I cannot recommend this gallery enough as an escape and an art lover's destination far removed from…read morethe hustle and bustle of the San Francisco galleries. They operate as a co-op and feature a truly stunning variety of works and subjects. I especially love coming here on the weekends and enjoying the coast and wine country. If you are looking to support local artists and enjoy seeing beautiful canvases and sculptures up close and in person, make a point or visiting Sebastopol Gallery on Main Street!

This art gallery showcases the work local artists including one of my favorite, James Reynolds. We…read morehave currently own three pieces of his beautiful artwork hanging in our home which we thoroughly enjoy. I've also seen some beautiful jewelry there as well handcrafted by local artists. It's a really enjoyable experience visiting the gallery and sometimes meeting the artists. Sebastopol is a charming town to visit with a nice farmer's market and wonderful wineries in close proximity in Sonoma County.

A neat surprise of two separate galleries, one art, and the other history. Very interactive and…read moreawesomely local! FYI, it took me about an hour at the history museum in about 30 minutes in the art museum. Art: this museum is the one story building that is on the corner of B St, and very conspicuous with the signs on the wall. I hear that the exhibitions rotate every five months or so and is the contemporary art side of the museum. It's a smaller of the two galleries but definitely worth a visit. History: as someone who is not very familiar with the county, I did not know that this was the post office that used to be on 5th Street, some blocks over from its current location. There's more explanation inside the history museum if you are interested in learning more! The second floor is the permanent exhibition regarding the history of Santa Rosa. The first floor seems to be rotating exhibitions. *I actually found the exhibitions at the history museum quite engaging as they put a lot of interactive elements such as wine tasting (reservations needed) and a petting zoo for band instruments and a chance to listen to music using a turntable and cassette tapes. I usually visit most museums once, but I would definitely love to come back to the history museum in the future- and maybe bring some friends and family so they can also enjoy this magnificent space as well.

Be Still My Art Art…read moreand history museum located in the heart of Downtown Santa Rosa that's been celebrating the region's history and art scene for over forty years (ca. 1985). The Good: *More than the name implies, as it's not just a history museum but also an art museum, as well as a sculpture garden. *Staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. *$12/adult, $10/senior, and $6/kid makes this an inexpensive option for things to do, especially on a rainy day. *The art section of this museum is truly incredible. There were some truly beautiful pieces of art on display here that left us mesmerized. The Meh: *Only open Wed - Sun. *The history section of this museum was just OK, but maybe it just didn't hold up to the art portion. The Ugly: *Paid street parking only. Conclusion: Great little museum to come check out when visiting the area and a good way to kill an hour or two.

Calabi Gallery is one in a million. In a sea of mediocre and soulless art pimps, this guy is an…read moreangel and a true patron. He has the most eclectic and ahead-of-the-times artists represented- the kind of thing you buy for a song now and others pay top dollar for in another few years when they catch up. This is more than a gallery. It's obvious when you walk in that this is a man who loves the work and just wants his clients to love it too. He's a conservator by trade and knows so much more about the work than any curator or dealer. Bottom line: this place and it's people have soul!

I don't know why this cooperative artists' studio complex has been designated as closed--it…read moredefinitely is NOT. It's true that the building itself isn't open except by appt. with individual artists and for special events like this past June's Art at the Source Open Studios. The next big event for Atelier One will be their 30th Anniversary celebration on Sept. 30th and Oct. 1st 2017. It's an intriguing and wonderful place to visit--a historic old apple processing building that now provides studios for a diverse group of artists and craftspeople. (See http://atelierone.blogspot.com)

Our favorite mixed media art gallery that's left in this area, when it's open! [By appointment…read moreonly]. We've been to several of their open houses over the years, & they are always well worthwhile attending. Too bad they're not open to the public at least on weekends. They've got a lot of very interesting & well done work, which is much more than I can say for some of the galleries we've been to here.

This gallery is incredible, they have the most unique sculptures and artwork and I found a piece…read morethat I really liked. It's only 15 K who's paying lol, they have the biggest hammer and corkscrew ever seen! It's very entertaining to walk through here and take pictures and the girl who works here is very tolerant of all the tourists a.k.a. me

Interesting art collection wonderfully displayed. Fun place to visit!…read moreHelpful staff.

High quality handcrafted items. If you have friends or family who are artists themselves, who have…read morea discerning eye, this is the place to shop for a gift. And get something for yourself too! I did. The owner is friendly and helpful (not obtrusive) and knows a lot about the craftspeople whose items are sold here if you want to hear the backstory.

Located in the heart of downtown Petaluma, Usher Gallery is a true gem! Not just a unique gallery…read morefeaturing art exhibits and special events where you can meet and visit with their featured artists, Usher is a gift shop full of handmade and locally crafted treasures! Look no further next time you need a gift for someone special (including yourself). Follow their social media page on Instagram for information on their outdoor FREE LIVE MUSIC evenings!

Maybe they are taking a cue from the Devil's Wear Prada since some of the pieces in there were…read morefeatured in the film. I was in there for about 10 minutes or so and the salesperson never said anything except hi after I said hi first, no let me know if I can show you anything, if you have questions...nothing. There was not one other person in the shop when I was there (or the other 2 times I walked by it that day) so not sure why she couldn't bother paying any attention to me. I went in because I was going to treat myself to something special on my birthday but I vowed to never go back in this shop. A little friendliness goes a long way! I really hope this wasn't one of the owners working that day.

Gallery Lulo is a chic gallery, just off the Healdsburg Plaza, selling unique contemporary art and…read morewearable art. The Gallery is owned by 2 fabulous local women so shopping there supports local families and our local economy. We purchased art for our home and have eyes on some jewelry. The bright space and beautiful pieces always leave us feeling happy and inspired - check them out when in Healdsburg.

This is a very cool place for anyone interested in crafts and arts. The woodworking equipment is…read moreexceptional and state of the art. There are a variety of other art stations to meet the variety of arts and crafts interests. The staff folk are friendly and helpful. It is definitely worth checking out.

A Maker's Dream // Stellar Non-Profit Superb Community //…read moreClasses Galore Imagine making all of DIY projects that you saved on Pinterest. Or repurposing some old materials into something new. Maybe you have other purchases in mind rather than photoshop suite, a space to shoot objects, a table saw, a compressor, drills, or a welding rod. Creative tools can be expensive... why not share instead of investing in something you will use only a few times? Well, you can thank your lucky stars you stumbled across this place, and thank the Mother/Son team who built the organization along with other contributors and volunteers. Lots of love has poured into Chimera. A dream come true for anyone who wants to take on new project or learn a new skill. Walking around I couldn't help but notice creativity fills every inch of the space, a 100 year old Truck converted to battery powered by solar, a fun frisbee game welded out of bicycle tires, chains and a stand... a two seater recumbent bike (maybe a burning man creation?) awesome sculptures hanging inside. I feel fortunate to have come here with friends to work on another friend's project. We spent the day in the space working quietly and met a handful of people. Including an inventor who was volunteering at the front desk, and a web designer who helps fellow makers create an online presence and market their work. Helpful, cheerful, and excited about what this space is for the community each and every person lit up with a smile when they talked about how great Chimera is. With entry level memberships at around $10 per visit, it's affordable for even a dabbler or someone from out of town who wants to rent an airbnb and have a long weekend of tinkering. Conveniently located near downtown, the community market (also a NPO, run by VERY nice volunteers) is across the street offering locally made food, and an organic food bar. There is a CVS several doors down, and downtown has a variety of restaurants and a whole foods market too. If you're still reading, you're clearly curious... Come learn how to 3D Print, or use a laser cutting machine, weld, sew, make jewlery, and then photograph your Etsy worthy pieces and have a great time! Need photoshop or video editing? They have computer stations you can use too. Such a great spot! Come on by and say hello. I promise they're friendly. The Scene: Artsy Fun, Creatives, Inventors, Co-Working Destination Rating: 9 Date Rating: 10 Hob Nob Potential:9 Strong Suggestion: Even if you do not live close by it would be worth the drive. GREAT space, lovely town. *** Note: If you have any tools that you would like to donate, I believe they can provide a tax deduction and the community would be grateful.