PUTNAM — First Fridays will return to the streets of downtown Putnam June 3, celebrating the arts and culture of the Windy City - Chicago. From 6 to 9 p.m., the outdoor art festival will see more than 40 art vendors, live music, family friendly activities, and interactive art projects. Like all First Fridays, the event is free to the public and visitors are invited to discover the festival and the offerings of Putnam’s downtown, including al fresco dining, galleries, boutique shopping, and more. 

It will explore the city of Chicago, one of the six urban areas celebrated with the season-long theme, Art and the American City. Throughout the festival grounds, patrons will see and hear reminders of the Windy City. On Main Street, the headlining band for the June event will fill downtown with the music that is synonymous with Chicago – the blues. Founded by legendary New England guitar man Johnny Press and joined by local veteran rockers Ed and Ned Peabody, The Johnny Press Mess is a blues band to be reckoned with. There will be more live music over in Union Square, where Brandt Taylor will be playing a blend of blues, rock, soul and R&B with both cover songs and original work.

New for the 2016 season is the First Fridays Stealthy Art Crew. This group of artists is responsible for the Fairy Doors that popped up around Putnam earlier this spring. For the June First Fridays, the Crew has started a Kinetic Bike Project, which combines art and engineering. The Bike Project will continue to grow throughout the season with new components added each month. Continuing with the bicycle theme, the Stealthy Crew will also transform six ordinary bikes to reflect each city celebrated by the 2016 season. The bikes will be set up throughout the downtown area and festival goers are encouraged to find them all.

The fun continues at the Community Art Table with an art project for all ages. Combining education, art, and whimsy, June’s project is focused on Community Stories. This collective creative writing project will prompt the community to create stories on how “The Windy City” got its name. All ages are encouraged to join in and add to the story.

Visitors are also encouraged to be on the lookout for Art Attacks during the June event; sponsored by The Putnam Arts Council, Art Attacks are art installations and performances that pop-up, unexpectedly, during each First Fridays event. This month, the Art Attacks will celebrate Chicago film.

Above all else, First Fridays remains an art-based festival, and the June 3rd event will see a record number of art vendors lining Main Street and Union Square in downtown Putnam. Patrons are invited to peruse the wide variety of artisan wares while enjoying the early summer weather. Coupled with outdoor art vendors, the many galleries of Putnam will also feature openings and exhibitions. Stop by Arts & Framing, Artique, The Flying Carpet Studio, The Complex Performing & Creative Arts Centre, and Silver Circle Gallery to see their monthly exhibits. 

What better way to begin the month of June? Put on your favorite Chicago sports team wear, or dress as your favorite Chicago gangster and head to Putnam and discover this award-winning annual festival. To learn more about the June First Fridays, as well as the 2016 season of events, visit www.discoverputnam.com.  

 

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