Tucked away on Curry Street in downtown Carson City, Great Basin Gallery and Frame is a hidden gem that many might pass by without noticing.
And that's their loss.
Inside is a different world, with walls featuring amazing artwork from local artists, including stunning landscapes painted by co-owner Jeff Nicholson.
"I must have been at an impressionable age when I saw that horizon for the first time," Nicholson said of moving to Nevada in 1962. "As I studied art at the University of Nevada, I started to identify my art with Nevada landscapes."
Nicholson sees beauty in the desert that others might miss.
"It's raw, and it's out there, right in front of you," Nicholson said. "When I get out in an area with too many evergreens and babbling brooks, as a painter it's boring for me. Those alpine settings don't have the edge you see in the desert, where there is all of creation laid out for you. I just think it's a fascinating state."
Nicholson and business partner Richard Davis started the gallery 23 years ago.
"We decided to make a go of this, and we've been bumping along since then," Nicholson said. "We've seen a lot of frame shops and galleries come and go."
They began business in a historic shotgun-style home built in 1862.
"We never wanted to be in a mall space," Nicholson said. "We wanted something more rustic, and this fit the bill just perfectly."
These days, Nicholson said almost all of the business comes from framing, as the economy has really hit the art sales hard. Being an artist, Nicholson said it gives him a different perspective when it comes to making frames for customers.
"People have always appreciated the framing we do," Nicholson said. "We try to add a little more care to our framing. We try to find what the customer is looking for, and try to meld with the piece. A lot of framers want to make their frame the subject, rather than what's in the middle."
Thursday Merchant highlights the many great places to shop in the Carson City area, keeping dollars in the community and contributing to a healthy local economy. If you have a suggestion for a business to be featured, contact Kirk Caraway, kcaraway@nevadaappeal.com.