showcase and celebrate

downtown Wilmington's art and culture,

many

galleries and studios open their doors

from 6 to 9 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month

April through December.

students in an art class being taught by his wife, an artist in her own right, Cynthia O'Neal. Her business, just across the walkway at Found Gallery Boutique, offers dresses and clothing that she hand-designs as well as artwork and jewelry by local artisans. Shadowbox Studio Gallery features modern and abstract art as well as black and white art and photography. "I don't know what it is about this town - it's sort of an eclectic scene - it's definitely producing a lot of really good artists,? O'Neal says. "When you think about art scenes, a lot of times it's New York and L.A. and huge galleries and they're producing great artists, but I have to tell you our little city is definitely producing some as well.? To encourage interaction between himself and art lovers, O'Neal keeps the studio open later on Friday nights year-round. Both the Shadowbox Studio Gallery and Found Gallery Boutique host wine and art receptions from 6 to 9 p.m. on those nights. O'Neal says he looks forward to the feedback he receives from people as they watch him work. He maintains a casual setting, where people feel comfortable wandering in and enjoying the view of the river through the windows of the vintage garage door that makes up one large wall of his studio. "I have a couch and stuff set up and a really big work station and tons of chairs so people can sit around and shoot the breeze and have some wine,? O'Neal says. "It's just a good place to start off the night.? To

showcase and celebrate

downtown Wilmington's art and culture,

many

galleries and studios open their doors

from 6 to 9 p.m. on the fourth Friday of each month

April through December.

The self-guided art walk ambles along the waterfront through a variety of studios and galleries. Maps for Fourth Friday Gallery Nights can be picked up throughout the downtown and at the Visitors and Convention Center. "A number of galleries downtown have openings with receptions and sometimes other things like artist talks,? 7

Check out the following galleries participating in Fourth Friday Gallery Nights, scheduled through December 2008:

Acme Art Studios, 711 North 5th Avenue (910) 763-8010 Bottega Gallery & Art Bar at 208 North Front Street (910) 763-3737 Façade Design Studio at 107A Market Street (910) 232-4568 Golden Gallery at 311 North Front Street (910) 762-4651 Montage Gallery at WHQR at 254 North Front Street (910) 343-1640 New Elements Gallery at 216 North Front Street (910) 343-8997 Peacocks Fine Art Atelier at 215 South Water Street #102 (910) 254-4536 Port City Pottery & Fine Crafts at 307 North Front Street (910) 763-7111 Three Hounds Gallery at 29 South Front Street (910) 815-3330 Dols says. "It consolidates everything to make it easy for the participants to view the most amount of art and to enjoy enriching opportunities like artist talks. They can make a night of it.? Guests stopping at the Golden Gallery during Fourth Friday's are often treated to a cup of "Methodist punch? as well as folk and original music performed by

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