Marin's Wonderland of Art in San Rafael

San Rafael's Art Works Downtown is Marin's "incubator for the arts". The 40,000 square-foot complex, housed in the circa 1878 Gordon’s Opera House building, is a labyrinth of studio spaces, galleries, and retail shops. The cultural heart of San Rafael, the center buzzes with creative activity, especially during the holiday season. 

Touring the center, you'll find studio spaces for over 35 artists plus five galleries, including the main gallery whose current show features paintings, drawings and sculptures by Sunila Bajracharya. Chances are you'll meet artists like Barbara Lawrence, whose colorful pastels and oil paintings feature Marin landscapes and rural scenes, and Stephanie Jucker, originally from London, who paints primarily on canvas with oil and also does mixed media printmaking.

On the second Friday of every month, the center is the focal point of a free Art Walk from 5pm to 8pm. The public is invited to stroll Fourth Street between A and G streets and peruse the galleries, meet the artists in their studios, stop for a glass of wine at the TuTu Lounge next door, and shop for artisan-crafted jewelry at the Marin Jewelers Guild. Several other nearby merchants, from bookstores to salons, welcome art walkers and there's live entertainment and fun for the entire family.

In December, Art Works' main gallery hosts a juried "small works" show featuring works smaller than 18x18x18, all by Bay Area artists. It's the perfect place for art lovers to find unique holiday gifts that are just the right size.

In addition to ongoing classes for adults and children in ceramics, painting, paper casting, photography, drawing, and sculpture, the center hosts special hours for weekend gift shopping in December. Art Works Downtown is located at 1325-1337 Fourth St., San Rafael; (415) 451-8119. Regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12am to 6pm.