Several new art galleries paint the town

Reno is undergoing something of a renaissance with the recent openings of several new galleries despite what some say is a depressed art market here and nationwide.

"The art market is really slow, not just here but in other towns," said Ron Oden, graphics editor of the Reno Gazette- Journal and owner of Gallery 516, a twoand- a-half year old gallery that he purchased and revamped in August.

"It is majorly flat.

But I think the economy is loosening up a bit." "I think that's bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, people saying the market here is bad," said Ruth Swaine, owner of Creative Connections, a 700-square-foot gallery on West Street that opened in September.

"I see a lot of potential here.

Look at all the houses being built.

And those people need to decorate." Oden and Swaine are two of a handful of owners of new or overhauled art galleries in Reno.

And each is endeavoring to stand out from the pack in a distinctive way.

Swaine's Creative Connections, for example, carries an eclectic mix of photographs, petroglyph art, and acrylic and oil paintings, created by about 15 artists, most of whom are local, said Swaine.

The price range for the pieces is equally diverse, running from $5 cards, said Swaine, to $200 photographs to a $65,000 oil painting.

"There is a mix for everyone," she said.

Swaine decided to open the gallery after 25 years working in corporate customer service and sales.

About three years ago she took up photography and eventually took her best work to the Sierra Arts Center which agreed to show 15 of her photos.

From there she met many artists and realized marketing wasn't their forte and suggested she exchange lessons in marketing for lessons in art.

"But what I found was that most artists aren't interested in marketing themselves," said Swaine.

"They're interested in creating art." That led to the idea to establish an art gallery.

A year ago, when she was told at work that her flexible schedule, which had helped her raise three children, would be changed to a strict, 60-hour workweek, she decided it was time to take the leap.

"Now I probably spend 100 hours a week here," said Swaine.

"But it's different.

I'm building something.

And it's fun." Oden's approach with Gallery 516 is both same and different than Swaine's.

He bought the California Street gallery, which once displayed art from a range of artists, to showcase his art work.

"The gallery is a voice for me," said Oden.

He said he eventually plans to show other artists' work once he gets the gallery off the ground.

"It needs to be solvent before I can represent other artists." Oden had his first show as an artist last March at the gallery before he bought it.

As the owner he had a show for Sept.

11 that brought in 300 people.

He said business started out slow, but December was a terrific month and he's now working on 13 commissioned pieces for a client in Las Vegas.

His work, though, like the work of Swaine's gallery's artists, is varied.

He said he does all kind of paintings abstract, realism, abstract expressionism depending on the subject and his mood.

That, and the fact, that he's limited the gallery to his own work, puts him on the outs with the art community.

"I'll flip around between abstract and realism at will," said Oden.

"The art community frowns on that.

They want to be able to pick an artist out by his work." The community, said Oden, also wants gallery owners to feature the art of an assortment of artists.

"I'm a complete rogue when it comes to art," he said.

Several artists who previously showed their work at Gallery 516 now show their work at Zimmerman's, an 1,100-square - foot gallery on Vesta Street that opened in November.

"When Ron took over Gallery 516 and started showing primarily his work, the artists there were open to moving so I took advantage of that," said Peter Zimmerman, the gallery's owner.

Zimmerman's is home to the work of about 10 different artists, some local and some from California.

The work ranges from photographs to acrylic paintings to sculpture while prices for the work range from $400 to $5,000, said Zimmerman.

Like Swain, Zimmerman worked outside the art world until he established his gallery.

"I've worked in real estate for 20 years, in Chicago, Arizona, Reno," said Zimmerman.

"But I've always had an interest in art and an urge to do this.

And then I found the space and thought it was perfect." The space is down the street from the Rapscallion's restaurant, which brings in a lot of street traffic, said Zimmerman.

Since its opening, the gallery has had a dozen sales.

"I judge success by if I'm able to pay the bills," said Zimmerman.

"It's moving along well so far."