Live Active Cultures

As I crossed Summerlin Avenue, a jazz trio serenaded sippers outside Hue. On the other side of the street, the lobby of the Closing Agent insurance company hosted an exhibit of original arboreal acrylics and ghostly giclee prints by painter Brandy Renee, who might be the first artist I've met who offers to lease her art for easy monthly installments and a refundable deposit.

Around the corner, tables were set up on the sidewalks along Washington Street, and most of the doors down to Hyer Avenue were open. Along the way down the block, I met painter Parker Sketch, who was previewing Atari artwork from his Joystick show outside Nube Nove salon; you can see more of his classic video game art at Little Fish Huge Pond in Sanford March 25-April 20. A block further down, I spotted ceramic artist Rindy Gentile, Adam Lind's intricate woodcut prints and giant-eyed portraits by Patrick Fatica. Outside Mother Falcon, musician Matthew Mendel strummed through an acoustic set, while inside Cake Marques' Candy String Theory series of psychedelic portraits continue to blow minds.

Heading back toward my car, I bumped into the best surprise of the stroll. Hair salon Lambs Eat Ivy not only put on the biggest spread of free food (always appreciated), but their al fresco exhibit of Heather Blanton's manipulated photography was truly intriguing. Blanton takes Polaroid SX-70 snapshots - including views of New York's Brooklyn Bridge - and manually manipulates them into impressionistic enlargements. We commiserated over the impossibility of finding quality instant color film since Polaroid tragically ceased producing film packs.

Thornton Park's Third Thursday has nearly everything it needs - interesting art, unusual venues, a comfortable vibe - to grow into a must-do on my monthly calendar. If the organizers can corral some of the aforementioned food trucks, I predict the crowds will follow.

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