First Friday art walk is Dec. 1

Suzanne Zahr will host a holiday party at 5 p.m. on Dec. 1 at her design/build studio and gallery, 2441 76th Ave. SE, for this month’s First Friday art and wine event. Clarke and Clarke Art and Artifacts, 7605 SE 27th St., will feature artist Valaree Cox for their event, from 4-8 p.m. on Dec. 1.

There will be bubbles, bites, live music and a chance to celebrate the holidays with friends, patrons, artists and collaborators at SZ Gallery. The gallery’s latest exhibit, “Persian Garden” by Monir and Mehdi Ghanbeigy, may also inspire unique gift-giving ideas. See www.suzannezahr.com for more.

Clarke and Clarke will showcase Cox’s mixed media paintings, influenced by Rauchenberg, Kiefer and Miro. She is mostly self-taught, and her work is an expression of stories from her life and the emotions evoked from those experiences.

“I just have to paint something using a multitude of materials to express the passions I feel about a personal or social issue. Its my way of expressing those deep feelings,” Cox said.

There will be bubbles, bonbons and a chance to meet the artist. See www.ethnoarts.com for more.

MIVAL’s ‘Dream States’ opens next week

The Mercer Island Visual Arts League will open its new exhibit, “Dream States,” at its gallery on Dec. 7. The show will run until Dec. 23.

There will be an opening reception from 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the MIVAL gallery, 2836 78th Ave. SE, and an anniversary sale from Dec. 7-10.

See www.mival.org for more.