August First Friday in Downtown Waterville

Paul J Schupf Art Center:

5-7pm Opening Reception for Potluck– food, drinks, and celebration! Ticonic Gallery is pleased to present Potluck, an evolving exhibition centered on the work of Jenny Ibsen, a relief printmaker, ceramicist, storyteller, and restaurant worker based in Portland. The metaphor of the potluck touches upon issues of care, sustenance and sustainability, and labor, all of which can be explored through shared meals and conversations. Remarks for Potluck will be at 5:30pm in Ticonic Gallery.

6-7pm Music by Elm City Strugglers in the HUB lobby at the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.

5-7pm Play board games and puzzles in the HUB lobby with Colby College Museum of Art; enjoy outdoor games in Castonguay Square (weather-permitting) and self-guided art activities available at our creative carts.

5-7pm The Try, Make, Create art project is in honor of Potluck, with veggie printed tea towels in Ticonic Gallery + Studios.

7-10pm Waterville Opera House hosts Waterville Rocks, a FREE, family-friendly concert series that is held at beautiful Head of Falls in Downtown Waterville. August 4 will feature New England native Griffin William Sherry.

CLICK HERE for more information about the Waterville Rocks concert series. Beer Garden opens at 6pm. Music begins at 7pm.

Opening Night of the film Theater Camp at the Maine Film Center! (half off concessions!)

Tony award winner Ben Platt and real-life best friend and co-director Molly Gordon team up in “this hilarious indie film [with a] delightful and eclectic cast”–Josh Flanders, Chicago Reader. Platt and Gordon star as Amos and Rebecca-Diane, lifelong best friends and drama instructors at a rundown summer theater camp for kids in upstate New York.

This film is eligible for the Youth Arts Access Fund. Call the Box Office at 207.873.7000 to obtain YAAF tickets.

Please note that the Joan Dignam Schmaltz Gallery of Art will be closed for the installation of a new exhibition, Bill Morrison: Cycles and Loops, opening August 17, 2023.

At Greene Block + Studios, 18 Main Street, Waterville.

5-7pm Self-Portrait as Homestead, Jeri Theriault Book Launch 

A Franco-American poet, Jeri Theriault grew up in Waterville, Maine and graduated from Colby College, later earning her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her poems and reviews appear in The Rumpus, The Texas Review, The Atlanta Review, Asheville Poetry Review, Plume, and many other publications. Jeri will be reading from her new book and discussing the themes of family and heritage. Following the reading, Jeri will engage in a conversation and interview with award-winning writer and editor, Bob Keyes. Music for this event will be provided by Melsen Carlsburg.

What are First Fridays?

First Fridays celebrate the vibrant creativity in Waterville through a wide array of arts experiences. On the first Friday of every month, visit Main Street in downtown Waterville to meet artists, see performances, listen to live music, eat delicious food, shop at local businesses, enjoy the arts, and come together as a community.

For a list of the all the events and specials at businesses, click below:

https://www.watervillecreates.org/first-friday

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Interested in First Fridays?

Whether you are an artist, musician, or local business owner in downtown Waterville, we hope you will participate in First Fridays. This is a great opportunity to showcase your art or promote your local business as the community comes together each month. If you are interested in participating, promoting your event, or offering a discount on Frist Fridays, we would love to talk with you.