It has only been a few months since the art gallery Galería Arriba has inched open its doors.

Visible only to those in the know and a few brave curious souls who buzz the timbre, the tiny and intimate gallery resides behind an old Tico style house in Barrio Otoya.

It is actually a newly constructed space that is only accessible through the old house. The entrance is tucked behind a lime green lattice wall that is part of the Soda Daruma on the street level. The gallery is owned and operated by American artist Scott K. Wimer.

Scott needed a place in the city to keep some of his art. His studio is high in the mountains above San Isidro de Coronado.

Originally eying the space he saw advertised as a simple place to keep a few pieces of art for shows, saving the hassle of transporting his work all the way from Coronado where he lives and, also a place for people who want to see his work without them having to travel too far…

It then occurred to him… by definition this was a gallery. With the space being up the stairs the name was obvious. Arriba.

The location is easy for people to find and parking is everywhere due to the Hospital Calderon Guardia being located at the end of the street.

The train to Heredia begins two blocks away and in fact curves around along the Hotel Amistad. In true Costa Rican fashion the streets are not marked. And to make it more confusing, the maps show a shift in the earth’s plates at the railroad track.

On the Hotel Amistad side it is Avenida 11. When you cross the tracks it then Avenida 9. The street is shared by Hotel Vesuvio, Cafe Mundo parking lot and Hotel Amistad.

At the end it T’s at the entrance to the hospital. Soda Daruma is the landmark. The gallery has a banner visible inside when the gate is open and on the street when the gate is closed.

Scott Wimer calls himself an “artist-photographer Indiana born farm kid wandering about the planet” and although his art gallery is primarily a venue for Scott, he also has a been showing works from other local artists. To keep more up to date with art in Costa Rica, please ask to be added to the mailing list for announcements of events and shows. You can also follow on Facebook here.

Scott Wimer goes to the Gallery every day bright and early and stays untill 6pm. He is the only one who mans the gallery, so it’s always best to telephone first (8305-1607) to confirm he is there and not out painting a mural project somewhere. Although Scott is originally from the U.S., he is now a permanent resident of Costa Rica and recognized as a Costa Rican artist.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.