Jerome Artists Cooperative

Of all the galleries in Jerome, this is by far my favorite. It’s usually the first one I visit because I don’t want to run out of time. I don’t think I’ve ever come here without buying something. The staff are always friendly and appreciative of my business.
I don’t know for sure if it’s the largest gallery in Jerome but it certainly feels like it. There are a ton of artists shown there which makes it one-​stop shopping for unique gifts and items. i always go there with the intention of buying gifts for other people but generally find myself at the top of my Christmas list. ;) The items here are affordable which is another bonus. Much to my delight, I found an artist who uses niobium in her earrings — I bought two pair. Another artist was using surgical steel in her earrings — awesome! I am allergic to stainless steel and usually have to buy earrings online.
Awesome gallery and honestly, one of my favorite things about Jerome.

We love Jerome! Rich with history. The shops are wonderful and the vibe of the town is too cool! Stories of ghosts, mining, brothels and such. This is a really fun place for an east coast traveler to visit. Would love to return someday!

Jerome, Arizona sits straddling the side of a mountain about a mile high from sea level and less than 30 miles from its more famous cousin Sedona.
«America’s most vertical city» — I am told — is home to about 400 people, but once boasted 16,000 inhabitants and a brothel madam who was Arizona’s richest woman.
Although the whores are long gone, today the town still manages to attract a few million tourists a year, not only for the spectacular views that it affords from nearly every vantage point in this tiny and beautiful town, but also because of a budding gallery scene that although seemingly having fairly established roots, it only seems to be blossoming out recently with a significant number of art galleries and venues and a rather successful monthly art walk on the first Saturday of the month. With 30 galleries and artists’ studios participating in the art walk, it reflects the huge impact of the fine arts in a town of 400.
Most of Jerome’s art galleries seem to fit the Southwest style of galleries. However, and very surprising to me, Jerome’s art spaces seem more individual and original — in most cases — than Sedona’s cookie cutter model of galleries.
There are several cooperatives that I observed, most noticeably the Jerome Artists Cooperative, where the hilarious (and smart) watercolors of Dave Wilder were on exhibit on that day that I visited. Full of irony and delivered with superb technical expertise, Wilder flexes well-​developed observational skills that challenge the genre of «cowboy art» in a new refreshing manner.

Really lovely art, some of it. I picked up a trinket for instant gratification, but I also would consider buying some of the larger, more expensive pieces for my home.
Much of the art is staid and gift-​shoppish, not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that, but some artists’ work was truly interesting.
I could see stopping in if I had something specific in mind to buy, or returning to browse. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be in Jerome again anytime soon.