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Explore Boise history during First Thursday

Start this month's gallery stroll with a touch of Boise's past.

BY DANA OLAND - doland@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 07/02/09

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Joe Jaszewski / Idaho Statesman

Anne Schorzman, event coordinator for the Idaho Historical Museum, shows the museum's new permanent exhibit about the history of Boise as a capital city. The exhibit is in the Thomas Logan house, built in 1865, the only adobe structure left in the city. Along with the historical panels, you'll find few antiques, including this lamp from the 1870s.

ELSEWHERE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

See art, listen to music, sample wine and beer

Here are some highlights of present day Boise's gallery stroll. Artist receptions are from 5 to 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

DOWNTOWN / OLD BOISE

Flying M Coffeehouse, 500 W. Idaho St., 345-4320: Boise artist Grant Olsen will show his "adult security blankets" made of recycled wool, angora and cashmere, and a selection of small security patches.

Gallery 601, 211 N. 10th St., 336-5899: The bidding closes at 8:30 p.m. for the 8th annual "Art for the Animals," show and auction that benefits the Idaho Humane Society. The gallery also will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first moon walk with a show of work by astronaut Alan Bean, who piloted the lunar module on Apollo 12. www.gallery601.com

Pioneer Building, 6th and Idaho streets: Idaho Indie Works, an Etsy Street Team, will take over this historic building with an amazing array of work from artists and crafters who will show everything from edibles and jewelry to cards and tutus.

The Melting Pot, 200 N. 6th St., 383-0900: See work by graphic artist Michael Olsen and check out the new happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m.

Basque Museum, 611 Grove St., 343-2671: Check out the whaling exhibit in the gallery and the Basque music jam at 6:30 p.m. Tour the Basque boarding house museum until 8:30 p.m. Free.

MAIN STREET CORRIDOR

A Novel Adventure, 906 W. Main St., 344-8088: Singer and songwriter Thomas Paul will perform and Boise State University professor and author Mitch Wieland will sign copies of his latest fiction, "God's Dogs: A Novel in Stories (Southern Methodist University Press, $22.50) and meet artist Dan Looney, whose paintings will be on display through July. It's all from 6 to 9 p.m. Wine sales benefit the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society Team in Training.

Art Source Gallery, 1015 W. Main St., 331-3374: See the Eighth Annual Juried Art Exhibition, with work by artists from Idaho and across the country. Juror Susan Latta will announce the Best of Show and other awards at 6:30pm. Wine tasting from Indian Creek Winery and beer from Brewtopia, plus music and nibbles.

Brown's Gallery, 1022 W. Main St., 342-6661: This month's exhibit "Summer in the City" features work by artists working in media all inspired by Boise city and landscapes. Wine tasting by Sawtooth Winery and music from Todd Palmer.

Basement Gallery, 928 W. Main St., 333-0309: See work by four artists who have influenced the development of art in the Treasure Valley: retired Boise State art professors Jim Blankenship, John Killmaster, Tarmo Watia and John Taye. Also see Kelly Cosho's latest abstract ink paintings and Brink Chipman's mixed-media pieces.

Lisk Gallery, 850 Main St., 342-3773: See Mark Lisk's sweeping desert and wilderness landscapes and painter Jerri Lisk's landscapes on metal, plus jewelry by guest artist Kay Seurat's second "River of Rocks" series. Taste chocolates from Dream Chocolate.

8TH STREET MARKETPLACE / BODO

The Mercantile Building at the 8th Street Marketplace, 8th and Broad streets, upstairs: This group of Artists in Residence fellows will go out with a bang at its last First Thursday. Dancer Johanna Kirk will teach a free yoga class at 5:45 p.m. and start performing at 7 p.m. Watch painter Laci McCrea work on her latest series about men and their relationships. Kirsten Furlong will focus on creating new work for shows in Hong Kong and Portland.Wine tasting by Sawtooth Winery.

Atomic Treasures, 409 S. 8th St., 344-0811: Find owner/artist Cindy Stevens' up-cycled art, plus vintage clothing and retro home decor.

Lunatic Fringe, 857 Broad St., 955-0400: See Cara Abdo's art photography from her recent journey to India, plus refreshments and appetizers from Bone Fish Grill.

R. Grey Gallery, 415 S. 8th St., 385-9337: See work by the jewelry of Studio 311 in an exclusive trunk show, including a variety of styles of engagement and wedding bands. Meet the artists. www.studio311.com.

Re Boutique Consignment, 405 S. 8th St., 392-7940: Hit the grand opening of this new business that features local artisan works, recycled clothing and repurposed furniture.

Salon 162, 404 S. 8th St., 386-9908: See drawings and paintings by Boise artist Emily Wenner.

JULIA DAVIS PARK/FRONT STREET

Boise Art Glass Studios, 530 W. Myrtle St., 345-1825: See glass blowing demonstrations, enjoy cheese and crackers.

Boise Art Museum, 670 S. Julia Davis Drive, 345-8330: Free admission from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., though donations are accepted. Photographer and writer Keith Walklet discusses the optical works in Devorah Sperber's "Threads of Perception" exhibit. At Studio Art Exploration, create your own work inspired by Sperber's work from 5 to 8 p.m.

Idaho State Historical Museum, 610 Julia Davis Drive, 334-2120: Get a preview of the museum's newest permanent exhibit, "Boise: A History of Our Capital City" in the Logan House in Pioneer Village, just east of the Museum. Also tour the museum's collection and "Darfur: Photojournalists Respond," the work of five photographers who spent time in war-torn Darfur region of western Sudan.

MUSIC

Berryhill & Co. Restaurant, 121 N. 9th St., Boise, 387-3553: Ken Harris and Rico Weisman play 6:30 to 11 p.m.

Brick Oven Bistro, 801 W. Main St., 342-3456: Hear the song stylings of Rebecca Wright and check out photography by David Day from 6:30 to 8: 30 p.m.

Caf de Paris, 204 N. Capitol Blvd., 336-0889: "Nova Bossa" duo, Elisabeth Blin and Daniel Reed, plays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Live at the Linen Building, 1402 W. Grove St., Boise: Experimental indie-pop trio Finn Riggins headlines the three-band bill for United States of Indie Rock. The music starts at 7 p.m. $5 at the door. All ages. Beer and wine available (ID required). www.thelinenbuilding.com.

Modern Hotel, 1314 W. Grove St., Boise: Ned Evett and Bill Coffee rock out in the courtyard from 7 to 10 p.m.

Pengilly's Saloon, 513 W. Main St., 345-6344: Frim Fram Four starts playing jazz at 8:45p.m. No cover.

Dana Oland: 377-6442

If you go

WHAT

Idaho Historical Museum's "A History of Our Capital City" preview.

WHEN

5-9 p.m. Thursday, July 2 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 4.

WHERE

670 Julia Davis Drive, Boise, Free.

Boise had a rough start as a city. The U.S. Army built Fort Boise in 1863. The sleepy town of prospectors became the state capital the next year, and with that came a city charter. There was just one problem.

No one wanted to be in charge, said Fred Fritchman, exhibit designer at the Idaho Historical Museum.

"In fact, there were council and mayoral candidates who ran on a platform of not taking office," Fritchman said. "And they won (in two separate elections). It's amazing."

It took four years to organize a city government, and H.E. Prickett agreed to become Boise's first official mayor. Then the elected, non-serving mayor stepped down.

That's just some of the interesting and quirky historical facts of Boise's road from dusty prospector's camp to state capital to now, number 100 on the list of largest U.S. cities.

You can explore that past at a preview of the Idaho Historical Museum's new permanent exhibit, "Boise: A History of Our Capital City," during First Thursday and on Saturday, July 4. The exhibit's grand opening will be during Museum Comes to Life, on Saturday, Sept. 26. Then it will be open to the public regularly.

The museum created the exhibit because the story of Boise's evolution hadn't been told before, Fritchman said.

The info-panels fill the small Logan house in Pioneer Village. The village is a grouping of homes from Boise's past, including farmer Issac Coston's log cabin, Richard Adelman's wood-porched dwelling and four-time Boise mayor Thomas Logan's adobe structure, the only adobe house known to still exist in the city.

It's a better use of the property, said museum event coordinator Anne Schorzman. It will be open and free most of the year.

You also can check out the Lewis and Clark Discovery Trail that is just down the path. The garden is an interactive way to learn about the scientific achievements of the Lewis and Clark expedition, from zoology and botany to geology and orienteering. It will be complete by September.

This is a great place to start your First Thursday tour. The Boise Art Museum is next door, with free admission and a 5:30 p.m. Art Talk about Devorah Sperber's intriguing "Threads of Perception" exhibit.

Dana Oland: 377-6442

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