If you care about art (and if you didn't, you wouldn't be reading this), I can't imagine why you…read morewould entrust it to anyone else. Steve and Rob approach every project with a genuine enthusiasm that makes every encounter a delight, and their combined technical expertise and attention to detail enhance the final product in the most beautiful ways. As a student many, many years ago, I almost dreaded finishing a drawing or painting because I found the process of matting and framing so tedious; now I look forward to spending time with Rob and Steve (and trusty office assistants Rafi and Amigo) because they make the process so much fun. Whether it's a humble poster or a priceless oil painting, your art will get the generous attention and close-reading it deserves, and you'll love it even more than you did before.

I reached out to them about framing several high value pieces, one very large. They were unable to…read moreget the supplies needed to frame my large piece and rather than discuss assisting me with the others, they merely wished me luck. In a follow up email, I expressed my surprise at their indifference to the many pieces I needed framed; their further response was exceptionally rude and dismissive. For premier framers, I thought they would be enthusiastic about assisting me with my art collection but I was treated as an annoying child. I wonder if I would've been treated with a modicum of respect had I been a man. Will never grace them with my business.

The art showcased seemed very current, yet basic to me. I think I recall cheesy flower portraits,…read morethat were similar to what I have seen in some small breakfast cafes. Art is art though... still great to look at. The owners seem to like artists who portray landscapes and cityscape's in their work. The studio also showcases sculptures, which were appealing, especially some of the colors, but please, leave the horse bronze sculptures behind. The coolest thing about this gallery is that they offer workshops, a mentorship program,, and ongoing classes such as open studio, figure drawing, and technique. * Star one is for bringing me to First Friday... Gotta look cool and artsy ** Hey there friend star two is for bringing community together *** Hey newbie star three is for showcasing new artists to help spin careers **** I got no talent star four is for classes, workshops and trainings, a great way to help art move forward

The Standing Sun Gallery is another art space along Santa Fe between 8th and 12th street, featuring…read morespecifically Rocky Mountain artists. The gallery strives to present artwork that is, "very high quality, attractive, and affordable." I am always one to support institutions supporting the art, but I must say, all three criteria are quite subjective, are they not? I would agree, yes, the artwork here is attractive, but is this really an important objective of artwork? The last time I visited this gallery featured were many heavy-handed, textured, acrylic renderings of sailboats at sea. Very "attractive,"---aesthetically pleasing, but really, not a lot going on above than this. All pieces are exceptionally well framed. Also, very nice bronze sculptures this last visit---Ray Charles, Miles Davis by TJ Riley. A great collection of handmade beads. The Standing Sun Gallery is a little nice, a little classy.

The NoBo Art Center is part of the NoBo Art District off Broadway in North Boulder. It's a bit hard…read moreto find. If you're going north on Broadway, turn left when you see Wapos Mexican restaurant, then follow the driveway to the south of the restaurant building. Immediately behind Wapos you'll see a low, green building with garage-type business units. The first space is the NoBo Art Center. This facility is used for monthly art exhibits, selected from NoBo Art District member proposals. There is also an active schedule of events including workshops, classes, and performances. The space is available to rent by NoBo members. This is a small, basic space for art exhibition, but it has good, white walls, a decent lighting system, and a reasonably high ceiling. It provides an acceptable gallery for viewing art. I have only made one visit so far, so I can't comment on the quality of the NoBo membership, but the exhibit I saw of Mollie Jackson's work was quite impressive. Some of her pieces were fairly large-scale and the space was able to accommodate them.

Spark is the oldest cooperative gallery in Denver (1979) and features many accomplished artists at…read moremid- to late career. There's no particular theme to the selection of artists and I find the shows widely variable in quality. Spark has bounced around to many locations, but recently moved from their long-time spot at 9th and Santa Fe to this fabulous new venue, directly across the plaza from the main entrance to the Denver Art Museum. The gallery has taken advantage of this high visibility with extended hours and is now open every afternoon from Friday through Tuesday. The gallery is elegant and well-designed for the display of a substantial amount of work. There's usually something for everyone and the space is well-worth a visit. One of the artists is always there and they are happy to talk about their work.

Spark Gallery, located right on the corner of 9th and Santa Fe, is one of the more impressive…read moregalleries located on the Santa Fe Art Walk. It is spacious, has several smaller studios in it, and has mixed mediums. One of the things I remember especially about this gallery use of oils on Masonite by one artist, which created a very earthy abstract theme. Quite cool, but naturally pricey. Nonetheless, when I noted to my lady friend that this place was better than most of the galleries we've seen so far, she relied to me that the people in here looked exactly like the people she would see in swank-ass SF galleries: not interested in the art in the least but in networking, kissing-ass, and trying to get laid. Pretty harsh perhaps, but there was a ring of truth to this fact as I looked around. I'm not sure why I felt this way in this gallery especially, but it was there so....no 5 for you

We were staying across the street while visiting from out of town and we stumbled upon this gallery…read moreand bar. We decided to sit down and get a drink, the lady at the bar was nice and offered to make me her red white & blue drink (it's the Fourth of July) and I went for it! It's delicious and tastes like a bomb pop. We hung out and listened to good music and were surrounded by cool art.

it often has cutting edge contemporary art and local artists and they are happy to talk about art…read morewith you

We really enjoyed this experience! Jen is a great instructor and her pottery studio is adorable…read more The environment is laid back and very comfortable. Be sure to take a 4WD/AWD vehicle if there's any chance of snow/wet on the ground, as there's some dirt road. Jen also has some items for sale that she made in a little shop by her studio. There are a lot of wonderful pieces that are reasonably priced.

Comfortable atmosphere and an amazing fun time. Jen is very friendly, fun and knowledgeable. Love…read moreher ceramics as well as lessons for couples and friend dates.

This is nothing fancy, a typical gallery, but it has rotating exhibits and has a section where they…read moreoften display the art of the students at the nearby college/art program. They had three different types of exhibits when I visited, all modern/contemporary. It's free to enter, but I gave a donation. The staff was really kind and professional. This gallery is in the heart of the Santa Fe art district (reviewed separately). They offer a map that shows you all the nearby galleries, frame shops, vintage shops, etc. You could make a day of it.

I love going to the lectures and workshops that support the exhibitions in the main gallery. CVA is…read morealways focused on showing a new perspective and providing an amazing resource for MSU Denver students and the community. CVA is worth checking out on First Friday.

I set out to integrate myself into the arts community in the Denver Metro, and I feel like this…read moreorganization can deliver! I attended a meeting after being invited by a new acquaintance. I was so inspired by the intense energy and enthusiasm of the members. After going months without creative contact, it was refreshing to be around other artists and be able to talk about art without any shame or pretense! The facility itself is very clean and well-maintained. There is ample gallery space with plenty of opportunities for artist members and volunteers to showcase their work. The website is also very comprehensive and makes it very easy to look up upcoming opportunities, past successes, and current work and contact information of the artists it supports. Kudos to 40 West Arts for taking the plunge and creating a safe space for artists in the community!

I've been bullied for two years by another teacher/artist/dancer and when she escalated at Westfax,…read moreinstead of hearing both sides or seeing evidence, they joined in the slander/libel and banned me. I've been coming to 40 west for years and been an artist through them for 2 years, I had also talked to them previously about the bully and my fear and thought they would stand with me. They took a little while to respond and said they would look into it. When I filed the lawsuit against the bully, I sent on the cover sheet and said I would be happy to provide any evidence or answer any questions. I had been clear about needing a deadline of 9/30, I though a month and half to hear anything was more than reasonable, but they just ghosted me. So now I had to file a lawsuit against them to try and be treated equitably and so I can feel safe moving forward. having to do that, when I'm already dealing with someone who is unhinged is crap.