First Friday: February
Paul J Schupf Art Center, 93 Main St:
All day 50% off concessions at Maine Film Center
5–7pm Opening Reception for 45,000 Quilt Project Join us for the opening reception of the 45,000 Quilt Project in conjunction with downtown Waterville’s First Friday event. Enjoy Venezuelan refreshments and meet some of the artists behind the work in the Ticonic Gallery. The 45,000 Quilt Project is a beautiful display that brings together the work of over 60 immigrant justice activists and artists. It is designed to represent the immigrant detention experience in the United States and encourage efforts toward more humane solutions. For more on the exhibition, click here.
5-6pm Book Readings for kids Join Liz Davis, Waterville Public Library’s children’s librarian for readings of Areli is a Dreamer by Areli Morales.
5-7pm Tell a Story with a Quilt art activity in the Ticonic Studio.
5–7pm Caged Dreams Film Screening—Screening as part of 45,000 Quilt Project, Caged Dreams details the stories of Johannes Favi, Beatriz Batres, and Felipe Diosdado, who were previously detained in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The goal of the film is to paint a vivid picture of the emotional experience of immigration detention and the deep impacts on a person’s mental health and their loved ones. The 12-minute documentary short will screen on a loop. Free.
5–7pm Opening Reception for Playscape Join the Colby College Museum of Art for the opening reception of Playscape: Contemporary Art from the Colby Museum’s Collection. Inspired by the 2023–25 Colby College Center for the Arts and Humanities theme of play, and sourced from the Colby Museum’s collection, this exhibition invites you to consider the role of play in contemporary art. There will be hands-on games and snacks!
7:30pm Opening Night for Drinking Habits Head to the Waterville Opera House as we kick off the 2024 theatrical season with the laugh-out-loud comedy Drinking Habits. Two nuns at the Sisters of Perpetual Sewing have been secretly making wine to keep the convent’s doors open, but Paul and Sally, reporters and former fiancees, are hot on their trail. They go undercover as a nun and priest, but their presence, combined with the addition of a new nun, spurs paranoia throughout the convent that spies have been sent from Rome to shut them down.
Reserve your tickets here.
Greene Block + Studios (18 Main St)
6-8pm Jazz Concert with Johnny O’Neal Drop into Greene Block + Studios for a free jazz concert featuring Johnny O’ Neal and others. For more info, click here.
For information on area business events, click here.
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.
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.
Contact Serena Sanborn at [email protected] if you have any questions about First Fridays.