What is the ArtWorx Gallery?
Located within the retail Showroom and Design Center at Santa Cruz Stoves and Fireplaces, the ArtWorx Gallery is our effort to promote and sustain local artists and craftspeople while displaying our superlative products in interesting and dynamic applications. “The Gallery’s space at Santa Cruz Stoves,” says ArtWorx curator and coordinator Melyssa Cowles, “is an attempt to extend the artistic and cultural center of Santa Cruz just a few more blocks eastward.”

In conjunction with the efforts of the City of Santa Cruz to revitalize the Water Street Corridor, Santa Cruz Stoves & Fireplaces purchased and renovated the 7,000 square foot property at 1043 Water Street to include the Design Center and ArtWorx Gallery in August 2006. Inaugurated in 2007, ArtWorx Gallery has held full receptions for each of our Featured Artists, including live music, catered food and drink, and artist demonstrations.

Pairing the latest in top-quality fireplaces and stoves for architects, builders and owners with local art and sculpture befitting of luxury single-family homes seemed a no-brainer for us— a synergy of form and function. We invite you to come down to the ArtWorx Gallery space at Santa Cruz Stoves & Fireplaces to see this union for yourself. It is our pleasure and our honor to have these amazing local artisans on display.

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Our Current Show: “SURF'S UP”

ArtWorx Gallery is proud to present this celebration of the sea and surf! Lush seascapes by painter Michael Mote complement ocean and surf-inspired photography by local legend Boots McGhee. Sculptural glass works by Marsha Blaker and Paul De Somma evoke the dramatic moods and movements of the sea.

Please join us at the Gala Reception FRIDAY, September 4th, from 6-9 pm.
Libations, pu-pus and a live art sale! Enjoy a rare acoustic set by local "heavy surf" band The Concaves!
Runs through December 26th, 2009"

10% of all Opening Reception sales go to benefit the Santa Cruz Surf Museum.

Acknowledgments:
“ArtWorx Gallery would not exist without the creative support, hard work and dedication of a group of friends: Owner Steve Vorhees for his guiding vision and love of the arts, curator Melyssa Cowles, Robert Horten and Jesse Campbell for their supportive gallery management and publicity efforts, photographer Barbara Littlefield's artistic photojournalism and posters, Dayna Feci's generous catering skills, graphic designer John Simon, assistant Erin Paster and a handful of talented musicians that make our openings memorable. With many thanks!”