, and infinity.” Rudy Rucker is a legend of science fiction, having won two Philip K. Dick Awards for his cyberpunk works “Software” and “Wetware” as part of “The Ware Tetralogy.” It is bound to be a fascinating conversation with Isabel Rucker’s window installation “Illustrations of Time” serving as the backdrop. 6-8 p.m., Larry Spring Museum, 225 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg, (707) 962-3131, larryspringmuseum.org.
Ukiah
The Ukiah Branch Library exhibits the Dadaist-inspired works by artists from ABC Day Programs, a day service for adults with developmental disabilities. The selected works comprise many collages and the reuse of household objects to create thought-provoking creations, historically created by artists on the margins of society and threatened by fascism. The show serves as a tribute to Stephen Caravello, a Dada artist who created the county’s first co-op art gallery and in his free time taught adults the arts in the ABC program. Caravello died in 2023. Paula Samonte and friends will perform jazz and there will be collage crafting for guests to try their hand at. The show runs through April 26. 5-7 p.m., Ukiah Branch Library, 105 N. Main St., Ukiah, (707) 463-4490, mendolibrary.org.
Young artists rule the day at MEDIUM Art Gallery’s annual Youth Show. The exhibit features art by over 50 artists aged 5 to 18. Last year’s show featured everything from skateboard art to quilting, and this year’s show is expected to be just as diverse. The art these students churn out is on par with many of their older, professional peers. You never know, you might be looking at works by the next Judy Chicago, Frida Kahlo or Banksy. Guests will be invited to participate in a community art project by Linda Tucker of Wild Child Art. Live music and light refreshments will also be offered. The show runs through March 29. 12-8 p.m., MEDIUM Art Gallery at Pear Tree Center, 518 E. Perkins St., Ukiah, (707) 234-8446, deepvalleyarts.org.
Bonus show
While the show opens on Saturday, it’s worth a visit to Elk to check out Geraldine LiaBraaten’s photography exhibit “Picture at an Exhibition.” Read our preview here.