First Fridays, the venture to get people going out to art shows in mass, has been around for a few years, and now has really taken a foothold. It is something that I look forward to every month, knowing I'll get a full pallette of audio and visual stimulation, as well as seeing some of Indy's coolest people, usually dressed nicely, too.

This month, dinner plans had me only making it to the Murphy building, where there are multiple galleries around the maze of hallways.

We started in Alias, a new gallery dedicated to street art, because we had an art purchase from last month to pick out. Along the walls were stenciled portaits in spraypaint of various iconic and horror faces. While they were done well, and somewhat stylisically, they were underwhelming.

Next door in the art studio Alchemy, more horror-movie scene paintings decorated the walls. Bloody slashes decorated fightened women, feet hung dripping blood, and horrified looks abounded. These were a little less impressive than the last gallery. You looked at it and you got it immidiately, and they required no further thought.

Next it was up to Big Car Gallery, where Mandy Marie and the Cool Hand Lukes were finishing an energetic and fun set. Bands that know how to entertain can be rare, but this crew has it in spades.

Along Big Car's walls were photos from the Naptown Roller Girls new calendar. All the photos seemed very by-the-book, no real chance taken with the compositions or locations, and uneffective lighting. A couple stood out to me, to be taking more a chance and containing more of a "story", but none that I wanted to look at for a month at a time. But the Naptown Roller Girls is a cool group and a good thing for the city, so I don't mind showing some support. I know someone who will enjoy this.

The last gallery was Mike Graves', tucked away in the halls. It featured work by Ryan Paelez. In my opinion, this was the best show in the building. Focused and imaginative, his work is definately of the hip-hop generation, taking elements from all over to tell his particular story.

All in all, it was not the best night of art I've ever seen. People seemed more content to talk then look at the walls. But maybe if the work had been more stimulating and challenging, their attention would have been held better. Something about having a holliday themed show after the holliday has taken place just misses the mark. Oh well, see you next month.