Referencing the Past

SAM Gallery, Art Sales and Rental

City/neighborhood: Downtown Hours: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday Payment forms accepted:Visa MasterCard American Express Personal checks Parking: Paid parking, Street parking Disabled access: No obstacles to access Related info: Gallery GuideNeighborhood art walks People have way too much fun in SAM's Rental and Sales Gallery - probably because they can rent the most fabulous artworks for as little as $25 per month. (And yep, like a rent-to-own houses, a portion of the rental fee can be applied to the final price should a budding collector wish to take the plunge. The gallery even offers no-interest installment plans, with monthly payments as low as $50.)With more than 1,000 works - ranging from hilarious, tongue-in-cheek feminist oils to kitschy, mixed-media "houses" built from everyday Mexican cultural detritus - SAM has much to choose from. Paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, mixed media and even jewelry (for sale only) are all up for grabs. Staffers also provide free consultations and personal shopping services for the indecisive. The gallery, just north of the museum on First Avenue, hosts four major exhibits per year, generally thematic group shows featuring emerging and established Northwest artists, accompanied by smaller rotating exhibits.By Paysha StocktonSpecial to NWsource

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