May 02--BOISE -- OK, so May's First Thursday might seem like it's all about modern art -- and it just might be.

More than 60 artists will invade the Modern Hotel, 1314 W. Grove St., in Boise's Linen District to create art in its rooms, courtyard and every other imaginable space.

The event becomes its own type of art installation as a few thousand people show up to see what it's all about.

This year, you'll find collaborative installations, music, fine art, sculpture, performance art and more that's compelling, weird, beautiful, not so beautiful and always thought provoking -- plus cocktails in the Modern Bar.

If the crowd scene is not for you, no worries. There are other interesting things to see this First Thursday.

A NEW MURAL

One of Boise's finest fine artists, Marcus Pierce, will unveil his latest piece, a public art mural at the MK Nature Center. You'll find it on the space underneath the Alpine Lake underwater viewing windows.

Pierce wields an impressive technique in bringing his nature scene alive.

You can see it in its entirety at 6 p.m. today. Then, you can take a tour of the grounds and building and see the center's other public artworks by Ward Hooper and Scott Hall.

BID AN AREA ARTIST ADIEU

Artist Amanda Hamilton -- known for her ethereal and meticulous paper-cut sculptures and intriguing film projects -- is moving to Minneapolis.

Hamilton, a professor at Northwest Nazarene University, took a position at Bethel University in Minnesota.

Hamilton is creating an art event/installation/garage sale at Bricolage, 418 S. 6th St., in Boise before she leaves, selling some of her stuff -- including the family car. It begins on First Thursday and continues through May.

As part of that outgoing tide, Bricolage is holding an online auction for Hamilton's original artwork on its Facebook page. The auction began yesterday and ends at 10 p.m. today.

LITERARY RENDEZVOUS

The Idaho Readers and Writers Rendezvous weekend kicks off on First Thursday with a reading by writer and educator Les Edgerton at Rediscovered Book Shop, 180 8th St., Boise. Edgerton writes about writing and will share his insights from his "Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go."

The Rendezvous goes from today through Sunday and includes talks and readings by award- winning short story writer and novelist Tony Doerr, outdoors writers David James Duncan and Jo Deurbrouck, and book and magazine author Stacy Ennis. Find more information at IdahoWritersGuild.com

Dana Oland: 377-6442, @IDS_DanaOland

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