First Friday art walk is Jan. 5

Mercer Island’s First Friday Art and Wine events kick off on Jan. 5 at the downtown galleries.

Clarke and Clarke will host an opening for its winter show, featuring bubbly, bonbons and an 8-by-6 foot mural painting of the iconic Millenium Falcon cockpit, from 4-7 p.m.

Gallery co-owner Ginny Clarke called the piece “an amazing treat for collectors, the young, and the young at heart.” The mural, which was commissioned and created in Southern California in the ‘80s, will be auctioned off in February, with a portion of proceeds going to charity.

The artists in the group show will illustrate the breadth of the gallery’s offerings throughout the years, Clarke said. Many different mediums, styles and periods will be available. Some of the featured artists are Valaree Cox, Jason Rhinevault, Ngaire Hixon, Benamin Moore, Ian McLeod, Mark Malinas, Russel Frost, J. Robert Clarke, Gregory Harris and Dorr Bothwell. Many of the works are inspired pieces, with unconventional materials and unique techniques, she said.

Suzanne Zahr’s SZ Gallery will celebrate “the spirit of new beginnings” with its first First Friday Art and Wine of 2018, featuring “Nature’s Poetry” by European oil painter Gitte Peters. Items in the exhibit will be offered at a 30 percent gallery discount. The event starts at 5 p.m.

MIVAL to present ‘Portals of Time’

The Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) will host an opening reception for its new exhibit “Portals of Time” from 5-8 p.m. on Jan. 4 at its gallery, 2836 78th Ave. SE.

The show will run from Jan. 4-28.