by Abbie Beane

Lyndsay McCandless is tossing out recycled ideas of what it means to be an art gallery. Unlike gallery owners who exhibit mostly famous works with hig price tags, McCandless has a new mission, "to find creative and aesthetic ways to contribute to a sustainable community and environment." This month's First Friday event, slated for 5:30-7:30 pm at Lyndsay McCandless Contemporary, is being created as a testament  to that new pursuit.

The event will highlight the creativity of the local community in a "street fair style." McCandless has asked participating artists to consider spotlighting the most eco-minded dimensions of their work, and she has also requested that artists collaborate with one another as much as possible. McCandless notes that most work will be very reasonably priced and is environmentally sustainable not only in materials but in that most pieces are made locally and will feed the valley economy.

"There are so many creative people in the [area] doing a variety of work," McCandless said. "Everything is handmade, and this wil provide a space for the artists to support themselves creatively." McCandless reminds gallery go-ers to reduce trash by bringing their own cups or mugs.

Local artists will include Meagan Schwartz, bringing screen-printed hoodies by her own design; Alissa Davies, who creates small, unframed painting often made from recycles scraps, and pods that mimic designs of natures; and Kelly Chadwick with her natural lotions, creams and other "body cocktails."

McCandless applauds Vaness Sulzer, who plans to showcase her t-shirts printed with nature-inspired designs and is striving to use more eco-friendly materials. She will also be toting some of her handmade scarves and drawing on recycles cardboard. Ben Rae of Jackson describes his jewelry - made from colored strings, leather and pendants from found objects - as a simple combination of materials. "Each will be geared towards an attitude of 'less is more,'" he said, "which I think speaks toward how people's values are changing presently." McCandless noted that Rae's work normally falls in a high price range, but for this show he wants to make pieces affordable, creating a line that uses much recycled and up-cycled material. 

Melissa Herrington from Los Angeles will be featured with her presentation of "Dreams and Waking." Herrington describes her work as the examination of the theme of identity based on folklore, shared stories and dreams. "There is a sense of familiarity and distance that creates cohesive surface tension," Herrington noted. "These elements have dual characteristic, with imagery that posesses historical objectivity to a playful, feminist subjectivity." McCandless says the work is "contemporary and different" and that it has been well received in the past.

Still there will be artists tackling subjects of vast importance to the environment. Megan Fitz, originally from Maine, creates large-scale prints focused on coloby collapse disorder as it relates to honeybees. Essentially the disorder, with a great potential to impact food supply, has been affecting honey bees for the past three years without a clear explanation of why they are disappearing from their hives. Scientists surmise that bees are not able to find their way back due to ecological stresses. "I wanted to be worknig on a large scale," Fitz said. "I liked the idea of these tiny insects creating huge issues and wanted to blow it up. The medium lends itself to working very boldy. [The finished product] is dark-looking and I think the issue itself is dark and foreboding."

On the other end of the spectrum, John Frechette of Jackson will sell functional yet aesthetic handmade belt buckles and cuff links made of raw fusion glass. First Frechette takes sheets of glass in an array of colors, then he scores the glass with a diamond-bladed knife. Lastly he stacks and fires it overnight in a kiln to meld the sheets. He rarely grinds or sands the glass after the heating process. "Depending on how you layer it, you can gt cool colors and effects," said Frechette, who began his business as a creative outlet. The buckles are priced at $42 and the cuff links at $25. While many buckles capture the West, such as a design of the Teton Range, the cuff links are fit for even the Wall Street broker. "They add a pop of color, but are more preppy than Western," he said.

McCandless reminds participants to bring their checkbooks. "Things will be affordable, accessible and made by your friends," she said.