A new contemporary art gallery is set to make its debut in Nevada City, California, bringing fresh artistic vision to the vibrant local arts community. The Ice House Gallery, owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Lily and Brian Sarinova, will celebrate its grand opening on December 10 at 404 Spring Street, featuring an extensive collection of Brian's diverse artistic works.
The gallery, which occupies part of the historic building that houses the Nevada Theatre, will showcase contemporary art across multiple mediums including painting, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. Brian Sarinova, a multidisciplinary artist who recently obtained his general contractor's license, has spent the past year and a half expanding his artistic practice to include construction work, often leading to unique collaborations with clients who discover his fine art capabilities during building projects.
"Some of my clients would start with me selling them commissioned work or whatnot, and then they'd be like, 'Oh, we were interested in getting this wine cellar done,'" Brian explained. "I'd say, 'Well, I can build that for you.' I would be working on a project, and then it'd be like, 'Well, I'm also a fine artist.' Then at some point in time, we would have that conversation come up, and then they would purchase work that way."
The Sarinovas plan to host approximately six exhibitions per year, featuring both Brian's work and pieces from local and international artists. Their curatorial approach focuses on what Lily describes as "visionary artistic voices," beginning with Brian's inaugural show simply because they have his work readily available. "We do plan on having a rotating roster of artists coming through, and Brian will be showing quite often too, because he's amazing," Lily said.
Brian's artistic process typically begins in photography, working with live models though not exclusively, to create the foundation for his paintings and sculptures. He shoots extensively during each session, often capturing thousands of images before selecting the most compelling shots. "I'll find certain images that stimulate me in a way that evokes back to the vision that I perceived before I started the exploration," he explained. "Then from those photographs, let's say I shoot 1,000 shots, and I pull out 100 shots that'll look in that (desired) way."
Visitors to the gallery will encounter a distinctive collection of ceramic rabbit sculptures, all designed and created by Brian, who has transitioned from working in bronze to focusing exclusively on ceramics. "I work all in ceramic," he said of his sculptures. "I used to do bronze, but it's just not something I really prefer anymore. And I like the tangible aspect and the warm quality of ceramics."
The couple's journey to Nevada City began when they were living in the Bay Area, making regular visits to the charming foothill town from their Santa Cruz base. Originally from New York, Lily and California-native Brian found themselves increasingly drawn to Nevada City's supportive arts community and creative atmosphere. Their decision to relocate came as they grew disillusioned with changes in Santa Cruz's artistic landscape.
"The vibrancy and the way that the town receives the artists here is pretty unique; and being from Santa Cruz and the Mecca that it is, and what it's all connected to, it's losing that. It just became less supported. And not necessarily me as an artist, but the art scene in general...it became more gentrified," Brian reflected on their decision to leave their previous community.
As tenants of the Nevada Theatre building, the Sarinovas are committed to making art accessible to everyone in their new community. "We still want it to be very welcoming for the community, and we want people to feel like art is for everyone," Lily emphasized. "It's not this elitist luxury thing. It's something that elevates the everyday experience of everyone and creates meaning and beauty. I think that's one of the things that fundamentally makes us human; how we experience life and how we make meaning of it."
The gallery's opening exhibition, titled "Conception," will feature Brian Sarinova's work and run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on December 10. The event represents not only the launch of a new business venture but also the culmination of the couple's artistic dreams and their commitment to contributing meaningfully to Nevada City's thriving cultural landscape.
