Art in the evening is a natural fit, especially for the current show at the Pierro Gallery, "Reaching Out/Reaching In," which features work of school district faculty who spend days teaching and nights creating. Thursday night initiated the first Art Nite Out with a film by CHS teacher Boris Gavrilovic, part of the same fine arts exhibit. A three-minute trailer runs in the Pierro Gallery as part of the larger show.

The film, "My Life as an Underdog," is the story of Suzanne Muldowney, an improvisational dancer and choreographer, who portrays characters such as Dracula and Catwoman. She identifies with the character Underdog and is determined to live anything but an average life as she performs in parades and at science fiction conventions. A number of people in the film suggest that her standards are high—in one conversation, she agrees that immortality is the goal—but Muldowney is undaunted. In Gavrilovic's words, "'My Life as an Underdog' is about a woman overcoming her disability in trying to establish recognition for herself."

"My Life as an Underdog" was shown to an enthusiastic audience that included local film buffs as well as Gavrilovic's former CHS students. The film has already been recognized at festivals around the country. 

Judy Wukitsch, director of the Pierro Gallery, explained that visitors could begin "Art Nite Out in the Pierro Gallery, then go to Mia Cose Bella for an opening reception for Pierro Downtown." 

According to Susan Napack, facilitator from the Pierro Gallery for Art Nite Out and Pierro Downtown, the initiative has a number of goals. "The first is to offer some convenient evening gallery hours—7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month—in addition to our regular 1 to 4 p.m. hours Friday through Sunday, and to make it an anticipated event." Napack hopes that gallery visitors will, "check out what is on display, followed by a night out shopping and or dining locally."

The second goal is to "reflect our vibrant creative community with Pierro Gallery-sponsored dynamic contemporary art displays in our downtown businesses," she said.

So far, success, as Mia Cose Bella, 8 W. South Orange Ave., opened its doors Thursday night to host a reception that drew attention to local artists and their work. Currently, the shop features the work of Deb Mell, curated by Raleigh Ceasar. Gallery owner Lisa Maria Murray reserves a full wall of the store for local work, which she rotates frequently, and chooses wares with an eye to displaying community art. Thus, Murray and Mia Cose Bella were a natural fit with the Art Nite Out initiative. Film attendees received a coupon good for 15 percent off a purchase in the store. 

"Personally, I hope that, in addition to our vast and enthusiastic arts regulars, we attract visitors to the gallery and to the film screening who have never been to a cultural arts event at The Baird before," explains Napack. "And I hope that they get caught up in the excitement of the evening." 

"And," added Wukitsch, "it's all free!"

The next Art Nite Out will be the March 4 opening of "Booked 7."