The terrain data seen in images by Michael Ulrych was compiled as part of the NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, STS-99, flown aboard space shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 11-22, 2000.
Ancient Lake Lahontan is the subject of Carson City Art Gallery & Pottery’s first exhibit on Friday, Nov. 4.
From 6 to 8 p.m. work by Carson City’s Michael Ulrych can be seen at the gallery at 110 S. Curry St., at the corner of Second Street.
Ulrych is debuting seven renderings of ancient Lake Lahontan in photographic quality. Until now, no one has ever seen a photograph-quality image of the prehistoric lake.
Ancient Lake Lahontan submerged much of northwest Nevada for thousands of years. Surprisingly, Northern Nevadans now live and work in the basin of the once immense lake. Over the years, many geologists have produced many publications documenting the lake level, shoreline features, foliage and weather of the period.
The lake existed for more than 14,000 years but completely disappeared around 9000 B.C. Despite this fact, Ulyrch has painstakingly recreated areas many Nevadans may know and recognize.
The seven images include: “Lake Lahontan at Carson City and the Carson Range;” “Lake Lahontan at Dayton Valley and Rawe Peak;” “Lake Lahontan at Fallon and the Forty-Mile Desert;” “Lake Lahontan at Gerlach and the Black Rock Desert;” “Lake Lahontan at Hawthorne and the Wassuk Range;” “Lake Lahontan at Yerington and Mason Valley;” and “Lake Lahontan at Virginia City and the Flowery Range.”
In addition to the display, the artist will discuss the ancient lake and share his creative process, which incorporates space shuttle-derived terrain data, 3-D rendering software and Adobe Photoshop.
This exhibit was made possible by a grant from the Nevada Arts Council.
Additional public viewing of these images will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5.
To attend the reception, RSVP to Carson City Art Gallery at 775-313-8628. Light refreshments will be served.