March-April - Viva Tysons Magazine

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1st Holiday Multi Artist Exhibit held each year at
December's FIRSTfriday of Falls Church event.
Photographer Aubrey Gemignani (2nd from the
left) with the group Drum Lady as they gather
after performing at FIRSTfriday of Falls Church.
With over 111 entries, a few kids celebrate
the 10th Annual Falls Church City Student
Art Contest held each year at January's
FIRSTfriday of Falls Church event.
FIRSTfriday of Falls Church began when Tom
Gittins, a City resident and owner of Art and
Frame of Falls Church, decided to organize
other City businesses to fill a gap in the artistic
and cultural life of the City of Falls Church.
Gittins’goal was to create a monthly, yearround
event that would attract people to view
local artwork, attend musical performances,
learn about the city's history, and shop and
dine in downtown Falls Church.
Staffed entirely by volunteers since its start
soon after the terrorist attacks in 2001,
FIRSTfriday has grown steadily from only two
participating businesses to include broad
sponsorship and participation by businesses,
nonprofit arts, educational and cultural
organizations and by City departments and
agencies.
FIRSTfriday of Falls Church brings more than
500 residents and visitors together every
month to enjoy free artistic and cultural events
and activities, both indoors and outdoors, and
provides a venue for professional and amateur
artists in all media.
During the past nine years, FIRSTfriday
of Falls Church has provided free to the
community hundreds of art exhibits, musical
performances, book signings, dances,
screenings, readings and more. It has grown
to consistently include more than twenty
participating organizations every month.
FIRSTfriday was the very first year-round
monthly event in the City. The City Council
and local business leaders cite FIRSTfriday of
Falls Church as one of the reasons this city of
12,000 (that is just minutes from The White
House), has a "small town" atmosphere.
Former Economic Development Authority
President Ed Saltzberg says "FIRSTfriday of
Falls Church was the first significant event
to shine a light on arts- related businesses
and businesses that benefit from arts
organizations. It has become a sustaining
event and attracts people of all ages from
within the community and the surrounding
towns."
In March of 2009, FIRSTfriday of Falls Church
founder Tom Gittins was given the Carroll V.
Shreve Award for Meritorious Community
Service by the Falls Church Chamber of
Commerce. At the awards presentation,
Chamber President, Ralph Perrino and
Executive Director, Sally Cole told the
gathering that Tom "really knows how to draw
people together for the greater good of the
community…and is "the mastermind behind
a really great event that draws people not
only into his own business, but into dozens of
others every first Friday of the month."
And this isn't just for grown-ups! Children in
grades K–12 in both public and private schools
participate in several ways: all artwork entered
into the annual City Art Contest is exhibited
each year and a reception in honor of the 100+
young artists is held by a sponsoring business;
middle and high school musical groups
perform at FIRSTfriday venues throughout the
year; and in collaboration with the Business
in Education (BIE) group, FIRSTfriday of Falls
Church has instituted an internship for a
George Mason High School student.
It’s fun! It’s free! It’s FIRSTfriday of Falls Church!
FIRSTfriday of Falls Church goes on in ALL
weather, ALL months, All year long, the first
Friday of each month.
VivaTysons | MARCH - APRIL 2011 vivatysons.com