By Terry Telford

Could it be a record? The Feb. 5 First Friday art walk features six exhibit openings in and near downtown Bakersfield.

Besides the openings, Art on the Sidewalk, special shop hours and discounts are all part of First Friday, with most of the activity taking place on 19^th and 20^th streets between F Street and Chester Avenue.

A First Friday staple is Art on the Sidewalk featuring BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists), whose members set up a mini art-bazaar at the corner of 19^th and Eye streets. Work is available for purchase in media ranging from photography to fine handcrafts.

Metro Galleries

Nearby, Don Martin’s Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St., will showcase “CaliforniaContemporary,” a show which Martin explains, “comes from my personal love of contemporary California landscape paintings … both urban and rural.”

Mary-Austin Klein will be the featured artist at Metro, with additional artwork from Lily Stockman, Tina Bluefield, John Brosio, Keith Wicks and Art Sherwyn. Klein is the president of the board for the California Wilderness Coalition and says her paintings “are in a way advertisements for our state’s extensive and diverse natural beauty.”

All of the artists are from California, but only Sherwyn, a teacher at Stockdale High School, resides locally. Most of the others, some new to Metro and some familiar, will be traveling to Bakersfield for the opening and hope to be among the first to enjoy a stay at the renovated Padre Hotel.

The “CaliforniaContemporary” opening will include live music from sultry singer Kama Ruby as well as hors d’ouerves and a no-host wine bar from Enso Japanese Bar. The show is sponsored by Bakersfield Heart Hospital and Barbara Reid.

Surface Gallery

Speaking of the Padre, who in Bakersfield isn’t kid-in-a-candy-store excited about the re-opening of the grand dame of downtown? To coincide with the public’s reconnection with this newly renovated landmark, Surface Gallery, 1703 20th St., will be offering an exhibit of historic photos of the Padre by Felix Adamo, a photographer for The Bakersfield Californian.

Although Adamo professes a partiality for photographing breaking news, his pictures of the Bakersfield icon from 1977 to 2009 have preserved the structure and its many statements through the lens of an artist. The history, he says, is what makes the hotel such an interesting subject.

“The protest signs, the neon, the missile, all which represented the fights with City Hall. All which are gone now but I was able to document some (of) it while it was still there,” he said.

Adamo acknowledges having been a daily frequenter of the “old” Padre.

“Myself and a Californian artist, Mike Manion, had lunch in the Downtowner Coffee Shop every day. We sat at the same table … and usually had clam chowder and fries.”

He says he’s looking forward to trying the Padre’s new Farmacy Café and Brimstone Bar.

For the exhibit, Adamo will also display three of the original protest signs that Milton “Spartacus” Miller, infamous former owner of the Padre, hung on the outside of the building during his fight with City Hall. The signs read: HOTEL, FRAUDULENTLY, and CONDEMNED and measure 7 to 15 feet in length.

“The Padre Hotel: Photographs by Felix Adamo” will run through Feb. 27.

Dagny’s Coffee Company

Over at Dagny’s Coffee Company on the corner of 20^th and Eye streets, comfy couches and chairs provide a respite from gallery and shop hopping and will also be offering a display of oil paintings by local painter Cindy Stiles.

Although Stiles prefers painting en plein air (outdoors), she says she created the series of mainly still lifes due to the fact that, “it was winter time so I’ve been painting indoors.”

Stiles is workshop chair for the Bakersfield Art Association and a first place winner at the Kern County Fair. She will be at Dagny’s from 6 to 8 p.m.

bossanovastudios

After you’ve perused the galleries, wandered into the antiques and gift stores, shopped the clothing boutiques and enjoyed the live music and free food, you’ll want to head just down the street to visit the recently opened bossanovastudios at 814 18th St.. There, artist and studio owner Johnny Ramos will be opening an exhibit of his new work, including new abstracts.

The gallery’s modern architecture, decorated with Ramos’ vibrant florals and abstracts, is a short distance from the main First Friday festivities but worth the walk or drive. And his events are sure to be a good party.

Juliana’s Art Studio & Gallery

Two blocks down from bossanovastudios is Juliana Bernier Dooley’s gallery, where a new show opens Friday night as well. The show features works by Bill Ryan and his former students Mike Barker, who creates abstracts with enamal epoxy resin, and Patti Doolittle, known for her portraits. On exhibit as well will be Matisse-influenced works by Ryan’s son, Daniel Ryan. The gallery is at 501 18^th St. and will be open from 6 to 9 p.m.

The Empty Space

Even more art will be opening Friday at The Empty Space — a quick drive south from downtown to 706 Oak St. James Kopp’s “Super Villain,” described as a semi-autobiographical comic-book comedy, won numerous awards after its brief run last year, and will return to the stage for a one-weekend engagement.

Along with the play, and to tie in with upcoming productions, an art show, “Amour,” will be on display from 7:30 p.m. until “Super Villain” opens at 8 p.m. (A formal artist’s reception will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13.)

The love theme of “Amour” was interpreted by eight local artists including Reema Hammad, Susan Reep and Christina Sweet, as well as by curator Jennifer Williams.

The Empty Space keeps its prices low by accepting donations for all events. Suggested donation for adult admission to plays is $15. Artwork sales also benefit the Empty Space.

Be Aware – FLICS’ move is temporary

Due to a scheduling conflict, the usual Friday night FLICS showing has been moved to the next day, Saturday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. This is a one-time thing; it will return to its every-other-Friday slot at the Fox Theater, 2001 H St., after this weekend.

Saturday’s showing is “Treeless Mountain,” a Korean film about two children abandoned by their parents and taken to live on their grandparents’ farm. Admission is $5. Doors open at 7 p.m. Visit www.flics.org for more information.