Students, locals discuss First Friday Art Trail

After almost 15 years of the program, the First Friday Art Trail has grown in popularity around Texas and has become part of the Lubbock culture.

The event is hosted the first Friday of every month for all visitors to enjoy the arts for free among almost 20 venues in Lubbock.

The art trail was not initially meant to become a program, but it has grown so much over the years, Jakob Reynolds, the FFAT coordinator, said.

“The idea behind it is to really develop an arts district that spans all of downtown and really encourages that community that everybody can come and enjoy,” Reynolds said.

With people visiting from all over the south plains region, Reynolds said the Art trail has come a long way in helping establish arts for the city and put Lubbock on the map in Texas for art.

Reynolds said he likes how it is more than visual art; it is music, food, dance, photography and so much more that make the whole experience. Also, everybody in Lubbock can enjoy the trail – families, students and even dogs. Reynolds said it is a way for people to come together and feel connected and involved in the community and trail.

Robin Germany, the director of the School of Art, said she comes to almost every First Friday Art Trail because she is able to see the work of her students, colleagues and friends and be reminded of how great they are.

Germany invited her friends from the Dallas area, and she said it is amazing to see their reaction to the event. They are always so impressed because they never thought of Lubbock as an arts community, she said.

First Friday Art Trail includes different types of art from local and international artists: drawing, painting, photography, sculptures and more.

Sahand Abbasid, an interior design Ph. D. student from Iran, had his art on display at the Charles Adams Studio Project, which featured a combination of interior design and fashion together.

With the piece being more than one form of art and his first piece showcased on the trail, he said it is so exciting to hear the feedback of people enjoying his art.

“It’s one of the events that Lubbock would be missing if it wasn’t here,” Sahand said. “This is the most interesting event, and it’s good because you can see it every month.”

Mackenzie Skoller, a senior Spanish major from Houston, said she tries to come every first Friday. She said the depth of art, music and food trucks makes the event so diverse.

“It’s something everybody can get together for – students, families – it belongs to Lubbock. It’s Lubbock’s thing,” Skoller said.

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