Historic Jerome, Arizona Monthly Art Walk

Once a bustling copper mining town, Jerome, Arizona has transitioned from almost a ghost town to a busy arts community with fascinating hillside historic buildings. Jerome is located on scenic 89A between Prescott and Flagstaff. Jerome is a National Historic Landmark. MapThe Jerome galleries are open for the Jerome Art Walk the first Saturday of each month from 5pm to 8pm. A free shuttle service is provided to help visitors get up and down the hilly streets.There is plenty of parking and a free shuttle that runs regularly throughout the town. Free parking will be available at middle and lower parking areas, as well as on street parking and lots of parking at the Old Jerome High School Studios. Jerome has 4 levels to explore. Many galleries are clustered together.This website has a listing of galleries and studios that participate in Art Walk. The Old Jerome High School might be a good place to start with Studios and galleries of 22 artists located under one roof.Start early as the event ends at 8 p.m. There are several wineries and many galleries offer wine and finger food. You'll want to peruse the art, stop and talk to the artists and listen to the music. It will be over all too soon!To fully enjoy Jerome and the event, I suggest that you stay in Jerome on Saturday night. There is so much to see in Jerome that driving the long and winding roads just for the Art Walk will leave you wishing you stayed to enjoy more.Be sure and visit the Old High School which is filled with art studios and shops. I especially enjoyed visiting with landscape artist, Dawn Sutherland, who had some marvelous paintings of the Grand Canyon. Another favorite of mine, Mark Hemleben, is a plein air painter who also has a gallery in the Old High School.

Back in the heart of Jerome, we visited Donna Chesler at Gallery 527, where things were really festive with great food and live music.