Faith Arts restarts its First Friday festivities

After a coronavirus-inspired hiatus, Faith Arts Village Orlando will return for its first artsy event in six months on Sept. 4.

FAVO’s cohort of artists work in converted motel rooms and will again show their wares, welcoming in art enthusiasts during a First Friday event this week.

Will Benton, FAVO’s executive director, said the village was quiet during the first phase of COVID-19 shutdowns. Then, he and other artists realized their studio space was a safe place to be.

“I’m in my own environment, I don’t have to allow anybody in if I don’t want to … I can be in my zone of creating,” Benton said. “The artists started catching onto that and now it’s a busy place.”

These creators are enjoying separate space to work apart from their homes, Benton said.

In re-opening FAVO First Friday, Benton had to ask for permission from the Park Lake Presbyterian Church, which owns the arts village. He worked together with the church to plan a safe event including hand sanitizer and live music without singing. Food trucks will be present but refreshments in studios will not be.

Attendees will be required to wear masks and practice social distancing. Benton said that artists also won’t be required to attend and that some won’t, as they could be more vulnerable to COVID-19 or prefer not to come.

Still, guests can browse artwork from dozens of jewelers, photographers, painters, sculptors and more. FAVO is familyfriendly and kid-friendly, with a creative table set out for young ones.

Benton said he’s looking forward to bringing the public back for the first time since February when the village celebrated its 100th First Friday show.

“Just knowing that it’s coming up, I’m kind of giddy about it. I’m excited to see people and clean out the studio,” Benton said.

“The artists are very excited. The community, from what I’m seeing on social media, is very excited. I think that people are just looking for something to do.”

He said that the church’s congregation is older and some parishioners are “reserved” but supportive of the event.

If all goes well, FAVO could keep coming back monthly for First Friday

open houses, Benton said.

If you go: Faith Arts Village Orlando returns for its First Friday show 5-9 p.m. Sept. 4 at 221 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando. Admission is free. For more information, visit faithartsvillage.com.

PATRICK CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL Will Benton, executive director of Faith Arts Village Orlando, or FAVO for short, has been helping to put on free art shows for the past eight years. FAVO’s First Friday show will return Sept. 4 after taking a six-month hiatus due to COVID-19.

PATRICK CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL Faith Arts Village Orlando has been hosting free First Friday art shows for the past eight years. The event resumes tonight after a six-month hiatus resulting from the pandemic.