The Arizona Republic
Dec. 26, 2007 03:32 PM

One of the Valley's premier downtown art destinations, the Paper Heart, will have its final show Saturday.

Owner Scott Sanders has struggled financially since he became the sole proprietor of the venue after his divorce, and benefits and donations haven't been enough to keep the space open.

It was seven years ago that Sanders launched an online gallery called the Paper Heart in his garage. A year later, the Paper Heart made its proper debut as a truly alternative arts space at Fifth Avenue and Van Buren, moving again in 2004 to its current location - a former Chevrolet dealership built in the '60s on the corner of Grand Avenue and Polk.

The Paper Heart saw up to five nights of entertainment a week, ranging from burlesque to slam poetry to independent film.

It's also been home to a variety of artists, with a rotating monthly exhibit featuring cutting-edge paintings and sculptures, as well as special displays, like photography of kids available for foster care.

The last show is at 8 p.m. Saturday and costs $5. It will feature Phoenix Neutrino Project, Dangerville, Chief Beef, Romantasy Cabaret, Arizona Derby Dames and aerialist Matti Baine.