First Friday Open Studios at the Murray Center, Oct. 2013

First Friday Open Studio Tours at the Murray Center season will open from 5-9pm on the first Friday of April through November, 2014. Come see our eclectic bunch of artists who share a passion for creating! Peer inside the inner world of the artist and chat about the process. You can even purchase original art for you home or for a gift.

Tracey Frugoli & 

Ken Tiessen

Tracey Frugoli, oil painter and photographer, and Ken Tiessen, pastel and oil painter, invite First Friday visitors to their joint studios. Tracey and Ken have been at their current location for about seven years.

Steph Van Doren

Steph Van Doren tells a visitor about her current 2-D work in progress.

Steph Van Doren explains how she makes her 3-D sculptures.

 

John Selberg

John Selberg allows visitors to see his large drawings by hanging them outside his studio. It is an impressive sight.

Jim Jenkins

Jim Jenkins at work on a large mixed media piece.

Jim's spacious studio also has a foundary and a great view of down town Peoria.

Judith Koren-Shanahan

Judith Koren Shanahan's welcomes guests to her studio where she has her mixed media work on offer. Sadly, Judith has moved her studio to another location in the area.

 

Guest Artist Maryruth Ginn

Maryruth Ginn's beautiful wraps were on offer in Judith's Studio as a guest artist.

Chris Holbrook

Chris Holbrook's painting with detail images here shows his irrepressable creative mind!

  

Fourth Floor Atmosphere

Our old school manual elevator is, well, a personality in itself. Some love it, some hate but it does the job:) Ok no one really loves it, who are we kidding?

Ken Hoffman

Ken Hoffman with his large in progress painting of a tiger. His studio is massive!

Three early stage paintings on cat people.











Come join us as we open our doors for the First Friday Studio Tour from April-Nov, 2014, 5-9pm.

Portrait Picture Taking Marathon with Tracey Frugoli Tomorrow

Tracey Frugoli Fine Art



Did you know that, in addition to painting, Murray Center Artist Tracey Frugoli also does portrait photography? She brings her painter's eye to every shot. It's all part of the artistic process for her, but don't worry, she won't quit painting. Since her studio mate, Ken Teissen and guest artist, Bethany Dornberger, cannot make it this week, she came up with this crazy idea for this Friday's

"First Friday"

A portrait taking marathon.

Here is the deal:

Come to her studio at this First Friday Aug. 3 5-9pm and she will take your picture.
100 Walnut St., Suite 312, Peoria, IL


No session fee! It will most likely be a head shot, but we will see how it goes. She is pretty flexible. Drag your spouse, friends or children in and she will take their portrait too. No appointment, just show up and cue up. It'll be a fun improvisation.

Here is what you get:

A FREE 5x7 - all with the option to buy more if you like.

And that's just for coming into her studio and checking her out!


 

Check out her photography at www.painterseyephotography.com

and like her photography facebook page for current updates

  
You can still see her fine art oil paintings at www.traceyfrugoli.com

View her blog at traceyfrugoli.blogspot.com

Well May's First Friday is almost upon us! Here are the artists that will be showing this Friday May 4th, 5-9pm:

Central Illinois Artists Organization (CIAO) Artists:

 

Jerry McNeil at the wheel

Jerry McNeil (Pottery)

Susan Galloway (Portraits/Paintings) 

Mary Greenhood will perform on the 4th floor near Judith's Studio

Judith Koren-Shanahan (Collage and Mixed Media) will have live music outside of her studio on the 4th floor: Mary Greenhood and friends are playing from 7 to 9 PM.

Ken Teissen (Portraits and Landscape in Pastel and Oil)

Steph Van Doren (Painting and Mixed Media Sculptures) will be open a bit late due to a work conflict. 

And The Independents:

Wheel Art Studios (Jacob Grant and Susie Matthews, pottery) will be raffling a 4-week class session. There will also be pottery demos going and guests can give the wheel a spin at $5/20 minutes.

Ken Hoffman (Painting and Pottery) is back from Florida!

Of course, because we artists and like to go with the flow, you may find other artists in the building with their doors open as well so come on down and take a chance! Artist's studios are located on the 3rd and 4th floors.

CIAO Holiday Art Sale - 4 Days of Art!

August First Friday also a Success!

WOW...
We had another wonderful turnout for the August First Friday Studio Tour of the Central Illinois Artists Organization (CIAO) at the Murray Center. There are now nine CIAO artists with studios at the Murray Center and four guest CIAO artists who show their work in a host studio at the Center. We are proud to be one of the eight locations on the CIAO Studio Tour.

AND.....
We now have banner signage to help direct you to our portion of the Studio Tour designed by Murray Center artist Susan Galloway. Thank you so much Susan for lending your expertise.You will also notice CIAO sandwich boards at the front door and at the corners of Washington and Walnut as well as Water and Walnut.

Mark your calendar! The next First Friday Studio Tour is Sept. 2nd, 5-9pm. You will always find something new each month, whether it be events such as demo's and raffles or a new piece of art you NEED to take home, you'll find it along the Tour of CIAO studios!

July's First Friday a Success!

 Photos of patrons in Ken Tiessen and Tracey Frugoli's Studios Suite 312

July's First Friday Open Studio Tour a Success -  Many of the Murray Center artists are founding board members of the Central Illinois Artists Organization (CIAO) with the purpose of  starting a first Friday open studio event. With some 35 artists and 7 locations, the organization is growing and so is the excitement. We have gotten a lot of press, elected officers, had new signage printed, and all with the result of a great turn out last week! We so appreciate the support of the community and the feedback you have given us to make this event as successful as possible. It will just keep getting better--the first Friday of every month from April to Nov. 5-9pm. www.ciaopeoria.com

"Arts & Society" features First Friday Event

Read about the evolution and future of the Central Illinois Artists Organization (CIAO) in the magazine article by Kelly Mantick at http://www.peoriamagazines.com/as/2011/jul-aug/ciao-says-hello-studio-tours. Murray Center artists Tracey Frugoli, Ken Tiessen, Jacob Grant, Judith Koren Shanahan, Steph Van Doren, Susan Galloway, Susie Mathews, Jerry McNeil and guest artists Bethany Dornberger and Mary Ruth Ginn are all members of CIAO. The next First Friday event is July 1, 2011 from 5-9pm. There are now 35 members and 7 locations for you to visit. For more information go to CIAO's website at www.ciaopeoria.com