Picks for December ArtHop
In a time when any holiday present under the sun — including original art — can be ordered online and whisked to your home, there’s something refreshingly retro about wandering through your neighborhood gallery looking for gifts. For December ArtHop, many galleries make it possible to buy local art. My top pick of the month, then, is a compilation from the Fresno Arts Council master ArtHop list of promising places to do a little first-minute Christmas shopping:

Barbara Van Arnam’s “Pear and Coffee” at Gallery 25.
Gallery 25: A fundraiser titled the “Giving Tree” includes a symbolic representation of a tree that will have works of art of “purses” created by gallery members. The remaining part of the gallery will be a members’ exhibit.
Sorensen Studio and Galleries: The name of the game is affordable, with participating artists agreeing to feature at least one artwork for $100 or less.
Kliszewski Glass: It’s the most wonderful time of the year to visit this glassblowing studio adjacent to Sorensen Studio — because the furnaces warm you up.
Clay Mix: Members and students, along with students from Fresno State and Fresno City College Ceramics exhibit their work during a holiday sale and party.
Corridor 2122: Corridor members will present gift-shop items available for purchase referencing Corridor 2122 and their own original artworks – some of which will be on display in the gallery. Modeled after the idea of an art museum gift shop, current member-artists have stocked the gallery with affordable prints, card sets, mugs, art books, t-shirts, and other Corridor collectibles.
Fig Tree Art Gallery: “An Affordable Art Faire” features works from gallery members, none of which is more than $250.
Fresno Art Hub: The “Sip & Shop Holiday Boutique” includes chocolates, wines, ceramics, scarves and more.
Tree of Life: Enjoy small bites paired with local wines by Yribarren Family Vineyards. Taste, sip and listen to live holiday carolers as you enjoy our holiday exhibitions by photographer Babs Carlson, painters Gudo Hallstone, Sydney Farr, and Patt Rank, photographer Pedro Urena, as well as gift packs from Bari Olive Oil and other local food artists.
K-Jewel Art Gallery: Special guests include the Fresno City College Holiday Choir.
And here are two non-holiday picks that sound intriguing:
1821 Gallery & Studios
A new exhibition at 1821 Gallery & Studios features thought-provoking illustrations from Ron Wigginton’s new book “How It Happened.” This story, about “the beginning of everything,” was born from the imagination of his 5 year old daughter, Sophia. In their months-long collaboration these images flowed from another world and Wigginton painted it. Wigginton earned an MFA from the University of Oregon and his work is featured in several West Coast museums.
Thirteen giclee proofs will be available for purchase as well as the opportunity to place orders for prints. The author will be on hand for a book signing.
Spectrum Art Gallery
Architecture is the theme this month at Spectrum Art Gallery, with an exhibition by Martin Nunez offering a photo odyssey through the 21 California Missions, and an exhibition by Juergen Vespermann focusing on black and white photographic architectural details.
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Doreen Confino
Thanks for the reminder!