Celebrate the creativity of Norman arts this December with 2^nd Friday Circuit of Art: Winterfest, 6-10pm on Friday, December 11. Businesses and galleries in downtown Norman open their doors to patrons, offering refreshments to fight against the chill and to enjoy the Holiday season in this free, fantastic event.

December’s 2^nd Friday Circuit of Art has combined with the annual Norman Winterfest, providing an experience entirely unique to Norman.  Everything from blown glass to even an appearance from Santa himself marks the Winterfest art circuit.

• The Norman Public Library is holding its Annual Holiday Open House from 7-8:45 p.m.  The evening’s activities will consist of musical performances by the McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church Chancel Handbell Choir and the Norman Singers along with a holiday sing-a-long. Warm up with hot cider, coffee and cookies. Crafts will be available for children and Santa will pay a visit.

• As part of its monthly Art “à la CART” series, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on the University of Oklahoma Norman campus will offer hands-on art activities, live music and a short film by the deadCENTER Film Festival from 6 to 9 p.m. Local acoustic bands Orange and Atlas, Post Arcadia and The Workweek will perform in the Sandy Bell Gallery. Admission is free all evening, and visitors can see two new exhibitions, Sooners in the Land of Enchantment: Oklahoma Artists and New Mexico and The Creative Eye: Selections from the Carol Beesley Collection of Photographs.

• The Standing Buffalo Indian Art Gallery & Gifts, 106 E Main, will be exhibiting its annual Holiday Show, featuring new works from their exhibiting artists, fine vintage jewelry and made-in-Oklahoma products.

• Visit MAINSITE gallery for the opening reception of the 2009 Emergent Artist Exhibition from 6-10pm.

• Ring of Fire Studio, 318 E. Main, will feature its artists’ latest blown glass creations including lighting, sculpture and gift items for the holidays.

• On display at the historic Santa Fe Depot, home of The Performing Arts Studio, will be an exhibition of paintings by Norman natives and siblings Martin Holland, Bets Holland Lundeen and Catherine Holland “Kit” Peterson.  In addition, The Norman Singers, the performance chorus of the Norman Community Choral Society, will perform a variety of holiday favorites.  The Society, chartered in 1979, is a non-profit group made up of people from all walks of life who share the pleasures of choral music. The Depot is at 200 S. Jones Ave.

• Make sure to stop in at Mitchell’s Jewelry to enjoy an evening of great art, beautiful jewelry and fabulous food & drink. It is a perfect opportunity to get your Christmas Wish List complete or perhaps begin your Christmas shopping. Mitchell’s Jewelry will feature an open house with work by local artist and NAC Executive Director Rick Fry. Stop by to view Fry’s exquisite work and check out the new store.

• First Fidelity Bank, 131 E. Main, will host a reception in the downtown lobby for the public and the photographers who participated in the Norman Park Foundation’s annual Tree Photo Contest. Enjoy live music and refreshments while viewing the results and congratulating the winners.

• Tribes 131 Fine Art & Gift Gallery will be featuring the 2010 Native American Art Calendar, the 13 artists who participate in the signing each year & several artists/authors and their latest books. Also, Tribes is having their Miniature Holiday Show which is featuring over 20 of the Nations top Native American artists and a wonderful variety of works in all mediums including hand crafted jewelry by over 6 artists. Join us for an evening of miniatures, jewelry, books and calendars!

• Dreamers Concepts Studio and Foundation presents the Downtown Arts Market, inside of the Old Town Plaza building located at 102 West Eufaula Street from 4 to 9pm.  The Market features local artists & craftsmen, the Kidoodle’s Kids Art Zone, pictures with the Little River Zoo, live music, performance art, local businesses and non-profit organizations in the Norman community.  DCSF will also celebrate its third birthday from 6 to 10pm with the opening reception for Dreamer 23: “Tis the Threeson….this exhibit is brought to you by the #3.

• The Firehouse Art Center, located at 444 South Flood Avenue, will open its Holiday Gift Gallery during December’s art walk.  The Holiday Gift Gallery offers unique items available for purchase, from high-end fine art to more affordable pieces.  A variety of artstic mediums are represented, including painting, pottery, jewelry, blown glass and sculpture.  Also available are accessories and Christmas ornaments.

• Shevaun Williams & Associates, located at 221 East Main Street, will be showing iconic and abstract images from Washington D.C.  She will also be showing images from the Grand Palais in Paris.  John Jernigan will be showing photographs entitled ‘Homeward Bound”.  It is a collection of images from around the state.  Photographer Jerry Green will show a collection of photos demonstrating a range of photo manipulation techniques, including HDR (High Dynamic Range), wide angle panoramas, and panoramic projects called Relative Perspectives.

Of course, these are just a few of the events taking place during Winterfest.  Other free activities and openings are scheduled by members of the Norman Gallery Association and its supporting organizations throughout the night.

There’s so much to see - don’t miss out on this exciting night. For more information about Winterfest, visit www.normanarts.org or call 360.1162.