Things are moving and shaking in the Cape Girardeau art world.

Depending on when you read this, you may be reading these words on First Friday -- the one day each month when artists throughout Cape Girardeau show their work in studios in prime time. If you've never checked it out, this might be a good month to do so.

First off, a well-known figure on the local arts scene, Craig Thomas, is opening his Black Door Gallery to the public tonight. Thomas has become a bit of a figurehead (and workhorse) for the local arts scene in the past few years, particularly the Visual Arts Cooperative and the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. I know I use him as a source quite often.

Oh yeah, he's a good artist, too. Check out Cape's newest gallery this Friday, and I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. He's exhibiting with his wife, Elizabeth, who's a local art teacher and a talented artist herself. The gallery is on South Spanish Street.

And the new First Friday experiences don't stop there.

Last month we told you through the pages of the Southeast Missourian's regular, daily edition about the new Untitled Gallery. This is a new gallery on Main Street, just a couple of doors down from Broussard's, that's dedicated to showing the work of Southeast Missouri State University art students.

Last month they had a "soft opening," but this month they're showing the work of eight different students, and welcoming all. Our university students are some of our best artistic talents. And here's a well-known secret -- you can usually buy their art at rock-bottom prices.

Also falling under the "unconventional" category this Friday is the Freewaves exhibit, a multiscreen experience of "film, video and new media art projected directly from the database of www.freewaves.org via Wi-Fi," according to the news release. Southeast art professor Seann Brackin is coordinating the local show. Freewaves shows all around the world.

This kind of art hasn't really caught on here in Cape Girardeau (though I have seen some interesting pieces from, that's right, Southeast students), so this could be a horizon-expanding experience.

And mark your calendars for February for another artistic change of pace when the arts council displays an exhibition of art from regional artists ages 18 to 30.

These artists have a lot to offer, but all too often they feel like outsiders. Not anymore.

Our choices are growing in Cape. Surely that can only be a good thing.