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The Art And Culture Of Spokane: A Guide To Local Galleries And Museums

by | Feb 4, 2023 | Things To See

Spokane, Washington, is becoming known as a center for art and culture. With its up-and-coming arts scene, Spokane offers something to everyone who enjoys exploring the creative world.

From lesser-known galleries and museums to iconic venues, there’s no shortage of places for artisans to explore. In this post, we will take a closer look at some of Spokane’s amazing local galleries and museums that you must visit if you admire visual arts or performance pieces. Get ready to discover some truly unique Spokane art galleries in the city!

Avenue West Gallery

The Avenue West Gallery is a locally-run cooperative that proudly showcases some of the region’s most talented and accomplished artists. Every artwork displayed in our Gallery is available for purchase, and we are more than happy to arrange shipping services for customers who live outside of town.

At Avenue West, we have been proudly 100% member-owned since 2003 and take great pleasure in presenting various artistic mediums, including but not limited to oil, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, woodwork, glassblowing, and photography. Our goal since our inception has been to showcase the creativity of our members through these various art forms to generate a space for creative expression and appreciation.

Brick Wall Photographic Gallery

Owned by the renowned photographer Joe Nuess, this Photographic Gallery is a highly elegant sales gallery focusing exclusively on photography. Featuring an extensive array of stunning works that span all photographic genres and styles, from breathtaking landscapes to captivating abstracts and from vibrant color shots to monochromatic black-and-white photographs, this acclaimed exhibition space provides visitors with a wealth of possibilities for both appreciation and contemplation.

Every month, the physical and virtual space occupied by the Gallery proudly displays the work of a different photographer sourced from both local and international locations. In addition to showcasing each artist’s pieces, visitors to the Gallery can also peruse its extensive online collection featuring works by earlier featured artists.

Jen Mitsuko drew attention when she recently displayed her abstract and surrealist photos, as did the hauntingly beautiful black and white photography from Cole Thompson. Other artists who showcased their works at shows include Moises Levy and Jason Langer.

Saranac Art Projects

The Saranac Art Projects is a non-profit organization promoting and celebrating contemporary art. It is dedicated to inspiring creativity and culture in the community by giving people access to cutting-edge artwork.

Through its various projects, it provides educational opportunities, enabling everyone to become more informed about creative practices and trends. The organization also strives to create an environment that encourages dialogue between artists, patrons, curators, and other public members. As part of this mission, it seeks collaborations with like-minded organizations to broaden its reach and impact on society.

At this artist cooperative, local and regional artists and curators join forces to explore contemporary art trends and ideas they share with the public through exhibitions, critique sessions, talks, and demonstrations.

Exhibits of two artists showcased at the same time open on First Friday, resonating with Spokane’s art and cultural event. The first Friday of each month marks the unveiling of such new displays. Mariah Boyle, Katie Creyts, and Garric Simonsen are part of an artist grouping comprising current and previous contributors.

Northwest Museum Of Arts And Culture

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is committed to safeguarding and promoting the rich heritage of the Inland Northwest. Through the museum’s entire collection of educational programs and engaging exhibitions, it works diligently to preserve and share the cultural history of this special region with generations to come.

The MAC features collections of artifacts exhibiting American Indian objects, 19th and 20th-century art, and regional history. Also, continuously featured are rotating exhibits so patrons can discover something different each time. While there, you can decide to dine at the historic davenport hotel and learn some history since it was built in the twentieth century.

The elegant main house of the Campbell House, a stunning English Tudor Revival style property surrounded by a service wing and nearby carriage home, seamlessly transports Campbell House visitors back to showcase life circa 1910. The building, located at the MAC, has become an iconic representation of this historical period.

Careful restoration of the Campbell House was done between 1984 and 2001 to give visitors an insight into life near the turn of the century. The refurbishment provided an accurate glimpse of the era from around this time.

New Moon Art Gallery

The New Moon Art Gallery is well-known in downtown Spokane, displaying pieces by several successful artists. It provides a wide array of fine art and craftworks on view, as well as a selection of handcrafted items purchasable in the shop.

New Moon regularly hosts juried art shows, providing a platform for established and emerging artists to showcase their work. Additionally, they provide numerous classes and workshops. This allows people to explore the creative process and develop their skills in various mediums. The schedule is always evolving, so watching for the most recent events and opportunities is important.

Jundt Art Museum

The Jundt Art Museum, located on the campus of Gonzaga University, functions as an academic museum. The Gallery’s permanent collection contains a wide range of genres and artists. Notably highlighted by Rembrandt’s Old Master prints and Piranesi’s works. Andy Warhol and Dale Chihuly are two contemporary artists represented in the museum.

As a showpiece of their talent, the ‘Gonzaga University Red Chandelier’ hangs proudly in its Chancellor’s Room. Throughout the year, the museum puts on a selection of temporary art exhibits that encompass various types of artwork. These exhibitions include traveling shows from other locations around the globe, exhibits created by curators from the university’s art collection, and displays featuring student work.

Recent exhibits at the museum included works by Ansel Adams. A renowned American photographer and a student-curated show with recent acquisitions.

Corbin Art Center

The Corbin Art Center offers exclusive programs dedicated to appreciating and developing fine arts and crafts for children and adults. With its small class sizes, each participant is guaranteed to receive ample instructor attention. This ensures that everyone can benefit from high-quality instruction.

Experience the diverse range of courses available at the Corbin Art Center in Spokane. Take part in this great cultural experience and explore all available. From drawing and painting to fiber crafts, photography, cooking, soap making, and writing. Enroll today and take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities the center offers!

Conclusion

Spokane is a city with a wide range of regional history artifacts. If you want to get acquainted with the local arts and culture, check out Avenue West Gallery, Saranac Art Projects, New Moon Art Gallery, and the others mentioned above gallerlies.

All of which showcase the work of talented regional artists. No matter your taste in art, you’re sure to find something that interests you at one of these galleries. So, enjoy the best Spokane offers by visiting one (or all) of these excellent galleries!