Start the New Year right with an intimate little Art Walk Jan. 1. Bring your family, friends and out-of-town guests to the Downtown Arts District to enjoy New Year’s Day with original art, live demonstrations and more at nine participating venues during First Friday Art Walk, 6-10 p.m. 

 Visit Abundant Life Covenant Church for Pastel Drawings by Ed Gibson and new contemporary paintings by Chris Wood.   ·    Fresh Gallery expands its offerings of 3-dimensional art with the addition of January Featured Artists Hue Parnell and Fonda Golding. Enjoy beautiful and functional pottery by Hue, colorful fused glass by Fonda, and amazing art by 21 area artists.  ·  Photography is the medium of choice in January. Experience the unique photographs of James Radke at Global Fayre where you can meet artist over coffee, cookies and chocolate. Good Girl Art Gallery showcases the environmental portraits of Photographer Andrea Land, and The Gillioz presents Photographer Jessica Letterman, who specialize in landscapes, flowers, wildlife and architecture. 

January Gallery Guide

Please note: Several of our venues are closed on national holidays as a matter of policy and several others have chosen to close for New Year’s Day to spend time with family; the full membership will return for the Feb. 5 First Friday Art Walk, but to simplify this month’s listing, I have omitted the locations that are not participating Jan. 1. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 417-849-8255. – Thanks! Clarissa) 

Abundant Life Covenant Church, 157 Park Central Square, features Pastel Drawings by Ed Gibson, new contemporary paintings by Chris Wood, seasonal photography from our magazine Present Truth, and historic murals by George W. Kieffer. (417) 864-4971 www.abundantlifecovenantchurch.com Office hours 9-4:30 p.m. M-F; Services 7:30 p.m. W, 10 a.m. Sun

Big Smile Photography, 207 Park Central East, features international award-winning wedding and portrait photographer Jeremy Lawson’s creative lifestyle wedding and portraiture work. Big Smile displays Jeremy’s one-of-a-kind portrait and wedding images from local events, as well as events from around the world. (417) 527-2885 www.bigsmilestudios.com Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F and by appointment.

Fresh, located at the southwest corner of Campbell and Walnut, presents Featured Artists Hue Parnell and  Fonda Golding in January. Two of the newest additions to Fresh, Hue and Fonda are both 3-D artists, Hue working in pottery and Fonda working in fused glass. Fresh is a collective gallery of fine art and craft featuring 21 juried regional artists. (417) 862-9300 Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Th; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. F-Sat.

Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East, presents Photographer Jessica Letterman. “I have been active in fine art photography for about six years,” Letterman says. During that time, her love for photography and the arts have grown. “I specialize in landscapes, flowers, wildlife and architecture. My style combines both traditional and modern techniques to create something unique.” (417) 863-7843 www.gillioz.org.           

Global Fayre, 324 S Campbell, continues its show by Photographer James Radke in January. James’s photographs have been exhibited in locales from Tokyo to Mannheim and San Francisco to Daytona Beach. The show at Global Fayre focuses on Springfield. When you’re looking at these photographs you are looking at Springfield and the Ozarks through his eyes; these images are simply his visual memories and personal discoveries. James hopes that you are as intrigued with Springfield as he is. Meet the artist and enjoy coffee, cookies and chocolate during the January Art Walk. (417) 873-9792 www.globalfayre.com Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. M-W, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Th-Sat, 1-5 p.m. Sun or by appointment.

Good Girl Art Gallery, 325 E. Walnut St., Ste. 101, presents Photographer Andrea Land, an instructor at MSU. Andrea’s environmental portraits seek to explore the inner psyche of complex individuals. Relating to the temporary situation of childhood, the large-scale photographs exist as both fictional and autobiographical creations. Visually exploring the girls’ stances and embellished environments, the audience enters into a private world of vulnerability, isolation and imagination. (417) 865-7055 www.goodgirlartgallery.com Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. T-F; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat.

Nonna’s Italian Café, 306 South Ave., presents a show to be announced. (417) 831-1222 www.nonnascafe.com.

Springfield Hot Glass Studio, 314 S. Campbell Ave., a favorite stop on the Art Walk, will demonstrate the skills of glassblowers Gabe and Terry Bloodworth as they craft the Missouri Arts Awards. A working hot glass studio/gallery with facilities for furnace, torch and kiln work, Springfield Hot Glass offers live demonstrations on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and First Fridays.(417) 868-8181 www.springfieldhotglass.com Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Sat.

Springfield Pottery, 416 S. Campbell Ave.,  a fine craft gallery and community clay center, features some of the best examples of fine craft in clay, wood, metal, glass, fibers, photography, printmaking, and jewelry by over 45 local, regional and national artists. (417) 864-4677 www.springfieldpottery.com info@springfieldpottery.com Open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. T-Sat