In November 2005, 22 area artists accepted the task of recreating the same photograph of the Carson River in their own art form.
The artists were allowed to choose the medium of their choice - pastel, colored pencil, watercolor, acrylic, oil, mixed media, digital photography and photo-mosaic - and create their work over the winter.
The result was 22 perspectives of the Carson River photo, 27 works of art, that have been on display at The Record-Courier office since late August and the works of art and the artists who created them will be the highlight of an art reception to take place 5-7 p.m. Thursday at The Record-Courier, 1503 Highway 395 in Gardnerville. The public is invited to come view the show and meet the artists. Light refreshments will be served.
"I had read about it in an artists' magazine," said Brewery Art Gallery Director Doreen Sadilek, who came up with the idea and took the original photograph of the river in the fall. "Only they had done it with a still life. We decided to do a landscape."
At first the artists seemed a little skeptical, according to Sadilek, but they had been so surprised with the results that it is going to become a yearly project.
"At first they weren't sure, but they were so excited when they saw the results," Sadilek said. "Now they want to do it all the time. We're going to make it an annual affair."
Next year Sadilek, who has been with the Brewery Art Gallery for seven years, as director for two years, says the board is considering having photographers enter their original photographs, from which one will be chosen for the artists to recreate.
"So it will kind of be a contest both ways," said Sadilek.
The artwork was first showcased at the Brewery Art Gallery in Carson City for one month before being moved to The Record-Courier, where it will remain available for viewing during business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. week days, through the end of September.
The Brewery Art Gallery is interested in making this a traveling show and on Oct. 1 it will be available to hang in another venue. If any business or gallery wishes to continue the display, contact the Brewery Art Gallery director, Doreen Sadilek at 883-1976 or NAA President Pam Brekas at 265-7888.
Among the NAA members who participated in the project were: Eight Minden artists, Sabina Bye, Nancy Clarke, Anne Armijo, Renee J. Ekleberry, Mary Sandhagen, Linda Townsend, Carolyn Denning and Helen Fanning. Gardnerville artists who participated include: Ric Rose, Nancy Kilburg, Mechele Johnson, and Pam Brekas. Markleeville resident Evelyn Yonker contributed her version as did Carson City artists: Santiago Chavez, Ray Freeman, Cecylic Okreglak, Alicia Kittess, Susan Schroeder, Ralph Phillips and Dorrine Sadilek. Dayton artists Patt Skinner and JoAnn Wood.
For more information about The Record-Courier reception, call Jonni Hill at 782-5121.
n Jo Rafferty can be reached at jrafferty@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 210.
