The Norman Arts Council welcomes new venues to 2nd Friday Circuit of Art on June 11, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Iron Starr Barbeque, In the Raw Sushi, and Cafe Plaid have joined together for a special 2nd Friday celebration on the corner of Boyd Street and University Boulevard.

“Iron Starr Barbeque has recently become a Member Benefit Partner with the Arts Council. To show their appreciation for the City of Norman and for the Arts in Norman, they are hosting a celebration along with In the Raw and Cafe Plaid,” said Rick Fry, Norman Arts Council Executive Director.

Mark Williams and Wess McMichael will be providing entertainment throughout the evening for those riding the Trolley, enjoying Campus Corner, or dining at one of the restaurants.

As a special June gift from the Norman Arts Council, coupons are available in the Oklahoma Gazette and Norman Transcript for a free ride on the 2nd Friday Trolley provided by CART. The CART ride normally costs 50 cents per ride or $2.00 for the entire evening. The 2nd Friday Trolley runs from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. providing a connection with Downtown Norman, Campus Corner, and the University of Oklahoma Arts District.

The coupons also provide each person with a 10% discount at the same restaurants that provide a discount to Norman Arts Council members. There are well-established Norman favorites such as Coach’s Brewery and Bison Witches Bar & Deli as well as new establishments such as McNellie’s Public House, Gray Owl Coffee, and Freebird’s World Burrito.

“We want everyone to be able to experience how great it is to be a member of the Norman Arts Council,” said Fry.

The full list of Norman Arts Council Member Benefit Partners can be found online at www.normanarts.org/membership/individual.

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• FRED JONES JR MUSEUM OF ART (555 Elm Ave, 405-325-3272) celebrates 2nd Friday Circuit of Art with Art “a la CART”! You can come enjoy art activities and listen to the acoustic Singer/Songwriter Showcase presented by NormanMusicScene.com

• MAINSITE ART GALLERY (122 E. Main, 405-292-8095) welcomes visitors to the exhibit opening for the art work of Tom Toperzer and the mixed-media art of Oklahoma born Paul Medina. The exhibit runs through July 10th, with a midway reception June 11th, and a closing reception July 9th.

• SAM NOBLE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (2401 Chautauqua Ave, 405-325-4712) continues to show the amazing and delectable Chocolate exhibit.

• FIREHOUSE ART CENTER (444 S Flood, 405-329-4523) invites everyone to view the 24 Works on Paper exhibit. Also, those who participated in May’s 2nd Friday Circuit of Art can pick up their clay art tonight!

• PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO (200 S Jones Ave, 405-307-9320) opens the Dixie Erickson exhibit “Instrumental Art” now through July 29th. “Instrumental Art,” a visual band of banjos created by Norman painter Dixie Erickson, will be on display June 11 – July 31 at The Performing Arts Studio, located in the historic Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave. For more information on PAS and its programs, visit www.thepas.org or call (405) 307-9320.

• PINK ELEPHANT CAFÉ (301 E Main St, 405-307-8449) hosts the Lindsey Martin’s Art Show! Not only is the restaurant open for yummy food, you can also buy some one of a kind art. Paintings, drawings, stained glass jewelry, and magnets. Come check it out. It’s so fun and stimulating to all five senses.

• FORM+FUNCTION LAB (123 E Main St, Suite 200, formfunctionlab@gmail.com) Found art sculptures by Nick Lillard and Chris McDaniel made from pieces of Norman. “Locals only” DJ mix by Chase Spivey. Plus our friend Alejandro Bagajewicz will be hosting an art booth downstairs in collaboration with Forward Foods, we’ll be showing a piece by local art professor Curtis Jones, artistic catering by Attila Balazs and general revelry will abound throughout the local art studio multi-plex. It’s free for all ages. Come see, come hear, come be.

• NORMAN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH (205 W Main St, opposite of Native Roots Market) “Fluid Ideational” Art Show: Charity art exhibition featuring Erin Schalk, Mick Tresemer, and Ellen Moershel. This event is sponsoring Books for Malawi. A portion of the art sales, as well as any donations will go toward shipping books to a library in Malawi. Please come and enjoy art and food.

• STANDING BUFFALO ART GALLERY (106 E Main St, 405-701-4060) The Standing Buffalo Indian Art Gallery & Gifts features Norman’s finest selection of American Indian fine art in every media: paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, baskets, rugs, sculpture and an excellent selection of made in Oklahoma gifts.

Some exciting late-night events will be taking place after the official 2nd Friday Circuit of Art finishes, but you will want to check out these and other wonderful art events around Norman.

• COACH’S BREWHOUSE (110 W. Main St, 405-321-2739) welcomes The Lily Guild with Hotel Love late night from 9:00pm - 1:00am.

• FORM+FUNCTION LAB (123 E Main St, Suite 200, formfunctionlab@gmail.com) are hosting a 2nd Friday Circuit of Art Afterparty w/ The Wash. $5 at the door - 21+ to enter. Intoxicating spirits will be provided for guests at no cost. The Wash is: Noah Boone from Drives Like a Dream on vocals and guitar, Clement Silvers from Bridge Road Caravan on bass, Chase Spivey from Ghost of Monkshood on drums, Jason White on percussion.

Here are other participating venues and 2nd Friday supporting organizations that you may want to visit on the 2nd Friday Circuit of Art.

• TRIBES 131 – 131 24th Ave, 405-329-4442
• SOONER THEATRE – 101 E Main St, 405-321-9600
• JACOBSON HOUSE – 609 Chautauqua Ave, 405-366-1667
• SONDER MUSIC – 225 E Gray St, 405-474-9734
• GALLERY 123 – 123 E Main St,
• GRAY OWL COFFEE – 223 E Gray St, 405-701-2929
• BILL & DEE’S – 311 E Main St, 405-321-9239
• OPOLIS – 113 North Crawford Ave, 405-447-3417
• BISON WITCHES – 211 E. Main St, 405-364-7555
• OTHELLO’S – 434 Buchanan Ave, 405-360-2353
• GUESTROOM RECORDS – 125 E Main St, 405-701-5974
• MCNELLIE’S PUBLIC HOUSE – 121 E Main St, 405-928-5801
• MICHELANGELO’S COFFEE & WINE BAR – 207 E Main St, 405-579-3387
• HALL OF TATTOOS – 328 E Main St, 405-364-7335
• FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO– 746 Asp Ave, 405-364-7736
• STUDIO ZEN – 737 Asp Ave, 405-329-2859

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All events are free, and take place from 6:00 p.m. until at least 9:00 p.m.

For more information on 2nd Friday Circuit of Art or other Norman Arts Council events, please visit www.NormanArts.org, or call the NAC office at 405-360-1162.

Other free activities and openings are scheduled by members of the Norman Gallery Association and its supporting organizations throughout the night.

If you would like your 2nd Friday event listed here, please email the event information as well as contact information to PR@NormanArts.org.

And there will be live tweeting of the event! So, please follow the event and organization on twitter @2ndfridaynorman.

Hope to see you all out enjoying the arts in Norman!