Smooth and sleek, perennial winner Etherton Gallery is like the perfect martini: Always elegant, but infinitely variable. The first show this past season, Art + Design, was a departure even for this innovative gallery; it paired paintings by Nancy Tokar Miller and Jim Waid, and fine-art glass by Tom Philabaum, with gorgeous handcrafted furniture by Tucson designers Stephen Paul of Arroyo Design and Scott Baker of Baker/Hesseldenz. The next show moved outside, figuratively speaking, with Kate Breakey's extraordinary photograms, 100 strong. Breakey made them by hauling real dead coyotes and other critters into the studio, and burning their haunting images into paper with light. And let us not forget the sumptuous show of Arizona imagery by photog Jack Dykinga and pastel painter Lynn Taber.
Runners up:
2. Madaras Gallery
1535 E. Broadway Blvd.
623-4000
3001 E. Skyline Drive, No. 101
615-3001; madaras.com
3. Eric Firestone Gallery
4425 N. Campbell Ave.
577-7711; www.ericfirestonegallery.com