Carson City Art Gallery and Pottery to hold grand opening

Carson City Pottery has a new name, old location and bigger business.

Carson City Art Gallery and Pottery opens Saturday in the historic building at 110 S. Curry Street that once served as a livery stable and freight depot, and was long-occupied by the Great Basin Art Gallery.

The new store features an eclectic mix of art made by local and regional artists, including pottery by Robin McGregor and unusual ceramic teapots by Rich McGregor, the store’s owners.

The grand opening will feature artists’ demonstrations on the wraparound deck, wine poured by Carson City Classic Cinema Club, and music from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. by Everett Musselman of the Trippin’ King Snakes.

Musselman’s wife, Tonja, a photographer who prints on metallic paper, is one the store’s dozen or so featured artists.

Other artists whose work is for sale includes painter Kathleen Flanagan; Wolf Kohz, whose photographs of wild horses are featured; Ying Muncie, a Reno-based ceramic sculptor; Sarah Reesor, a Lake Tahoe-based potter and teacher; Sumire Iwahashi, who uses a 1,200 year-old Japanese process with fabric and dye called shibori; silversmith Larry Wahrenbock; Mark Ross, a Carson City sculptor and homebuilder; Phil Lary, a painter and jeweler; photographer Catherine Sobredo; painter Carri White; William Hutchinson, a glass artist; Sande Rowan, a basket artist; and painter Karen Kreyeski.

The 1860 building provided the inspiration for the expanded business, said Robin McGregor.

She was at the nearby farmers market one recent Saturday, taking a break from Empty Bowls, the pottery project started 26 years ago that raises awareness of hunger.

At the booth there ready-made bowls were glazed by the public for the Christmas event at which donated bowls and food are sold to benefit Friends In Service Helping.

“I was across the street and came to the sidewalk to have a cigarette and saw the for rent sign. I wasn’t looking for a new place but thought this would be ideal for a studio,” said McGregor. “We got inside and I realized this is perfect for an art gallery.”

That’s when the McGregors decided to move from Winnie Lane, where they have operated a pottery classroom for nearly two years after five years at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, and expand into selling artist’s work, including their own, on commission.

McGregor said she hopes to continue teaching at the new site, in a 200 square-foot studio off the 1,000 square-foot gallery with a separate entrance.

But they’re still in the process of getting the needed permits to operate there.

The classroom would include four wheels.

Plans are to add two kilns in a shed out back.

McGregor also hopes to host artists’ fairs in the backyard where there’s enough room to set up booths.

Carson City Art Gallery and Pottery will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.