The long wait for the artisans and guests finally occurred as the doors to the del Sol Arts and Crafts Gallery opened in February 2022. 

At the grand opening all three rooms of the gallery were shoulder to shoulder with guests. The positive buzz abounded as people saw Sun City West neighbor’s artistic talents and thrilled the old standbys at the Village Store were still available. Think scrubbies and trivets.

In those 10 short months, the gallery incorporated the popular First Friday Gallery Galas. This popular function spotlights national and international acclaimed artists. From clay and textile artists to accomplished oil, acrylic and watercolor artists are available in a meet-and-great setting. There was a summer series entitled del Sol Spotlight highlighting artists with informational chats about their unusual works of art. 

A new year, a new adventure awaits patrons of the del Sol Gallery. The next artistic journey for guests at the gallery is the DEMO Daze exhibitions. Once per month, the gallery will offer demonstrations by artists and crafters. This fun and lively small group setting gives the guests a front row seat to appreciate how the artist is inspired and creates their masterpieces. 

The first in the series is noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, at the del Sol Gallery, 13815 W. Camino del Sol. Artist Gayle Larson, an accomplished Sun City West artist that dabbles and excels in everything arty, will demonstrate the ins-and-outs of gelli printing. This art form utilizes an array of mediums for printing on anything that can be thought of — paper, bags, fabric, wood — the possibilities are endless.