Basque culture in the old country on display in Yerington

Basque art and culture will be celebrated this weekend through Aug. 18 at the Lyon County administrative building as four photographers of Basque life are featured in the Courthouse Gallery.

"Spain and the Basque Country," a photograph exhibit will run beginning Saturday with a reception planned for 1-3 p.m.

The four artists, Nancy Nagel, Linda Dufurrena, Ruby Lowery and Diane Wilson, will be on hand for the reception, and Lowery will provide authentic Basque foods for the event. All have photographed aspects of Basque life in Spain.

Dufurrena, who lives on a ranch with her husband and sons, said for 40 years she has been photographing landscapes, animals and working people.

"I teamed up with my daughter-in-law, Carolyn, and we have a book on UNR press," she said. "It's about the lifestyles of rural Nevada.

The book is called "50 Miles From Home," and it chronicles riding the long circle on a Nevada family ranch. Copies of the book will be available at the reception.

Dufurrena said she has decorated the Carson Valley Inn and John Ascuaga's Nugget, as well as many area business offices with her photography. She also has an exhibit at the Santa Fe Hotel and Restaurant in Reno.

As an Irish woman married to a Basque for 50 years, she enjoys the culture.

"They're country and they keep their heritage pretty close," she said "They've gone back and studied their culture. They keep their dances going and their language to a certain extent. It's a beautiful language."

Basque Country in Spain is the area of the Pyrenees Mountains between Spain and France, she said. Her husband's family still has a farm there.

"The food is wonderful, the wine is wonderful," she said. "I've been there four times and I can go four more and not see all of it, even though it's a small country."

Each photographer did 10 pieces on Basque life in Spain, with Dufurrena focusing on normal, everyday places.

Her "Blue Door in Spain" stands out, she said, because "it was a little community in the wine region and it was in a tiny village and they always have nice-colored doors in interesting shades."

Pat Fietta, organizer of the gallery, said the Dufurrenas were winners of the 2005 Donald M. Kerr award for raising public awareness of the natural beauty and cultural diversity of life in the Nevada High Desert, Fietta said.

Dufurrena has been working on a project to photograph the West for the last 20 years.

"She's pretty well-known statewide, so we're really excited about having her here," Fietta said.

Dufurrena will appear with Florence Etcheberry Frey, Basque rancher, poet and writer.

Fietta said the photographers will be interviewed by KSVL radio 92.3 FM from 1-5 p.m. today.

Lowery said she likes taking photographs of Basque daily life.

"They're so relaxed over there," she said. "I love the traditions and the culture, the old narrow streets, the houses where they've lived for centuries, they just pass them on to each other."

Other favorite photo subjects are the open-air markets, boats in the Bay of Biscay and Basques making lace on old-fashioned spindles.

She spent time in provinces in both Spain and France, and has many relatives in Vizcaya, Guipuzcoa and on the Bay of Biscay.

At the Courthouse Gallery display at the county's Dayton office at Suite 201, Occidental Square, artist Ann Mitchell of Yerington is featured.

Fietta said Mitchell does fiber works as well as acrylic, computerized art and multi-media. Her work will be on display through Aug. 17.

• Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.

If You Go

WHAT: "Spain and the Basque Country" exhibit and reception

WHEN: Reception, 1-3 p.m. Saturday; exhibit, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 18.

WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington

CALL: (775) 463-4963