First Friday is here again. It’s the last time before fall to join friends and neighbors on a gallery walk, so hop to it. Most openings take place from 6 to 9 p.m.

A trio of artists will exhibit art at the Blue Heron Gallery. The show includes work by painter Kathy Kimball, sculpture by Islander Lea Gerrard and photography by Donald Simpson. Friday’s opening will include live music by pianist Jack Barbash and bassist Steve Meyer. 

Kimball began her art career doing illustrations and then moved into abstract acrylic painting. Kimball, who was a nurse for many years, said, “Art is a commitment to myself. It’s something I have to do.”

Gerrard, who moved to the Island three years ago, has always worked with metal, making everything from jewelry to large architectural pieces. 

Simpson, who is originally from Scotland and is now a retired Presbyterian minister, lives in Bellingham. Inspired by “anything that lightens or surprises the eye,” he creates photographic collages on archival paper and blends images with textures such as fabric, metal or stone to create a painterly look. 

Café Luna will show “Branches,” a show of watercolor paintings by Chris Calori, a California native who began painting as the age of 17. Six years ago, he moved to Vashon. After observing the Island’s monthly art shows, Chris was motivated to debut his own collection of paintings. 

Dewain Gauntlett, a self-taught photographer, will exhibit work at The Hardware Store Restaurant. Gauntlett’s photography includes images of the rugged beauty of the Washington Coast, the contours of Mount Rainer, images of city life and flower gardens in Seattle. His work has been exhibited in public and private galleries, and his photographs have appeared in Newsweek, The Seattle Times and many other publications.  

The Heron’s Nest has arranged for two photography shows by Vashon youth to hang in the Two Wall Gallery in August. Both shows will include work by students of Island photographer Ray Pfortner. 

The first exhibit is an encore presentation of work by 11 McMurray Middle School students who studied with Pfortner during the school’s “exploratory week.” The work has recently been on view at The Hardware Store Restaurant. 

The second exhibit shows new works created by six teens who took part in a Pfortner-led Vashon Allied Arts’ class. Pfortner took the group on photo expeditions in Tacoma and Seattle. 

Attendees can vote for their favorite photos in the show. 

Pfortner hopes the shows attract a wide audience. He called the exhibits “a chance to be sobered by just how good teens can be at photography, challenging adults with every shot they take, by their fresh eye and their willingness to take chances, find new angles and challenge conventional wisdom.”

VALISE Gallery will present “Special Relativity,” a two-person show by Islander Heather Joy and guest Leanne Olds, who is from Madison, Wisconsin. 

Nature has provided inspiration for both artists. The pair has known each other for a long time — Joy is Olds’ daughter-in-law.

Olds will present new work, created during her current transition from a long career of graphic design and technical and scientific illustration at the University of Wisconsin. Her watercolors offer a glimpse into the beauty found in the Midwest.

Joy will create a mixed-media installation in the gallery space. She said her work is motivated by the environmental concerns of Vashon and Maury Islands and her desire to make the earth a better place for her children.

The artists will talk about their work from 5 to 6 p.m. on Friday; a reception will follow.

More shows on the Gallery Cruise

Blooms & Things will show ceramic works by Lisa DeFaccio and assemblages by Sheila Park. 

Books by the Way will display photography from Sarah Bunch, a recently returned Islander.

At Duet, Ed Frohning will show drawings and also sketch on site — come watch imagination in action.

Heron’s Nest will exhibit botanical art by Jean Emmons and ceramic teapots by Vicki Hamilton. 

Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union will show Douglas Mesney’s photo realistic collages.

Island singer-songwriter Cosmo Harrigan will play at 7 p.m. at Vashon Bookshop.

Vashon Senior Center, on Bank Road, will display ceramic art by student of Steve Roache. 

Wings Birdseed will show Island photographer Cle Montgomery’s images of tall sailing ships anchored in Quartermaster Harbor.