MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Lubeznik Center for the Arts (LCA) is hosting its free First Friday on October 3, from 5-8 p.m. (Central)

For October, LCA is excited to partner with NWI Food Council to offer a market style selection of fall harvests including flowers, pumpkins, vegetables and more. At 6 p.m., hear from the NWI Food Council as they share about their "FarmHer to Mama" program. This initiative connects female farmers, nurses, nutritionists and first-time mothers who are working together to strengthen food security and build a more resilient local food system.

On display in LCA's NIPSCO Art Education Studios are photography exhibits by Young Artists Expo participant Kenyon Ploehn and Area Artists Association member Tim Lace.

At just 13, photographer Kenyon Ploehn has already explored 45 states, 27 National Parks and five countries, photographing landscapes, wildlife and architecture along the way. A homeschool student with a passion for both color and black-and-white photography, his work has earned top honors, including Best of Show at the Indiana State Fair. "Through My Lens: 45 States and Counting" showcases Ploehn's images - ranging from dramatic natural vistas to iconic sports arenas - reflect a young artists on a journey to photograph all 50 states before turning 18.

Timothy D. Lace's photography explores the intersection of art, science and technology, often using traditional methods with a medium-format camera and gelatin silver prints. In his "Beads and Feathers. Photographs of Mardi Gras Indians," Lace steps into the rituals taking place on the backstreets of New Orleans capturing the men and women who bead the suits in which they parade twice a year, Mardi Gras Day and Super Sunday. These brightly colored suits of beads and feathers celebrate the connections between African and Native American tradition. Their beaded "patches" depict battles won and lost, community and memorials to family and friends lost to imprisonment and street violence.

LCA's free First Friday cultural programs take place on the First Friday of each month from 5-8 p.m. The annual schedule includes everything from exhibition openings to live music and dance performances. All events are free and provide complimentary light bites and a cash bar.

For more information, contact Jessie Sexton, LCA's marketing manager, at (219) 874-4900 or jsexton@lubeznikcenter.org.