This is a must do in Scottsdale. Period. Art is an…read moreexperience. A memory. This will be a core memory for you right here. You will expand your mind and think about how art parameters are often too narrow. Parking was easy. Old town shopping is across the street. There are a plethora of outdoor sculptures to explore. This is a day for the whole family. Be sure to say hi to the nicest docent ever! George loves to tell you about the work and is the most lovely soul. So far this was my favorite day in AZ yet.

Small but always have great exhibitions! They are in the civic center where there are other…read moreactivities happening all the time. It is like a place to escape from all busy things nearby. I like the outdoor area within the building that have curved walls. It is quiet and I can be relax in there.

We finally made it to the Phoenix Art Museum! It was a very hot day and we wanted to go out and…read moreabout somewhere where it was indoors and cool! This was the ticket! Plus I wanted to see the Italian Florentine Baroque, The Haukohl Collection. The parking was easy and ample. We were early so the parking lot was almost empty. Upon entering, I noticed they offered discounts for veterans for $20.00. I saved $10.00! They informed us that a couple of exhibits were closed for renovations. That didn't bother me since I was mainly here for the Florentine exhibit, which is where we started our self guided tour. The exhibits features more than 30 rare 17th and 18th century paintings and sculptures showcasing Florence's artistic legacy under the Medici Grand Dukes. The exhibits were beautiful. Each told their own story. Each painting were characterized by bold symbolism, vivid colors, and dramatic contrast of light and shadow. I read each plaque next to each painting. I highly recommend viewing this exhibit in person as this is the largest holding of Florentine Baroque art outside of Italy. Of course we toured the remaining exhibits that were open. It was $20.00 x 2 well spent. I love museums and I'd wish I would visit them more. Summer is the perfect time to visit them as it keeps you out of the summer heat!

Update: new visit / new rating change…read more I recently visited on Friday June 5 evening on their free[smart] First Friday to view the Colorwear exhibition. Upon my viewing, a plus-size punk poseur wearing all-black of a docent named "Teri" approached me and touched my hand that was holding my govt phone as I was videoing; it had on a green ring that let me know the recorder was on and looked like she was saying something about it*. I was hearing-impaired and hinted to her to write it down to be sure. She said she was sorry but refused/was too lazy to write it down, so I had to 'guess'. I went to the manager (Asian) and told him that "Teri" touched my hand uninvited. He embarrassingly apologized and handed me 2 free passes in the future. That's it. After that weekend, I contacted the museum via VP and got a "Kay" who took down my report. She contacted me back and left a message stating that "Teri" did nothing wrong because she didn't smack or use force. I contacted "Kay" back and reiterated that "Teri" had no right to touch me in any way or form and that it's called an assault because it was an uninvited touch. You're only permitted to touch a stranger if you had a question or wanted to compliment someone, NOT to dominate! I also tried to add that it's a violation of the ADA to refuse any assistance to visitors with disabilities. "Kay" was clueless and refused to let me continue the ADA part and even admitted that she never spoke to "Teri" but just referred the incident to the director assuming that the director talked with "Teri". She also interrupted me as I explained the violation of that touch. Unprofessional. I contacted the director "Rita" who stated she had no idea of such incidence happening associated with "Teri". She said that Teri is a volunteer and that there's nothing she could do about a "Teri". B.S. Both workers and volunteers are required by law to obey the same ADA! She also rushed me to end the conversation because she had to leave minutes ago or else her boss would bug her to go home already = unprofessional. Right (eye rolling). *I was at the museum on an assignment and had to re-film the part that "Teri" interrupted. The thing I figured was there was an African-American docent (very professional) who accompanied me by taking a photo of me by the display, something led from there that I was not aware of. Why didn't "Teri" approached HIM and ask. Why me?? A docent's job is to engage with visitors, not boss or follow around(!) They even get grumpy when visitors asked them to help take pictures of them standing by the displays. I am receiving more and more reviews of how abusive some docents are towards visitors with disabilities and also visitors with young children. Past & present. I was going to think that maybe some of those visitors did something wrong. I will be reporting this to the proper agencies that handle this type of misconduct by a business. People in Arizona often display pure hatred towards disabilities, calling it an 'inconvenience'. Shame on you, Phoenix Art Museum. If you are in the same class and must go to this museum, be sure to bring a bodyguard with you and don't be alone- ever. I suspect that "Teri" felt comfortable approaching me because I was (seemingly) a lone visitor. Good luck.

Lots to see and learn here, and guided tours available at scheduled times, though I preferred to…read moreroam the museum at my own pace. Posters and film clips of westerns like A Man Called Horse (1970) and Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josie Wells (1976). Handcuffs of all kinds on display (more accurately described as "retaining devices") in a western themed set. Mac Schweitzer's impressive collection of artworks, including depictions of desert animals and the wild west, especially a multitude of horse pieces. Countless paintings and artifacts on the second level, portraying native american history, the buffalo, and the evolution of american west landscapes. Scenes of collective work in western life among cowboys, herders, and traders. I found Eddie Basha's cottonwood tree root carvings interesting. And I was especially a fan of "Rabbit Hunt" by Loren Phillips (Hopi). Fistful of Colors in the north gallery explored the diverse meanings of color, such as the term "feeling blue", and how colors tell stories, evoke emotions, and create connections. The room transitioned into displays of movie posters, explaining why those from different countries vary in the way they are presented. Interactive exhibits throughout allow visitors to learn about Shakespeare in the Old West, women of the rodeo, even a scavenger hunt to find "escaped animals" in the museum. I was amused by fun facts like the first circus (Ryland's traveling show) taking place in Tombstone Arizona Territory in 1880, or how the full saying of "Ay Chihuahua" translates to "Yikes! How many Apache Indians are there without sandals!", referring to Apache raiders like Geronimo invading northern mexico wearing calf-high deerskin moccasins. There was also a small sculpture garden outside and gift shop worth checking out before leaving.

One of my goals this year is to be more like a tourist even though I'm a resident. Meaning hitting…read moreup the types of spots that tourists would visit in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Case in point: Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West. I stopped by on a Sunday afternoon with my mom to check out this museum that specializes in Western and Native American art. Here's what I really like: complimentary docent-led tours three times daily. We got to participate in two of them. They're a great way to get a more in-depth view of the museum. With that being said, even if you explore the museum on your own, you'll have a great time doing it. It's a two-level museum and there's plenty to read about and check out. We spent roughly three hours there and probably got through about 50% of the museum. Here's what I didn't like: they have two back-to-back video presentations in the small theater. They unfortunately weren't happening when I was there due to a private event. Bad luck on my part. Also, general admission is a bit pricey. Outside of the price, it's a fantastic museum. There's a complimentary parking lot across from the museum or you can find street parking. And it's a few blocks away from the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. You'll see Arizona's landscape represented in paintings, Native American artwork, Western movies, and much, much more. I'll definitely be back again!

I came here during a work trip--my first time visiting Arizona. I was looking for something to do…read moreon my last day, and several people recommended checking this place out. I arrived just before sunset, and it was absolutely beautiful. The gardens were well-maintained, peaceful, and offered some amazing views as the sun went down. I really enjoyed taking my time walking through the different areas and soaking in the scenery. The grounds were very clean, and the pathways were easy to navigate, making for a relaxing and enjoyable experience. If you're visiting the area and looking for a scenic way to spend a few hours, I would definitely recommend stopping by.

Always a lovely spot!…read more The desert really does bloom! Well-attended and great walking trails.

Was in the area from out of town and I wanted to see this beautiful house in person. I wasn't able…read moreto go inside but the outside is so pretty Love all the details. It's truly breathtaking

I grew up in an old victorian house and thought it would be fun to bring my dad here for a tour…read morewhen he was in town visiting. We ended up being the only ones on the tour which was nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The entire house has been restored to represent how the original owners would have it set up as closely as possible. The inside details are gorgeous and intricate. Our tour ended up being more like 45 minutes because it was just us and we didn't ask questions. It was a great way to spend a little bit of time before our next activity.

The Marshall Gallery is located in an Old Town Scottsdale. It is one of my favorite galleries in…read morethe area for all their contemporary collection of paintings, glass, and sculptures. Don't forget to visit their upstairs area showing more glass works and paintings. Free street parking.

I visited the Marshall Art Gallery this morning and received an excellent education in many fine…read moreartists and their outstanding pieces. I personally loved the works of Douglas Aagars. Jillian did a wonderful job of demonstrating the importance of lighting when displaying his Birch Tree painting. The Gallery had a wonderful display of multiple mediums from many artists from the Western States. I would recommend visiting this Gallery and working with Jillian Latzman.

Wowww, I have heard about this garden for sometime but finally I made it happen to visit…read more As soon as you stepped in-- you already find yourself in the right place; calm, peaceful, beautiful and simple. The garden is well maintained and organized, quiet place for give yourself quiet time and meditation. The garden is not that big place to walk around, but it's definitely worth it if you feel like need to escape and looking for nature therapy--this is the one! Give yourself more time to sit back and enjoy the greenery. The staff is super friendly and welcoming! I will definitely come back again soon.

Honestly, this place is absolutely gorgeous,I will fully admit that. The setup, lights, and overall…read moreaesthetic are really beautiful and definitely make for pretty pictures. But personally, I just don't see it being worth the price of $14 a person. One of the biggest things for me was that the actual area itself felt a lot smaller than I expected. On top of that, there were SO many people packed in that it was hard to even stop for a second and actually enjoy the ambiance without constantly being surrounded by crowds or trying to move around people. It kind of took away from the experience because instead of feeling immersive or relaxing, it mostly just felt overcrowded. What also made it hard for me to justify the price is that you can literally see the entire thing through the fence from the park next to it. Honestly, if I ever wanted to see it again, I'd probably just go sit at the park, save my money, and actually have more room to enjoy the view comfortably without feeling packed in shoulder to shoulder with everyone else. Overall, it's definitely very pretty and visually impressive, but for me personally, the experience didn't match the cost enough to make me want to return.

I had 2 oil on canvas paintings that were originally purchased by my grandparents, both painted by…read moreartist Andreas Roth. At the urging of my wife, I took them to the Scottsdale Marketplace recently (https://scottsdalemarketplace.com/) and was introduced to John L. who accepted them on consignment. John is very knowledgeable regarding this type of artwork, and potential values. The very next day I received a message from John letting me know that one of the paintings had already sold. Thank you John! John's website - https://estateandconsignmentfineart.com/ I highly recommend John and his team for handling the sale of your family's artwork.

This is now run out of Chapin house by Carol. BUYER BEWARE!…read more A majority if not all their stuff is fake and forgery under the guise of "we don't authenticate". However, they label the products with famous artists names and have premium pricing making people think they are authentic. At least Payton (owner at Chapin) understood and took back our fake paintings and gave a full refund. I believe Chapin house in general is a fine business, but "Estates fine art" inside Chapin house is sketchy at best. Probably illegal and needs some sort of reporting to someone who handles art forgery.