Art-Centric 'Commune' Offers Free Art Shows to Peninsula Residents

Written by Brian De Los Santos

Amber Ellis-Seguine views the business she built with her partner Jenn Ludwig as somewhat of a “field of dreams” for artists.

Build the community art center, and they will come.

Turns out, that’s been just the case for The Shop at Flywheel Press. It’s become a place that provides classes and events to San Mateo, one being a monthly community art show called “First Fridays.”

The latest installment of the monthly event takes place this Friday from 6-9 p.m., submersing participants in the local art scene and providing a venue for artists to meet and socialize in San Mateo.

“We want to make sure that we’re really tapping into what’s going on locally,” Ellis-Seguine said. “And we want to make sure that we’re getting a wide variety.”

It will be the fourth such event for the growing business. During the three hours, participants will view various pieces of art, meet fellow artists and enjoy free food and drinks offered by Flywheel Press. 

To date, the event has grown in popularity every month, Ellis-Seguine said.

“The biggest thing is really based on the community, and the success so far is a reflection of how well we’ve been received,” Ellis-Seguine said. “It’s a reflection of how badly some people want a place to be creative and enjoy the creative arts, so that’s pretty amazing so we just hope it continues to keep doing that.”

When Ellis-Seguine isn’t operating the shop during “First Fridays,” it serves as a home for artists. It’s a place where artists can come in and make their own art and interested beginners can come in and take classes, Ellis-Seguine said.

It’s one of the few places of its kind on the peninsula, which is what drove its two founders to create the art-centric “commune” in the heart of San Mateo, EllisSeguine said.

“We found it unfortunate that most people think that they have to go to the city to have to do anything cool or maybe go to Oakland,” she said. “That’s silly because there are plenty of us that live here.”

That mindset led the shop to have the success it’s had, especially with events as 
“First Fridays.” Ellis-Seguine hopes to grow the event into a monthly gathering that provides live music and a street market for community members to truly enjoy every first Friday of the month.

But for now, she’s happy with the success it’s had so far.

“We’re presenting art that’s local and we’re really excited about it,” Ellis-Seguine 
said. “We encourage people to come with their kids and their families — it’s not adult only. We just really hope that everybody looks at this as their community art and design center and that they can utilize it, that it’s their own.”