BONNER DAVID GALLERIES The Brady Bunch's Eve Plumb is just one of the famous names you'll find at Bonner David — apropos, considering the gallery was one of the first in town to successfully merge traditional and modern art into one big, happy family. The warmly appointed side of the space houses representational oils, while its stark white twin is home to cartoon-like creatures, whimsical toys, and abstract landscapes. 7040 E. Main St. • 480-941-8500 • www.bonnerdavid.com
ARTSPACE One of the most popular stops on the art walk, Artspace comprises three separate gallery spaces in a bright, contemporary 7,400-square-foot building. Browse one of the largest local collections of fiber art at Textures Gallery, check out paintings and mixed media-works at Robert Roman Gallery, or stop by The Loft, a group of small studios, to watch the pros at work. 7127 E. 6th Ave. • 480-423-0888 • www.artspaceaz.com
BENTLEY GALLERY If you're a modern artist working in the Valley, you know you've hit the big time when you make it into Bentley (or its larger sister space in Phoenix, Bentley Projects). The gallery, which focuses on eclectic contemporary art, represents over 30 renowned artists, including glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and successful Arizona State University grad Hector Ruiz. 4161 N. Marshall Way • 480-946-6060 • www.bentleygallery.com
LISA SETTE Touchy-feely types could easily get into trouble at Lisa Sette. Open since 1986, this corner space attracts the kind of textured, organic art that begs to be handled (a gallery no-no!), whether it's the metal-and-bone animal figures of Chicago's Jessica Joslin, a flowing woven sculpture, or plant materials encased in resin by local artist Mayme Kratz. 4142 N. Marshall Way • 480-990-7342 • lisasettegallery.com
WALK THIS WAY Some of the coolest art in Scottsdale can't be found in a gallery or museum. Heck, it isn't even found inside. We're talking about the city's expansive public art collection. More than 60 permanent pieces (including sculptures, streetscapes, and architectural elements) are located al fresco throughout Scottsdale.
A few self-guided walking tours have been plotted out around the southern part of the city (visit www.scottsdalepublicart.org for maps), where you can spend a few hours interacting with art.
Our favorite tour centers on the Civic Center Mall (3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.), where the crown jewel of the collection is Robert Indiana's gigantic aluminum Love sculpture, created in the late '60s. Another crowd pleaser is Clyde Ross-Morgan's bronze statue of popular former mayor Herb Drinkwater and his pooch Sadie.
Additional tours focus on the Camelback Walk along Loop 101 in north Scottsdale, the Gallery and Waterfront district, and south Scottsdale. Each one is guaranteed to expand your mind while shrinking your waistline.
• Knight Rise, James Turrell, inside Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) • Scrim Wall, James Carpenter • Love, Robert Indiana • Imagination Gives Us Wings, Larry Kirkland • Pillars of Thought, Mags Harries and Lajos Heder, inside the Civic Center Library • Windows to the West, Louise Nevelson
WESTERN ART Despite what most local tour guides would have you think, cheesy pottery and horse paintings do not fine art make. Also beware the howling coyote and Kokopelli. But good Western art? There's nothing better. For the best of old and new, check out the dual galleries of Legacy and Legacy Contemporary on the northwest corner of Main Street and Scottsdale Road (480-945-1113, www.legacygallery.com). The street-level space showcases a mix of traditional oils and bronzes by noted artists such as early-20th-century painter Olaf Wieghorse, while upstairs you'll find a more eclectic mix of abstract, Impressionist, and Pop Art Western pieces. Another good bet is Overland Gallery at 7155 E. Main St. (480-947-1934, www.overlandgallery.com), home to the popular Cubist-inspired Southwest landscapes of Phoenix native Ed Mell.
ARTY PARTY Not down with the Scottsdale club scene but want a funky night out? Check out Chyro Arts Venue, 1330 N. Scottsdale Rd. (480-258-2329, www.chyro.org), the city's eclectic bohemian hang. With mismatched sofas, exposed ductwork, and local tattoo art on the Mondrian-esque painted walls, you'll feel like you're in downtown Phoenix — in a good way. Head here on a Friday night and you'll find everything from plays to punk and jazz bands to indie flicks playing on a 100-inch drop screen.
THURSDAY ART WALK Scottsdale galleries tend to keep regular business hours (unlike their Phoenix counterparts), but the Thursday-evening art walk is still a favorite time to catch what's new and see who's out and about. A free trolley runs every 10 minutes until 9 p.m., so you can park and walk/ride. Remember, Main Street galleries tend to feature Western and fine art; you'll find more contemporary works on Marshall Way. Take coins with you, as musicians perform on street corners. Some galleries serve wine and cheese at openings, but if free food's not available, it's best to grab dinner between 5 and 7 p.m., when the galleries are generally closed. The weekly lineup (Warning: The art walk takes a break for much of the summer) and info about special events like January's Rockin' ArtWalk, are available at www.scottsdalegalleries.com.
Cervini Haas 7007 E. 5th Ave. 480-949-1262 www.cervinihaas.com
Duley-Jones 7100 E. Main St., Ste. D 480-945-8475 www.duleyjones.com
Femme Fatales and Fantasies 7009 E. Main St. 480-429-6800
Larsen Gallery 3705 N. Bishop Ln. 480-941-0900 www.larsengallery.com
Gebert Contemporary 7160 Main St. 480-429-0711 www.chiaroscuroaz.com
Leslie Levy 7137 E. Main St. 480-947-2925 www.leslielevy.com
Victoria Boyce Galleries 7130 E. Main St. 480-941-2494 www.vboycegalleries.com
