"Ed's Atala - Detail" by Taliah Lempert

"Making Tracks" by Claire Putney

"Green Lightning" by Michele Maule

By Terry Telford

Last month, the Downtown Arts District welcomed two new galleries to the First Friday party. Sadly next month, established art hub Surface Gallery will leave the celebration.

Co-owners Yvonne Cavanagh and Vikki Cruz released this statement:

“At the end of May our lease ends at Surface Gallery and for now we have decided that our time here at 1703 20th St. will as well. We have enjoyed owning the gallery for the last two years and look forward to helping promote the arts in Bakersfield through other avenues in our careers. This is not to say that Surface Gallery will no longer exist, but in what capacity we are not sure at this time.

“We would like to thank the community and our many patrons over the last two years for your support. Thank you to our many friends, family members, volunteers and artists that have been an integral part of what made Surface Gallery a destination for many on First Friday. We would also like to say a special thank you to our parents Ron and Mary Cruz, Larry and Ann Etue and to Chris Cavanagh for the many ways you helped over the last two years. We feel very fortunate to have been a part of the Downtown Arts District if even for a short time. We will keep you posted on our future endeavors and look forward to seeing you at our final opening reception for “Spokes: Art Inspired by Bicycles” opening May 7th at 5 pm.”

Although news of Surface Gallery’s closing has surprised and saddened its many fans, artists Cavanagh and Cruz have expressed their intent to remain active in the art community and can be expected to continue to support and promote the arts in various capacities. Cavanagh is a ceramics teacher at Bakersfield High School and Cruz is an art instructor for the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

Friday’s show is another example of the quality that the gallery has become known to provide. As May is “Bike Month,” and Bakersfield will be hosting the Amgen Tour of California later in the month, appropriately, all the paintings, drawings and sculpture for the exhibit are bike-themed.

The exhibit is an inspiration for artists and health enthusiasts. Even Cruz, who has had three bikes stolen in the past, relates that she has been thinking about replacing her chain-store-brand bike with something a little more high-end.

Although the show was planned well in advance, coincidentally, all four artists from Surface Gallery’s first show that opened Sept. 5, 2008 (Cavanagh, Cruz, Brent Eviston and Liz Sherwyn) are also featured in the final exhibit. Other artists include Taliah Lempert, Michele Maule and Claire Putney. Lempert, new to the gallery, is an artist from New York who creates primarily bike paintings.

Also open during First Friday:

The grand opening of the Bakersfield Art Association’s two-story Art Center takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at 1817 Eye St.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Harvey Hall occurs at 5 p.m. and Eleanor Clark, featured artist of the month, will be introduced at 5:30 p.m.

An extensive traveler and artist well-versed in pencil, watercolor, acrylic and pastel, Clark’s paintings are skilled depictions of varied subject matter including foreign architecture, portraits, and abstracts.

There will also be an acoustic performance by The Pattersons, art demonstrations by multiple artists, and wine and “nibbles,” according to Ann Sullivan, Art Center manager.

At Juliana’s Art Studio and Gallery, the opening reception for “Two Knights” featuring the work of Art Knight and Sheryl Knight will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 501 18th St. Enjoy Art’s rich, colorful southwestern-influenced paintings and Sheryl’s glowing agricultural landscapes. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

New paintings from Johnny Ramos will be on display at bossanovastudios, 814 18th St. “Modern Swank” features artwork inspired by the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Festivities begin at 7 p.m.

“The Splendid Life” art exhibit continues at The Bellmoore, 2001 Chester Ave. (downstairs; enter on 20th Street). Outsider and established art goes underground with works by Aaron Wherry, Stephen E. Mears, C. Boyd Mitchell and more.

And at Metro Galleries, 1604 19^th St., student art from throughout Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s 22^nd District will be on display as part of the congressman’s high school art competition. Visitors will also see the ongoing show “Frond Frauds” by David Gordon and “1st Impressions” by Christine Iriarte Niswonger. There will be jazz music by singer Kama Ruby and refreshments by Mama Roomba’s.

Don’t neglect to stroll the sidewalks throughout the Arts District. Artists from BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists), photographers from The Shutter Clique and other arts and crafts vendors will be on hand with new, unique artwork for purchase.