Fort Wayne – Contrary to popular belief, gallery hopping – the act of visiting several art galleries in one day or evening – is not just for women whose hobbies include trying on hats and slurping vodka stingers. At least in Fort Wayne it’s not.

Thankfully, local gallery hoppers – and the galleries they visit – rarely succumb to art snob clichés. Part of the reason is that around here, art isn’t relegated to slick, architecturally bizarre buildings and swank invitation-only parties. Instead, many fine art galleries are tucked inside local coffee shops, churches and municipal buildings.

And if you look a little deeper, you’ll find a few – like these three – hidden away in places you’d never expect.

Northside Galleries, 335 E. State Blvd.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and by appointment

Information: 483-6624

Inside Charley Shirmeyer’s fine art and custom framing shop, you’ll find artwork for sale by some of the city’s most popular artists, including Terry Ratliff, Diane Groenert, Audrey Riley and Steve Voderman.

Shirmeyer is an art fan but considers himself a carpenter first. He studied architecture and engineering in college, not art. But frames are his bread and butter. And frames need something to frame. That’s just the nature of frames, Shirmeyer says.

“It was a natural progression,” he says. “Framing is still my business, but I’ve changed my focus so I can do what I can for local artists – represent them and bring attention to them. There is so much talent here, and for whatever reason, this town is often overlooked when it comes to art.”

An exhibit by artist Bill Shewman (former owner of the now-closed Garland Galleries) will open with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at the gallery.

Device Tattoo & Gallery, 5709 St. Joe Road

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Information: 492-8282

The back room at Device Tattoo & Gallery is a creative hub for the shop’s tattoo artists. On Thursday nights, artists Jeff Stumpp, Shane Yoder, Fett and Teague Mullen gather for “paint parties” – opportunities to work on charcoal drawings, water color paintings and other collaborative art projects.

For Stumpp, who studied fine arts in college, combining his tattoo studio with an art gallery was originally a way to sell his own artwork. Now, it’s a way to display other artists’ work, too.

“At the time, it was a rare thing to combine (a tattoo shop and a gallery),” he says. “But it seemed to make sense. In my mind, they complement each other, and it was also an opportunity to diversify a bit and bring more income in.”

The current exhibit – which is based on “magical, mystical and mythological” imagery – contains artwork by Sugar Moon (photography by Fort Wayne Derby Girls’ SugarGuns and PorchMoon) and digital paintings by J. Lemish.

Potter’s Wife Gallery, inside Delaney’s Upholstery, 1421 Broadway

Hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and by appointment

Information: 420-8300

The first floor of Delaney’s Upholstery, in the old Betty’s Antiques building on Broadway, is devoted, surprisingly, to art instead of upholstery and furniture. (Check out the second and third floor for that.)

The gallery, which is headed up by co-owner Christine Hudson’s husband, Dan Hudson, displays the work of four or five artists every month and has increased business since the store opened in October.

“An art gallery has always been a long-term goal of ours,” Hudson says. “This store became a perfect opportunity for that. The first floor of the building was originally going to be a furniture showroom, but after the renovation, we realized we had a lot of room left over. Why don’t we do art, too, since we enjoy it so much?”

Currently, work by Donny and Dominick Manco, Cindy Husar, Brian McGhee and Tony Bouillon is on display inside the store.

edowns@jg.net