Genoa, Italy, comes to Carson Valley

The Carson Valley Arts Council continues its concert series with a free performance by steel-string acoustic guitarist Beppe Gambetta at the CVIC Hall in Minden on Saturday. The concert will showcase the musician's distinctive blend of American country and bluegrass combined with the music of his native country. Hailing from Genoa (Italy, that is), Gambetta is known for his flatpicking technique.

A private welcoming for Gambetta will take place at the Tahoe Ridge Winery & Marketplace in Genoa, Nevada, which provides all the wine for the concerts at no cost.

"It's kind of a neat twist," said arts council president Brian Fitzgerald, of the coincidence regarding the two Genoas.

Fitzgerald said each of the concerts cost the winery more than $1,000. Sponsors for this event include: Tahoe Ridge Winery; The Historian Inn; Douglas County Parks & Recreation Department; Town of Minden; Sweetie Pies by Wendy; DR Design and Marketing Services; Carson Tahoe Music; Syncon Homes; and Stockdale Creative Marketing & Advertising; Explicit Media; and R & S Optimum Offset.

"I've made several presentations to different community groups," said Fitzgerald, who along with other CVAC members has been offering the free concerts to promote construction of a performing arts center in Carson Valley. "There has been a lot of positive response, people who want to help. There's the likelihood that local service clubs want to adopt this project. The momentum continues to grow."

Gambetta's performance will be the third concert offered by the CVAC, with two more planned in the coming months.

"With this concert we hope to reach more people who are interested in having a performing/visual arts center in the Carson Valley," said organizers. "Raising public awareness to the potential of the Copeland building as our community's first fixed-seat venue is our goal.

"Additional concerts will follow as we continue our series of events in the Carson Valley to promote our project of purchasing and renovating the old Copeland Lumber building located at County Road and Highway 395 in Minden."

Fitzgerald said that there will be new displays at the Gambetta concert, including an aerial view of the Copeland building. There will also be a couple architectural renderings on display provided by Eissmann-Pence Architecture.

"Ralph Eissmann, the architect, will donate his fees back into the project if we can get the community to match it," said Fitzgerald, estimating Eissmann's current fees to be about $3,000.

The CVAC initially needs to raise $500,000 for the down payment on the building, with the project running in the multi-millions. The most recent plans for the old lumber building show a 17,902-square-foot community center, with 400 seats. Following the series of concerts, the CVAC has a strategic plan figured out.

"From there we're going to attempt to launch a large fundraising campaign," said Fitzgerald. "We're attempting to put together a task force to look at revitalization of downtown Minden and Gardnerville. We hope to bring in representatives of the towns, businesses, art galleries, Western Nevada Community College and others in an effort to get people interested in starting to pursue the plans for prosperity both the towns of Minden and Gardnerville have in place.

"With that effort the CVAC hopes to build alliances in an effort to revitalize downtown."

Saturday night's concert includes music, wine, cheese and a presentation of the latest details about the proposed Copeland Performing Arts Center. The reception begins at 6 p.m., followed by live music at 7 p.m. and dessert at 8:15 p.m. To learn more about Beppe Gambetta and his music, visit his Web site at www.beppegambetta.com.

"I've been working on this project for over a year. You get very passionate about it," said Fitzgerald. "The vision is very clear to me. (The concert is) an effort to get people motivated and get them excited about it.

"Thank you to everyone who attended the Peppino D'Agostino concert on Jan. 26. The CVAC board feels this was a successful event, but only the beginning of our endeavors to bring a home for the arts to Carson Valley."

For more information on the CVAC Copeland building project, call 265-3529.