Mistlin Gallery

A local treasure that many cities the size of Modesto don't have: a good-sized gallery devoted to displaying local art, with a gift shop that sells pieces by local artists, including very affordable prints and cards. Some of the same local artists whose art you can buy also give classes in the learning space.Exhibits rotate often, and there are always announcements for the next one. Now here's the thing with a place that displays a lot of local art: the aesthetics will vary. There are artists I think are top-notch (and I buy the print versions I can afford because my current budget doesn't stretch to originals to go over the sofa). There are artists I think are.. having a great time with self-expression (so I don't buy). Regardless, it is delightful that these are my neighbors (more or less), and many are depicting the local landscape in a part of California that tends to get neglected. Where else can I buy prints of actual Modesto-area places, rather than the "more important" beauty spots elsewhere in the state?I adore this gallery and go as often as I can. Occasionally they will feed you cheese bits or whatever, in a festive way.

Beautiful gallery with talented regional artists. Awesome classes, art walk and other fun activities.

Largest gallery space in Modesto. Shows rotate regularly. Have art and jewelry items for sale. Also offer classes for kids and adults and camps. Staffed by community volunteers.

The Mistlin Gallery Is located in downtown Modesto California on J Street. It has a large exhibit space that represents fine art by created by central California artists. It is a must see.

Not quite ready to give up the immersion into the arts, we sauntered down the street from TCM to check out what Mistlin has to offer. For what it's worth, the space is huge and you're welcomed instantly by oversized paintings, pottery and sculptures.We walked in and it was eerily quiet with a small hint of people either getting ready for a class in the next room over or stragglers. Also bringing up the rear was a woman who sat silently in a chair amongst 10-20 other chairs in the middle of the gallery, no eye contact, no interaction at all. They have a counter where I would imagine the receptionist or museum greeter would sit but it lay bare for the time being. My date and I immediately took it upon ourselves to just make our visit a feast for the eyes with some lulled commentary.As i mentioned before, the pieces were grand and looked like there was a lot of passion put into every one of them. Broad brush strokes, fits of violent blotting, it was all there and you could almost feel the emotion yet the place as a whole was still sterile. Some of the paintings I could envision on my walls but I made a haughty comment that I'd rather have my Disneyland Attraction posters framed and placed all over the walls in my cave. Nonetheless it may very well come to be that one of those pieces could throw the Happiest Place on Earth motif into a frenzy and there's nothing wrong with a little chaos now and then.As we explored every inch of this place we noticed the aforementioned counter/desk had a warm body in it all of a sudden. Yes she looked as if she had blood coursing through her veins but silence and I'd imagine social media was her jam. Head down. Not a peep. Not a look. Hashtag nointeraction, ya dig? Oh yes but the violet blonde locks were somewhat becoming.In any case I do plan on coming back and I might just make it a solo run too so I can take in everything and maybe get a gift or two for my art-loving friends out there. Yeah, I'm great like that!

This gallery is amazing!They contribute so much to the local art scene and showcase a spring show which is fabulous and helps out the community by hosting Memorial Hospitals art therapy program for cancer survivors and their caretakers.They have a continuous art gallery that is open to the public and also offer many classes to adults as well as children. I love this place and I live on the San Francisco peninsula I make sure I visit whenever I return to Modesto on business.