YOUNGSTOWN — More than three centuries of celebrated artworks greeted attendees during the First Fridays February event “Date with an Artist” at the Butler Institute of American Art on Friday evening.

Immersing themselves in the area’s culture, the evening included music performed by Youngstown State University Dana School of Music students Erick Ramos (violin) and Aaron White (piano), food and a wine bar.

With warmer weather last spring, First Fridays took place outside in downtown Youngstown. Starting in October, the event went indoors at the McDonough Museum of Art, the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County, Penguin City Brewing Company and the Butler.

“The main goal for the colder weather months is to rotate the main host between different institutional spaces to keep the program happening year-round,” explained Adam Lee, program director for Youngstown CityScape.

While the Butler was the main host, complementary events took place at the McDonough, Solomon Gallery in YSU’s Bliss Hall and the Ward Beecher Planetarium.

“We hope to help create more opportunities for people to experience these spaces outside of their normal operating hours, help catalyze them being more open during alternate times and have a great space for gathering,” Lee said. “Part of the reason for an earlier time frame is also to encourage people to stay in the downtown business district by providing a kickoff before dinner or other activity.”

With a Valentine’s Day-inspired theme, “Date with an Artist” encouraged the First Fridays visitors to place a cutout heart next to their favorite artwork among the thousands of pieces at the Butler.

That incorporated the museum’s latest exhibits:

● Black History Month Exhibition: Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. – “The Art is on the Wall, Not the Posters.”

● 85th Area Artist Annual Exhibition.

● Charlee Brodsky: “The Audacity of the Mundane.”

* Pastel Society of America’s 52nd Annual Exhibition: “Enduring Brilliance!”

Camille Tacsik of Boardman placed a cutout heart in front of her favorite painting, Edward Hopper’s “Pennsylvania Coal Town.”

“I really like the contrast between the light and the dark,” she said, “and (the subject of the painting) has got a pensive look on his face. I like the bold shapes. I think it’s striking.”

Pamela Amy of Andover chose “In Flanders Field Where Soldiers Sleep and Poppies Grow” by Robert Vonnoh as her favorite artwork.

“I always loved the picture of the ladies working in the flower fields. I have seen that painting for many years, and I always loved it,” she said.

Adding to the numerous art pieces in the Butler’s galleries, Struthers artist Daniel Rauschenbach created a live watercolor painting during the event. He incorporates honey within the paints in order to thicken them and make them stick better to the canvas, as well as generate bolder colors.

Rauschenbach said he does most of his painting in a live situation. “Painting in front of people, I’m so used to it now that I prefer it. It’s weird if I’m not painting in front of people.”

In keeping with the events’ Youngstown area connections, Rauschenbach has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree plus a master’s degree that deals with community development, both from YSU.

First Fridays continues indoors on March 7 at SMARTS (Students Motivated by the Arts) and April 4 at the Oh Wow! Children’s Museum.

“In the summer, we plan to utilize Phelps Street by creating a robustly attended event and similarly help the local businesses,” Lee said. “I believe that it will also help to attract future development, bring other patrons downtown, and create opportunities for socializing and networking that don’t exist elsewhere.”