I've lived in Albany for nearly four years now, and I never knew about this place! I found out…read moreabout this through the Yelp Events page (Bombs Away!) and was able to attend the event. It showcases numerous types of artwork throughout the building and has different studios for different purposes. They also offered a variety of different classes that I look forward to learn more about! The Bombs Away Workshop was incredibly fun! The instructors were really knowledgeable and helpful. It was a small group, so the ratio of instructor:students was pretty well balanced. They provided ample supplies and appropriate protective wear for the event. The only comment would be to provide more scales or request us to bring some in the invitation. I think that slowed down the efficiency of the workshop since we were just waiting for everyone to get their ingredients measured. Otherwise, I had a lot of fun and hope there are more fun events advertised!

Through the end of April, The Albany Barn is featuring an excellent exhibition of the contemporary…read moreart of Sarah Holub Schrom. Her paintings are soulful & evocative of her personal evolution as an artist and as a human being. It is definitely worth the trip to see these paintings! She is sure to soon take off as an artist, so take this opportunity to see it now. Make sure you call before going because the hours are limited & vary daily.

What a beautiful gallery! From the moment I walked in my eyes just travelled from paintings, to…read morejewelry, to sculptures, oh my! I just love everything about this place. So many pretty things. Apparently they have classes in the back area (pottery & painting) maybe more I'm not sure. I will have to take a class next time I am up in this area. Cynthia the owner is one of the sweetest people you will meet, and Natalia is a gem. Both ladies are friendly knowledgeable, helpful and boy oh boy they know their art. Definitely stop by you won't be sorry.

Downtown Troy location of local chain, notable for having both a few contemporary artists with…read morelocal flavors on display at any given time and a variety of antiquarian prints and maps. The prices are middle of the road but the selection is very nice, and the location's convenient to monument square. Recommended for browsing if you're of that ilk.

From a treasured newspaper article to a work of fine art in watercolor, pastel, or oil, these…read moreprofessionals know the proper way to present and protect works of art. This opinion comes from an art professional with a life time experience as a professional curator in Albany. Whether you need gold leaf or stainless stripping, the people here are never pushy or snobbish. They love art and it shows! They are a great asset to the art community in Albany as is evident by their having found a way to last for decades longer after others have folded.

If you want to make art, but thought you never could, go see Eileen LaBarge at Creative Art Time…read moreStudio in Delmar. She is a dedicated teacher with a no-fail method, who can walk you through from the very beginning through drawing, painting, and sculpture. Her studio is informal, peaceful, yet full of creative energy and Eileen's own beautiful sculptures. She is patient and encouraging with all her students. Her studio is a place to realize your dreams.

I was recommended here for custom framing work after my regular store closed. They were very…read morefriendly here, and they worked with me to obtain a special frame through custom ordering. They have "regular" hours but they also do appointments by request, which is nice. Of note, they had to search multiple companies to find a frame that was similar to some we already had, and that took several weeks. In general, I had to call them for updates even when deadlines were missed (they had good reasons for it) and I wish they had taken the initiative to call me first. However, it all worked out in the end and I am happy with the job they did.

I needed something for Christmas framed and this was the place to go to!…read moreIt was my first visit to the gallery but not my last! The gallery has a very central and safe location with plenty of parking in front. It made a very professionell impression, being very well lit, open and friendly. I got really good advice, the process was flawless and the product came out super well. This is now my go - to gallery for sure!

Purchased a 75yr old framed Grandma Moses lithograph online (original frame/glass/backing) UPS and…read morearrived with the glass broken. I brought my item to Certified Framing & Gallery and they put in new glass, repositioned/centered the lithograph, they appeared to have polished/cleaned the frame and put on a new backing with new wire and hardware to hang. They had it done within 3 days for around $40.00 Looks GREAT and I couldn't be happier. True professionals!

My wife and I have a collection of autographed pictures that we want to hang in our house together…read more We wanted the frames to match but we couldn't afford to have six custom frames made so we purchased some inexpensive ones. However, the matting and the glass in cheap frames leaves a lot to be desired. I brought everything here, and we worked out a deal where they would custom cut replacement matting, UV protection glass, and then attached the pictures to the matting. When we picked them up, we just had to reinstall everything in the frames we already had (which they confirmed we pretty good quality frames). We are very pleased with the results.

Sand Lake Center For the Arts is a great place to watch plays and to be entertained. SLCA is cozy,…read morewarm, and has a great community feel to it. I stopped in once to check it out. There was a play going on and it was well acted. Also they sell cookies and they are delicious. I bought the double chocolate, it was cooked perfectly and wasn't too soft or too crunchy. Overall, SLCA is a good place to watch a play and get some cookies.

I went there for the first time this past weekend for their holiday arts show. They brought in some…read morereally skilled artisans with quality items. The space is nice and there is plenty of parking. They offer a wide range of shows including live music, visual art, plays and ballet classes.