Downtown Peterborough hosted numerous events in celebration of First Friday in downtown Peterborough June 2, as people weather the rainstorm and visited the merchants, venues and restaurants of Depot Square.

At Peterborough Town Library, R. Scott Hyde debuted his new collection of paintings, “Where A Trail Leads.” The Community Art Gallery is on the second floor of the library and has been dedicated to displaying art from local artists.

“My paintings change over time,” Hyde said. “The process is almost seasonal in a way. I’ve always been in the garden watching things grow. It’s my comfort area and what I enjoy looking at.”

Hyde has been an art educator, builder and artist for more than 30 years. He believes that if a person has an interest in creating things, he or she should follow it. 

 “I am really thankful for all the forward thinking people that made this space dedicated to art possible. It’s a built-in gallery and I really appreciate that,” Hyde shared.

Peterborough Town Library encourages artists of all mediums and experience to apply to show their work. This can be done on the library’s website, peterboroughtownlibrary.org, under the “Programs and News” and “Community Art Gallery” tabs. 

Monadnock Academy of Movement Arts hosted an Improv Jam. Riley Lynch, a dancer and teacher at MAMA, coordinated the event.

“I wanted musicians and dancers to come together and make art just for fun. People can come and see what we do and how we play around in the studio,” Lynch said.

The event was an opportunity for dancers and musicians of all ages and levels to get together and perform just for themselves. In addition to Lynch’s work at MAMA, she spearheads her own dance company, Weather Makers Dance. It was established in 2013 and is an expressive and explorative professional dance company. 

On Friday evening, Knitters gathered around a wooden table at Laura Clayton’s Knitty Gritty Yarn Shop with their projects in hand.

“Sip ’n’ Stitch is for the girls to get together and come to know one another better,” Clayton said.

Sip ’n’ Stitch is every Tuesday night at 5pm. Follow Knitty Gritty Yarn Shop’s Facebook Page for information.