With an instrumental of Fleetwood Mac’s “Rhiannon,” Baton Rouge Gallery’s First Wednesday showcase began. 

The gallery, which has exhibited multimedia art in Baton Rouge since 1966, holds its First Wednesday event every month except January and November.

First Wednesday showcases local artists for everyone, from a curious onlooker to an art collector, and is free and open to the public. Attendees can enjoy food, drinks and live music all courtesy of the members and donors of the gallery. 

Four artists were showcased on this First Wednesday: Paulo Dufour with his glass-blown sculptures and colorful tree paintings, and James Flynn showcased his ultraviolet-activated optical illusions. Jacqueline Dee Parker also displayed works of vintage paper acrylic on linen.

The fourth artist, Michael W. Howes,has his depictions of “rugas,” creatures of his own making, and birds on display down the hall.

“The birds are kinda like birds, but not,” said Howes, who described his depictions of birds as the “light, angelic” side of Lake Boeuf. His “rugas” represent the “darker forms” with eyes made from old, red candy wrappers so that they shine menacingly at the viewer.

Along with his drawings, Howes showcased a few of his wooden sculptures. His sculptures use wood from lightning-struck trees found at Lake Boeuf as the base and old wooden shingles from houses along Lake Boeuf as wings for the birds.

English major Issac Uzzell attended the event for the first time after his friends invited him to see the art.

“Lot of stuff with personality,” Uzzell said. 

Uzzell commented on Howes’ art saying the “rugas” reminded him of a monster hiding under his bed. 

Married art collectors and members of the Baton Rouge Gallery, Tricia Day and Joe Simmons, also attended the event. Day said that they have been attending events at Baton Rouge Gallery for a while and like that it showcases mostly local artists. 

“It’s become a victim of its own success,’’ Simmons said, regarding the influx of attendees.

The success of First Wednesday has brought in a diverse group of people with members of the Baton Rouge community of all ages attending the event. 

The next First Wednesday event will be on Dec. 6.