Photography and found object art will make up most of August’s First Friday celebration.

The Alaska Arts Confluence will feature the work of Haines local Andrea Nelson. She described her art as “assemblage,” studying the “exploration of place through art.”

“This exhibit is a small sampling from two projects I am developing which utilize art to explore and express various layers of place. Both are results of Alaska Artist in Residence Programs, one on the Chilkoot Trail (2016), and the other on the island of Attu (2017),” Nelson said. Attu is the westernmost island on the Aleutian Chain.

Nelson said she is using her experience in historic research, archeology and museum exhibition design to guide the projects. She started working on the projects last August and doesn’t know when she will be finished.

“I’m trying to illuminate place through art instead of through imperial information,” Nelson said.

She said no historic items were collected or used from either the Chilkoot Trail or Attu. All historic components are from her personal collection.

Nelson has been in Haines for 13 years and works in a studio here. She’s been a First Friday artist in the past and was also featured in a six-week spotlight at the Haines Sheldon Museum.

Port Chilkoot Distillery will show “wooden door” art by Cara Murray. Murray, daughter of Haines locals Keith and Cathy Houlberg. Murray grew up in Haines and painted the bear mural facing Main Street on the concrete retention wall at Haines School.

She is returning to Haines from her home in Sitka for her First Friday exhibit called “Symbols of Transformation.”

“The pieces are comprised entirely of antique found wood items that speak to me of time and character and sacredness,” Murray said. “I tried to illuminate the feelings I found with each. One is Air, one Fire, Water and another Earth.”

All her pieces will be available for purchase. The distillery will also showcase landscape photography by John Hagen.

The Magpie Gallery will feature the art of Annemarie Hasskamp who owns Glacial Naturals, a bath, body and home company in Skagway. Hasskamp makes deoderants, lip blams, body mists, eye shadows, skin toners and serums, mud masks, body washes and scrubs, essential oils, candles, waxes and scrubs.

First Friday will mark the opening of a six-week spotlight at Haines Sheldon Museum. “Surrogate Reality” is a collection by Chris Nowicki featuring mezzotints, prints made from an engraved copper or steel plate on which the surface has been partially roughened, for shading, and partially scraped smooth, giving light areas. The exhibit will be open through Sept. 20.

The American Bald Eagle Foundation will host a rock-painting party, jumping on the Haines Alaska Rocks trend of painting and hiding colorful rocks throughout town.

Other First Friday featured artists include Amelia Nash at the Haines Brewing Company, Tim Shields with nature photography at Skipping Stone Studios and Dena Selby with photography and her book at Alaska Rod’s.

First Friday will take place Friday, Aug. 4 from 5-7 p.m.