Third Friday Events at 78th St. Studios 5.20

In May and June, Popeye Gallery hosts a special exhibition by the Rust Belt Monster Collective (RBMC) at Survival Kit as part of Third Friday at 78th Street Studios. The show features dozens of large-scale murals created by the group over the past several years.

May’s opening reception will also serve as the official launch party for the release of the RBMC’s first book, which documents the group’s four year history with high quality images of (nearly) all of their 40+ murals. At June’s closing reception, the group will create one of their signature live murals throughout the evening. Following each Third Friday reception, Survival Kit co-founder Brian Straw will present live music at 9 p.m.

The RBMC includes Erin Caruso, Randy Crider, James Giar, Ben Hale, Tim Switalski and Craig Worrell. Popeye Gallery and the Rust Belt Monster Collective both hail from Collinwood’s Waterloo Arts District. The group met through Dr. Sketchy's live drawing events at the Beachland Ballroom & Tavern – just steps from the site of Popeye’s first exhibition. 

ALSO: HEDGE Gallery presents Optic Environments, a new body of paintings, prints and collage by Matthew Gallagher, Sarah Hayes, Ashley Pastoreand Dott von Schneider-Lanza, who are using a unique variety of materials to create works that uncover more questions than answers. Optic Environments will be on view May 20–June 25, 2016.