ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

• Though not technically a gallery, the Downtown Mesa Sculpture Walk features more than 200 permanent sculptures around every corner and along the main streets. Humpty Dumpty reclines on a wall here, a giant pink chair sits in the middle of the sidewalk there. Wherever they wander, residents and guests alike can discover an unexpected burst of art. From a bronze child crouching the feed the ducks, to a pair of Rodin-esque horses in heavy black texture, there is no shortage of photo ops and sights to explore.

• The Mesa Arts Center is a performance and visual art complex located in the downtown area. Opened in 2005, the venue features a 1600-seat theatre and the five-gallery Mesa Contemporary Arts. The space, over 200,000 square feet, also offers rehearsal classrooms for performers, and studios for visual artists, located both indoor and out. The building, built in the post-modern style, includes a sculpture garden that is named for the mayor who instigated the creation center's creation.

• Within the Mesa Arts Center resides the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. This five-gallery exhibition space showcases the work of established and emerging modern-day artists, as well as lectures and workshops by artists and art professionals. Each of the five galleries serves as a separate space: Dobson Main Gallery shows group and solo curated exhibits, the South Gallery shows work in all mediums, the Project Room features site-specific and media installations, and the North Gallery is exclusive to Arizona artists. The final gallery showcases an ever-changing presentation of the museum's growing permanent collection.

• With exhibitions for the young and young-at-heart, and programs designed for all ages, I.d.e.a. Museum is intended to be a place to see, learn and interact with art. The museum's name stands for "imagine, design, experience, art", and the non-profit venue caters to all these aspects. Various exhibits are shown throughout the year in the 20,000 square foot gallery space, Artville serves as an art-town for children up to four years old, and art classes and family programs are available.
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• Mesa Historical Museum
• Arizona Museum of Natural History
• William Barnhart Studio
• Kevin Mccain Studios
• Champlin Fighter Museum
• The Rusted Nail
• MAC Artists Cooperative Gallery
• Art Intersection

ARTISTIC INSTITUTIONS

At Mesa Community College, students can enrol in Communications or Theatre and Film Arts, as well as Digital and Fine Arts. In addition, the college offers the Sierra Summer Digital Photography Program for a fast-track to success as a photographer. Part of the largest community college district in the USA, the school has two separate campuses in the city, and offers more 200 degree and certificate programs. Committed to catering to the community, Mesa Community College offers regular yoga classes, online and online/classroom programs, and a collection of non-credit classes dedicated to continued learning for all ages.
• Study Fine Arts or Communication Arts at Benedictine University. The Mesa campus of this Illinois-based institution offers twelve undergraduate programs as well as Masters of Business Administration. The corporation of schools - four campuses in total - has been ranked in the top 20 percent of American colleges. The Mesa location is situated close to the Mesa Arts Center and the green space of Pioneer Park.

• Wine and Design
• Experience Arts School
• Young Rembrandts
• Working Art Institute
• Sun Dust Gallery and Art Studio in Gilbert

NATIVE ARTISTS

There are plenty of artistic people originally from, or currently living in Arizona!

• Ryan Avery is a comedian and performance artist.

• Alice Pelchat is a contemporary watercolorist.

• Ruth Ann LeFebvre considers herself a Photographic Arist, and uses layered images, acrylic and resin.

• Tristyn Bustamante is a sculptor whose work has been shown internationally.

• Diana Gabaldon is best known for her series of novels, Outlander.

• Actors Samaire Armstrong, Emma Stone, and Josh McDermitt

ART AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Annual Events

• Spark! is known as Mesa's Festival of Creativity. Hosted by the Mesa Arts Center, the event spans four days in March, and combines the elements (earth, air, fire and water) to create an exiting art experience. After dark, the fun continues with fireworks and live music. Encouraging interaction and creativity, the event features performance art, local musicians, folk art and delicious food.

• The Mesa Arts Festival began in 2004, and features artworks for sale by local, regional and national artists. Live stages showcase local musical talent, artist demonstrations in glass blowing, weaving, and printmaking show the work behind the art, and alternate performers wander the streets among the guests. The popular event is held in December each year.

Other Events and Sights to See

• Shop for days at the Superstition Springs Center, offering more than 100 shopping and dining venues.
• At Mesa Grande Cultural Park, see the Temple Round constructed by the Hohokam, the first people to live in Mesa, thousands of years ago.
• There is fun for all ages at Golfland Sunsplash amusement park.
• Take in a show at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre or the Mesa Amphitheatre.
• Learn about the history of the Air Force at the Commemorative Air Force Museum
• Explore Tonto National Forest, which lies just outside the city limits.
• Wander the streets to see the artistic bus shelters scattered across the city.

• Prints on Canvas Your digital files, printed on canvas and Gallery wrapped around wooden frames. Frames, canvas floaters available.
• Fine Art Prints Your personal and professional art immortalized on your choice of high quality art and photographic papers.
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• Custom Greeting Cards Ship your favorite images to your favorite people with our 4x6" or 5x7" greeting cards with envelopes.
• Canvas Transfers Want more than a copy of your favourite poster? Transfer it to canvas for a long-lasting, uniquely personal artwork.
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