Artist donates painting of USS Carson City

Gardnerville naval artist Wayne Scarpaci donated a portrait of the USS Carson City to the capital city on Tuesday.

He met with Carson Mayor Robert Crowell, who took possession of the painting. Scarpaci said he met Crowell during the Carson City Airport Open House.

"He was there to open the new runway, and he came and saw my artwork and we started chatting."

Scarpaci said the painting will be on display at City Hall next to the ship's bell.

The Carson City was a patrol frigate commissioned March 24, 1944. It was transferred to the Soviet navy in 1945, and then returned to the U.S. Navy in 1949. It spent most of its life serving with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, where it was known as the Cherry Blossom from 1953 until 1966.

Scarpaci has lived in Gardnerville for five years. He said a painting like the Carson City takes about five days to complete.

Scarpaci said he is working on a book, "Nevada Ships," and is seeking photos of the USS Carson City.

"For some reason, the Carson City was a camera shy ship," he said.