ART | First Friday

By Rebecca Rafferty @rsrafferty

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Time to brave the bitter weather. March's First Friday is a cabin-fever reliever, and promises a bunch of art receptions and even a literary scavenger hunt. Here are just a few highlights of cultural events taking place on March 1; visit firstfridayrochester.org or our online calendar at rochestercitynewspaper.com for more.

Cat Clay at the Hungerford (1115 E. Main St., door 2, suite 225) will host "Bugzilla — Bigger than the Beetles," a one-night-only "Pop Up Roc" group "Thaw" show celebrating insects, the harbingers of spring that elicit perhaps the most mixed feelings among humans. Check out the collection of crawly crafts at the Friday reception, 5-9 p.m. Admission is free, and the show continues throughout March. For more information, call 414-5643 or visit catclay.com.

Also at the Hungerford, the Grass Roots Gallery (door 1, suite 157) will host "REJUVENATE: A Winter Blues Remedy" on Friday, March 1, 6-10 p.m., and also Saturday, March 9, 7-11 p.m., when there will be live music by George Hogan and his band. At both events you can look forward to wine tastings, massage, and spa treatments, and more. For more info, email [email protected].

Jolene Beckman will debut her new body of work, "Within the Wallpaper," at Black Radish Studio (274 N. Goodman St., suite 501) Friday 6-10 p.m. The show will remain on view through March 29, and is free to visit. For more information, call 413-1278 or visit blackradishstudio.com.

Axom Gallery (176 Anderson Ave., floor 2) will host an artist reception for the current show, "Judd Williams: Eccentrics," a solo showing of the artist's paintings and sculpture, on Friday 5:30-9:30 p.m. The artist will speak 7:30-8:30 p.m., and the show remains on view through March 9. The event is free to attend. For more information, call 232-6030 or visit axomgallery.com.

Writers & Books (740 University Ave.) will host a themed party to kick off local events relating to this year's "If All of Rochester Read the Same Book" pick, "Into the Beautiful North" by Luis Alberto Urrea, with music from Trio Los Claveles, Mexican food from Salena's, and a First Friday Scavenger Hunt. The event is free and open to the public and takes place 7-9 p.m. For more information, call 473-2590 or visit wab.org.