The best local art walk you [n]ever heard of takes place in Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe. It's been ranked as one of the top five in the country and provides today's best local, national and international contemporary art "” right in your backyard.

We all experience a brief moment of alarm when we hear a family member is coming into town. While Denver offers countless opportunities for both visitors and local inhabitants, it's always a challenge to think outside the box when entertaining guests. The last time my mom came for a visit, I found before me this very conundrum. Luckily, she arrived on the first Friday of the month, and no matter what month of the year, I knew Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe would be hosting First Friday "” rain or shine.

You've likely heard of this event. What you might not know, however, is that this art walk "” with the strip branching out beyond Santa Fe in recent years "” takes place on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 9 pm and includes more than 40 galleries, specialty shops, restaurants and organizations "” all within walking distance.

According to Judy Hagler, president of Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe and owner of Translations Gallery, "You don't have to walk quite a distance or park the car and then try to find a new parking space. You can park your car or, ideally, take the light rail, and then walk a five-block area and see more than 45 galleries with a wide range of art from emerging artists to well-established, national and international artists."

People attend First Friday to enjoy themselves by having a glass of wine, meeting up with friends, viewing the latest works by various artists "” gallery showings change, on average, every six weeks "” and even getting a chance to pick the artists' brains. "I talk to visitors about my work, what it's about and the essence of it. It's exciting to them," says Memphis-born Bill Gian, who shows his work in the Carla Wright Gallery and owns Bill Gian Designs. "People don't get many opportunities to go head-to-head with an artist, but First Friday gives locals and visitors this opportunity, as does any day spent on this strip, for that matter."

But this is not the only First Friday in the United States, in Colorado or even in the city of Denver. First Friday is a nationwide trend in the art industry. Aaron Bible, who serves as the vice president of Denver's ArtDistrict on Santa Fe and has been the director of John Fielder's Colorado for two years, says art walks are gaining popularity: "In the past year, First Friday has been picked up and has become a very trendy thing in downtown arts districts. All the up-and-coming towns have First Friday, but it was definitely started in more artsy towns and artsy communities within those towns."

The First Friday trend is certainly catching on, with locals and visitors from other cities coming not only to view and purchase art, but to be a part of the ambiance of the ArtDistrict. "It's not about people coming down to the district to buy art," says Gian, an artist of more than 14 years, "although that is what it's supposed to be about. It's really about coming down and being a part of the excitement, being a part of the art."

Gallery owner and artist C.C. Opiela says she finds the eagerness of enthusiasts to learn and engage inspiring: "It's the excitement and energy of the people. They're willing to come out and get experience with art and understand art, not just the landscapes and the portraits, but the creative process. Everyone feeds off of each other's energy, trying to understand, absorb and even talk to the artists because that's the one time, in most galleries, that the artists will be there to talk about their work."

For artist Carla Wright, of the Carla Wright Gallery, the excitement of First Friday helped her determine where to establish herself. "Personally, I did the art walk one First Friday before I bought the building," says Wright, who studied in Scotland under artist George Douglas from the age of seven until his death when she was 19. "Both the energy of the event and the up-and-coming location sealed the deal for me."

First Friday brings 2,000 to 5,000 visitors to the ArtDistrict each month. "The earlier crowd is a little older and more mature, and the later it gets, the more crazy it gets," Bible says. "But, overall, I think it's a great way to unify people in our community. There's always a great turnout and a good time to be had by all." He suggests visitors arrive early, as galleries get crowded later in the evening: "It's a more intimate experience the earlier you arrive. And if you go to the galleries that are serving wine or cheese, there will actually be some left."

Since First Fridays can get congested, the ArtDistrict created another monthly event for collectors. "First Friday does get really busy," Gian says, "Third Friday is an important night that deserves to be established because that's when people can really explore the work."

Bible, who says the ArtDistrict started Third Fridays as a way to spread out the crowd, says another benefit is to provide guests with a less chaotic and more personal environment. "This way, we're not just depending on one night a month, and we can also give people a more intimate look at the art with the artist and owners of the gallery present. We also do a lot of our openings on Third Friday as opposed to First Friday, where the new work will be lost in the crowd."

Third Friday, or opening night, switches the focus from the social scene back to the artwork and the connoisseur, Hagler says. "With opening night, we're trying to focus attention on art and collectors who want to come and view the art," she says. "A lot of the time, the artists are here in the galleries and serious collectors can talk to the artists about their work."

With fewer people around and more personal attention, Third Friday provides an atmosphere for enthusiasts to consider a new collection. "It's never too early to start collecting art," Bible says. "There's a lot of really good value in the ArtDistrict and a lot of knowledgeable people to help you make an informed purchase, something that will increase in value but that you feel good about today."

In the future, collectors nationwide may find themselves coming to Denver, either joining the hustle and bustle on First Friday or walking into a more intimate experience on Third Friday.

"This is an important city for art, much like Chicago, Houston, New York and L.A.," Gian says, "but Denver is up and coming in this industry, and I think it's going to become a major art center of the world. You can see
some of the best art in the world right here in this district."

Why Winter?
It must seem a bit strange to tell our readers to head out in the December chill to art walk their way down Santa Fe. Shopping malls may be crowded, but at least they're heated, right? But what you might gain in creature comfort, we think you lose in sheer holiday cheer. So bundle up and grab the one you love for a yuletide stroll through Denver's ArtDistrict, and leave the screaming kids and the shopping mall Santas to the less adventurous.

First Friday, December 5 "” Most Santa Fe galleries take this opportunity to kick-start holiday art shows and sales, making this December evening the perfect night to bulk up on one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, sculpture and paintings.

Third Friday, December 19 "” Join the galleries for the 15th annual Luminarias on Santa Fe, where the traditional symbols of New World Hispanics light up the street while artists and owners pass out warm mugs of spiced cider and hors d'oeuvres.

The Free First Friday "Connect the Dots" Shuttle Service
A fun, car-free option for First Fridays is to ride the RTD Light Rail to the Osage Station and look for the shuttle with the big orange dot. This free shuttle will take you to 9th and Santa Fe Drive, so you can take in the sights and sounds of the art walk.

If the Light Rail is not convenient for you, additional parking is available in the West High School parking lot at 10th and Galapago. The Connect the Dots shuttle has added a stop at this location and will take you to 10th and Santa Fe Drive for a small fee, which goes directly to the West High School Student Council. You may also choose to walk the two blocks to the district.