Spokane, WA

I’ve always been enticed by curiosity when walking past The Artist’s Tree, an art gallery across from the Davenport Hotel on 828 W. Sprague in downtown Spokane. The displays shown in the windows facing outside are always set up with some of the most interesting works of art. Walking by it once again‚Äîrunning errands over my lunch break‚ÄîI decided to take a few extra minutes and finally give into my curiosity. I am very glad I did. I found out that the window displays are just a small preview of the world tucked within the gallery.

The tone and atmosphere of The Artist’s Tree is much more relaxed and vibrant than the busy-body world we normally have to cope with. Just as I walked in, I could hear soft, but characterizing music flowing from their stereo system. It helped to set the distinctive mood of the location. Upon entering, I was instantly bombarded with vibrant colors and textures displayed from all areas of the gallery. Unlike a typical art gallery, there isn’t a set amount of space and height and distance between each piece. None of those strict rules seem to matter. Yet, instead of feeling too cluttered, the pieces managed to stand out on their own by being so unique and different form one another. That is what struck me as the most impressive attribute. It was not just the amount of stuff cram-packed into the small space, but the variety of media being showcased.

Item range from glass art to fabric prints. There is an impressive amount of unique pottery and hand-crafted jewelry. I was also shocked by the inexpensive prices. A handmade necklace, for example, is typically only $25, and a Japanese fabric print only $8.95. I am definitely going to return to Artist’s Tree to do some of my Christmas shopping.

One of the most exciting things about The Artist’s Tree is that the majority of the artwork is from local artists. To me, it felt like a showcase of the kinds of creative talent we have here in our own city, and it made me feel a sense of pride. People may try to disregard Spokane as a city that doesn’t appreciate the arts as much as we should, but if we just look a little closer (give in to our curiosities once in awhile) we can run into places such as this, where the amount of creativity and artistic culture can almost overwhelm you.

The Artist’s Tree is open 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday by appointment only. I recommend a quick stop on your lunch break; it’ll make you return to work with a revitalized self of creative energy.