When Catherine Lane took the First Thursday Art Walk in February, she was trying to acquaint herself with the half-dozen Hintonburg art galleries that stayed open late to allow people a more-leisurely browse.  Yet her sharpest memory is of one artist who made small animal sculptures using the remains of other departed creatures. “They were made up of little bones and bird beaks. I mean, how cool is that.”

Lane is now part of the First Thursday walk: official – but “informal” – guide of the tour that includes six galleries along Wellington and into the back streets of Hintonburg . She is a docent at the National Gallery of Canada but has always been in love with the style of contemporary art that private galleries tend to show. Now all she wants to do is help those walking with her feel comfortable enough to talk about what they’re viewing.

The point, of course, is to demystify whatever intimidation a gallery holds. “Hey, you don’t have to be an expert to have fun,” she says. That means there are no dumb questions, no wrong answers when she negotiates the work of two dozen artists May 6. “I don’t have a familiarity with all the artists; it’s more about how to appreciate what you’re seeing. What’s really neat are the owners who are so knowledgeable and enthusiastic.”

There’s no cost to tail behind Lane’s obvious enthusiasm for beautiful things. Her tour starts at 7 pm Thursday at the Fritzi Gallery, in the upper foyer of the Great Canadian Theatre Company (1233 Wellington St. W).

Mark Seabrook. Photo courtesy of Cube Gallery.

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Orange Art Gallery – 233 Armstrong St.

This is Orange’s first community event since owners Ingrid Hollander and Mathew Jeffrey took over the space across from Parkdale Market in March. The young artists have already managed to collect 12 others to display, and all will be part of the gallery on First Thursday. They include Violeta Borisonik (painter), MaryAnn Camps (painter), Batya Cavens (painter), Andrea Dankaninova (glass jewellery and silk scarves), Megan D’Arcy (painter), Stephen Frew (painter), Marilynne Gowan (sculptor), Lorraine Kenney (painter), Jerome Maggiore (painter), Frank Prendergast (furniture), Greg Pritchard (painter) and Anita Utas (painter).

Breeze by Jerome Maggiore. Photo courtesy of Orange Art Gallery.

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Patrick John Mills Contemporary Fine Art Gallery – 286 Hinchey Ave.

Patrick Mills Gallery. Photo by Patrick Mills

Mills’ gallery is the one down a Hintonburg back street with a yard full of stone and sculpture. His own paintings are just as eclectic, but the First Thursday show called Emotions and Form is made of a group show including Jennifer Campbell’s real human form, David Cation’s abstract versions of humanity, Daniel Martelock’s graphic panels, Daniel Nadeau’s abstract view of life as well as sculptor Theo Burtick’s stone and metal interpretations.

Norman Takeuchi. Photo courtesy of Cube Gallery.

Cube Gallery – 1285 Wellington St. W

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Elizabeth's by Chrystia Mycyk. Photo courtesy of Exposure Gallery.

Exposure Gallery – 1255 Wellington St. W

Exposure is dedicated to photography and sits atop caterer Thyme & Again. Chrystia Mycyk’s Rare Books Series will open the night of First Thursday. She was given access to the Library and Archives of Canada’s rare-book collection and has captured stunning representations, including a first impression of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s Anne  of Green Gables.

Theatre 11 by Jean-Francois Provost. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Gallery 3 – 1281B Wellington St. W