If Claude Pereira has his way, Fells Point will be the next hot spot for up and coming local artists. Mr. Pereira, who is a painter and president of the Art Resource Center of Fells Point, is determined to give artists an opportunity to show their work.
His answer to struggling artists everywhere is "First Tuesdays," Fells Point's answer to First Thursdays, Charles Street's popular art happening. First Tuesdays in Fells Point features art openings in such unlikely places as bars, restaurants, theaters and bookstores, which won't charge the artists to display and sell their work.
"We have no fee," Mr. Pereira says. "Everything the artists make from the sale of their art is theirs. . . . We are a non-profit organization. We want to promote Fells Point as a venue for artists who don't have a lot of money to put out for galleries."
The Art Resource Center, which counts among its members artists and art lovers, started organizing First Tuesday events in February. Several businesses in Fells Point had been displaying local artists' works for years, but had the openings on different dates.
When the decision was made to organize the openings for the same date, Tuesday was chosen because it is "a dead night in Fells Point," Mr. Pereira says. "It's a dead night anywhere."
While First Thursday on Charles Street has grown to be a popular monthly event -- last Thursday's activities included fireworks and a visit from Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke ---- First Tuesday is still in the struggling stage. Most months have four or five or, at most, eight places participating.
Today, five Fells Point businesses will be participating in First Tuesday. Alicia Horn, owner of the bar and restaurant Birds of a Feather, which will be showing work by painter Harry Roland, hopes that the idea of First Tuesday will catch on with other local Fells Point spots. "We want a lot of places involved. This has really helped a lot of artists."
ART OPENINGS
On the first Tuesday of every month, galleries and businesses in the Fells Point area hold art openings from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Participating locations are designated with a pink balloon.
Openings for Dec. 6:
* Adrian's Book Store Cafe, 714 S. Broadway. Photography by Michael D. Scudder.
* Birds of a Feather, 1712 Aliceanna St. Oil on canvas by Harry Roland.
* Friends, 1705 Aliceanna St. Photography by Linda Johnson.
* Mike's, 610 S. Broadway. Customer appreciation art show. A variety of works contributed by frequent customers of Mike's.
* The Whistling Oyster, 807 S. Broadway. Mixed media by Charlie Newton.