'Virtual First Friday' Continues To Bring Arts To Your Home

SAN DIEGO, CA — While arts and cultural institutions have been closed during the coronavirus pandemic, San Diego's Arts District Liberty Station has brought arts and entertainment to the homes of San Diegans and other art enthusiasts across the country through "Virtual First Friday."

Arts District Liberty Station, which is San Diego's largest arts and cultural district located in historic buildings at the former Naval Training Center in the Liberty Station neighborhood, launched Virtual First Friday in April. The online-only event is back for a third time Friday, June 5.

"The June Virtual First Friday will be our third installment and they seem to just get better every month," said NTC Foundation President and CEO Lisa Johnson. "We are excited to see the positive reception and momentum Virtual First Friday has picked up since the first one in April."

First Friday is in its 12th year at Arts District Liberty Station. Virtual First Friday is a virtual version of the Arts District Liberty Station's monthly showcase of its arts and culture groups.

"First Friday has grown from being an onsite local San Diego event to now a virtual event providing us the ability to reach audiences across the nation," Johnson said. "We are thrilled with the creative ways our artists, artistic groups, and cultural organizations have been able to bring the arts to our audiences, and I thank them for continuing to inspire far and wide."

Virtual First Friday Schedule for June 5:

Live Events

• Jeremy's Vision presents "Hope in Time of Coronavirus" live on Facebook featuring a series of nine digital art pieces based on dreams he has had about this time we are all living through. Live at 3 p.m.
• Veltz Fine Art invites guests to join artist Colleen Veltz and watch her transfer prints, including examples of a variety of mixed media transfer processes. Live at 4 p.m.
• New Americans Museum hosts "Voices of Hope: Holocaust Survivors Share Their Stories." Hear from Holocaust survivor, trauma expert and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Edith Eger. A link to the Zoom lecture will be sent upon registration. Live from 4-6 p.m.
• Milk Oolong Studio presents a "Pottery Wheel Demo Live on Facebook." Ask questions and learn about creating in a clay studio. Live from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• San Diego Dance Theater presents a live performance plus excerpts from the company Live Arts Fest evening, "Candle in the Wind." Live at 5:30 p.m.
• Artist Leslie Pierce/And Something Different Studio Gallery hosts "Painting in a Pandemic with Artist Leslie Pierce Live." Grab whatever art supplies you have on hand and paint along or do your own project. Live from 6-8 p.m.
• Installations at the Station artist Michelle Montjoy hosts an artist talk live on Zoom to explain the ideas behind and the process of making "A Dime to Call Home," an outdoor art installation located at Arts District Liberty Station. She will be joined by William Feeney who assisted with fabrication. Live at 4 p.m. followed by a Q&A.

Live Events for Kids and Families

• San Diego Craft Collective hosts "Online Kids Storytime" followed by woodworking craft demos and more. Live at 5 p.m. for kids and 5:30 p.m. for all ages.
• Songbirds Music hosts "Pop-Up Bilingual Singalong." Come sing in English and Spanish with Songbirds Music. Sing some old favorites and learn some new songs too. Live at 5:30 p.m.
• Reading Legacies will be doing a live reading of two children's books decided by the audience via Instagram polls throughout the week. There will also be a live Q&A session followed by interactive games. Live on Instagram from 7-7:45 p.m.

Art

• Lauren LeVieux Artist Studio welcomes guests to explore "Element," her latest exhibit considering confinement and connection at 5 p.m.
• Karen Jones Fine Art welcomes guests to see works online.
• Remi Dalton Visual Artist hosts the "Remi Dalton Dreamhouse" gallery online exhibition.
• June Rubin studio/gallery hosts the "June in June" art exhibit featuring an eclectic mix of whimsical and colorful mixed media and watercolors ranging from Frida Kahlo portraits to Balboa Park Cats.
• Women's Museum of California hosts "Women's Museum at Home," a celebration of accomplishments of women in history and today by exploring the Women's Museum of California's collection of videos, activities and digital exhibits.
• San Diego Watercolor Society presents "Just Add Water," an online art exhibition by award-winning artist Linda Doll. The exhibit can be viewed online through June 27.

Food and Drink

• Banyan Kitchen Café: Take-out available.
• Dirty Birds: Take-out available.
• Liberty Public Market: Take-out available from a variety of vendors daily from noon-6 p.m.
• Moniker Coffee/Moniker General: Coffee to-go.
• Officine Buona Forchetta: Take-out available.
• Point Loma Tea: Online sales.
• Slaters 50/50: Take-out available.
• Solare Ristorante: Open for take-out and delivery from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens: Special pricing on to-go orders and $2 tokens for every $10 to-go and delivery order placed.
• The Loma Club: Take-out and delivery available.
• Wicked Maine Lobster: Live lobsters, frozen tails and lobster roll kits and clam chowder delivery available.

For more information on First Friday, visit libertystation.com.