Open Secret Bookstore sells new and used books, and music, on topics such as spirtuality, religion, and metaphysics. It also hosts events on most weekend nights ranging from book signings to musical performances. This bookstore is a one-stop shop for the New Age community of San Rafael complete with weekly tarot readings, meditation classes, and a Hindu temple. As one employee describes,"It is an Aquarian store with a little bit of everything."
A community arts center, Expression Gallery shows a rotating list of local artists, has a schedule of engaging classes and hosts a variety of arts-centered events. The public is welcome to browse and participate in events like book and poetry readings, craft shows and film reviews. The calendar of events is posted on the website.
Africa & Beyond is located in the heart of La Jolla on Prospect Street near a variety of restaurants, stores, art galleries and beaches. This ethnic art gallery primarily exhibits statues, African masks and unique artifacts from many different countries in Africa as well as jewelry from artists from around the world. All art on exhibition is for sale. Africa & Beyond also hosts book signings and fundraisers, for which it donates proceeds to a new charity each quarter such as the California Lost Boys & Girls Foundation.
Desert Art Collection offers the Coachella Valley some of today's most renowned artists displaying their talents in an architectural wonder of a gallery.
Exhibitions feature accomplished, renowned artists, many have won important national and international awards. One of the gallery rooms is devoted to Michael Battaglia, sought after for his ragged-edged, Venetian plaster mural paintings. Other notable artists include Robert R. Bradshaw, Charlotte Lees, Aiko Morioka, Max DeMoss, Aida Schneider, Virgil Villers and Michael Anthony Nisperos. Shows monthly through the desert season. Please call for details.
Stephanie's Art Gallery & Custom Picture Framing is an upscale art boutique located in La Canada Flintridge. Stepahnie's Art Gallery contains a collection of Armenian artist's artwork and has professional custom frames for the artwork. The owners Sepon and Linda Stepanian are very courteous and knowledgeable in Armenian art.
Pacific Edge Gallery is located on South Coast Highway in downtown Laguna Beach. This gallery has been featuring artists in solo shows since 1989. It features watercolor, oil, gauache, giclee, acrylic, and other mediums. The focus here is Early California Impressionism, but abstract art is also a draw. This gallery has been a participant gallery in First Thursdays Artwalk, since its inception.
Since 1991, this gallery has been offering affordable fine art and custom framing to the local community. Featured artists include Kathleen Keifer, Ross Moore and Ray Packard. The framing services specialize in conservation framing, offering moulding and materials from the finest manufacturers. Custom mirrors are also available.
This gallery has a unique mix of paintings and sculptures. Purchase fine art with high-end, custom framing or enjoy the extensive collection that pays tribute to famous children's author Dr. Seuss.
Not just a music store, Heriz Music and Art houses seven studios and offers lessons with 11 teachers. Owner Margarita Heriz taught music to high school students in Bogotá, Colombia, but soon learned she preferred working with instruments rather than in the classroom. Inevitably, she brought the classroom to her shop. Heriz's philosophy on music is to spark interest for aspiring musicians. She says the learning process does not necessarily begin with merely setting up lessons, but by looking, absorbing or just visiting and starting to get ideas. Aside from instruments such as clarinets, saxophones, flutes, pianos and customary guitars, Heriz Music and Art offers repairs as well.
MCC is a sculptor working in stone, bronze, and foam with epoxy coatings. She creates both large public art sculptures and gallery pieces. Her latest invented medium is a combination of commercial foam and steel armatures, coated with water based epoxies and then finished with metal coatings or paint. These sculpture can be any size and be placed anywhere indoors or out. See her website for further information and pictures.
The Arts Guild of Sonoma is a non-profit organization serving as a public gallery for local and Bay Area artists. Founded in 1977, the guild is the longest continually operating artists' cooperative in California and is housed in a welcoming gallery on East Napa Street in downtown Sonoma. The Arts Guild is a major contributor to the local art scene in Sonoma and maintains ongoing artist exhibits that rotate once a month and are open to the public. Works include oil paintings, jewelry, photography, sculpture and pottery.
Additionally, the guild strives to "pick up the slack" of lacking art education in local schools and offers community art mentoring and outreach, and annually produces the "Small but Grand Works," exhibit, a summer mentoring program for Sonoma Valley High School students.