The Cary Art Loop was founded in 2005 by a group of passionate artists and artisans in Cary, N.C. Their mission was, and still is, to maintain a thriving arts community in Cary through partnerships between artists, creative establishments and the community. As excitement and support for Cary’s artistic community has grown over the years, and in keeping with the nationwide art walk trend, Cary established its own arts circuit event to be held the last Fri. of each month.

The Cary Arts Crawl, known commonly as “Final Fridays” are held on the last Fri. of each month from 6-9pm. The walks are a celebration and showcase of the area’s best galleries and artists, similar to First Fridays in downtown Raleigh. On Final Fridays, crowds flock to the streets of Cary to gallery-hop, discover work by local artists, delve into the sensory delights of live music, and feast on food and drink at Cary’s many delectable eateries.

Art Loop venues and galleries include Cary Arts Center, the crown jewel of Cary’s arts scene, which hosts a wide range of visual art exhibitions, as well as dance, theater and musical performances throughout the year. Studio 180 Salon is another Art Loop mainstay, alongside Cary Gallery of Artists, an artist collective offering fine art by local creators in a variety of styles and mediums. Lucky Pie Gallery features unique up-cycled and locally designed work, and Manifestationz, the Loop’s newly christened member, specializes in dynamic photography, prints and murals. Of course, any cultural venture to Cary would be incomplete without a visit to The Page-Walker House, a historic railroad hotel that has been converted into a thriving arts and history center. Get a full list of art walk hotspots here.

A free C-tran shuttle service transports patrons from venue to venue, if you’re tired from a long day at work or are a tad overindulged. Anthony Miles, Director of Cary Art Loop, hopes to bring a guided shuttle experience to Final Fridays in the near future. Each shuttle ride would include a live tour guide incorporating Cary’s local history, architecture and outdoor art into the riding experience.

Jan.’s Final Friday event was cancelled when Mother Nature revealed other designs for the evening in the form of sleet and ice. The art walk has been rescheduled for tomorrow and will continue to be held the last Fri. of every month from here on out.

An open house will be held tomorrow at Waverly Artists Group Gallery and Studio in celebration of their current Equestrian Art Show. The show features paintings created on-site at local horse farm MacNair’s Country Acres, and proceeds will benefit the Corral nonprofit group. Don’t forget to grab an artsy goodie for your valentine at Coffee and Crepes, a coffee shop and art gallery featuring work by Ken Vrana. Vrana, who has sold his unique pieces to the likes of Johnny Depp and Paul McCartney, is exhibiting his creations through Feb. 19, before he embarks on a worldwide tour.

[caption id="attachment_3918" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Equestrian Art Show on view at Waverly Artists Group Gallery and Studio[/caption]

Get up-to-date info about upcoming Cary Art Loop and Final Friday event here.