Creative screengrabs, Pokémon colouring part of First Friday event

Add Pokémon catching to the activities at this month’s First Friday downtown cultural walkabout.

Teaming up with Future Pastimes, the pokestop at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery promises to be swarming with cartoon critters from 6-9 p.m. Friday – where lures will be dropped every 30 minutes.

Water and refreshments will be on hand, along with free wireless, phone charging stations and air conditioning for Pokémon Go players, and others interested in checking out the gallery.

“We’re going to provide an environment that is more Pokémon-friendly for users,” said Shelly Mallon, art collection officer at the gallery.

“Because it’s huge right now.”

Being a pokestop, where gamers can stock up on in-game items like pokeballs, has helped get awareness about the gallery out there, she said.

Occasionally people wander in hunting a Rattata or Zubat, but most do their catching outside on the street corner, and there’s been nothing untoward inside the gallery, she said.

“No swerving after Pokémon and knocking a piece of art down or anything,” she said.

Mallon doesn’t play herself, but said she likes how the game is getting people active.

“I get really excited when people say there’s Pokémon in the gallery,” she said. “I’m really hoping that Pikachu will come to the gallery on First Friday.”

There’ll also be Pokémon-related prizes up for grabs for creative screenshots, and some Pokémon-themed colouring as well.

“It’s just a fun way to get people interested,” Mallon said.

The Sarnia Observer
By Tyler Kula

Original Article