It might be October and well beyond the end of the summer tourist season, but First Friday this month promises to be lively — if a bit morbid — with group shows at the Homer Council on the Arts and the Pratt Museum. Individual artists also show their work.

Topping off the list is a reception for Rasmuson Artist in Residence Claudio Orso-Giacone at Bunnell Street Arts Center. Born in Italy, Orso-Giacone now lives in Oberlin, Ohio, and brings his extensive talents in maskmaking, paper art and wood-cut block printmaking.

Orso-Giacone’s aesthetic of dynamic, detailed focus on design is also seen in the work of local printmaker, writer, tattoo artist and painter Sarah Frary. Frary shows new paintings in “Symbiotic,” an exhibit at Ptarmigan Arts which looks at the relationships in nature at the micro and macro scale.

This fall’s community art show at the Homer Council on the Arts invited artists to contribute works on the theme of Dia de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead festival held around Halloween. Kenai Peninsula artists have created works in many media, and include dioramas by Lynn Marie Naden.

Sign artists Tracy Hansen and Tracy Early hold a show of work from their Lost Things Designs business. They have become known for their signs painted on salvaged wood, often with clever sayings or ideas. In their show at Grace Ridge Brewery, new work includes metal designs made from an old trailer.

For the Pratt Museum’s annual fall fundraiser, the Black and White Ritz Cabaret Ball, the museum features a Ritzy First Friday. Preview art to be auctioned off at the fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Wasabi’s. Other items, including some amazing outdoor adventures, also will be auctioned off and can be previewed.

Showing that summer remains true in our memories, Fireweed Gallery also offers an encore showing of Artistic Inspiration by Kenai artist Marlyn Kramer that features colorful floral and nature paintings.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.