Blackbird Studios nests in a new Commerce Street space

Gina Quaranto stands inside Blackbird Studios, 1551 Commerce St. Named for Quaranto's favorite Beatles song, Blackbird Studios rose from the aftermath of a July 11 power transformer explosion that ended the short success of Quaranto's previous downtown gallery space, Place Gallery. PHOTOS BYJOHN LOCHER/VIEW Art patrons gather inside Blackbird Studios, 1551 Commerce St., during its first First Friday, Sept. 3. Josh Bell looks at works by Gia Ray inside Blackbird Studios, 1551 Commerce St. Ray is one of several local artists to take advantage of Blackbird's studio spaces and small galleries. Other artists onboard includeLynne Adamson, Mike Arthurholtz, Enrique Nevarez and Jesse Smigel. Advertisement

From each ending, a new beginning is born.

That's how downtown area artist and gallery owner Gina Quaranto chose to look at it earlier this summer when a series of unfortunate events in the form of a bad economy, an explosion and lack of air conditioning led to the closing of what was once known as the Place Gallery.

"Things happen for a reason," she said. "I'm a firm believer in that. I think the artists involved with that gallery were just meant to move on to something bigger and better."

Quaranto's new gallery, Blackbird Studios, 1551 Commerce St., opened to a crowd of dozens of supporters Sept. 3.

"This is our first First Friday in the new building," she said. "I am so excited for people to see what we have been able to do in such a short period of time."

Quaranto said the name of the studio came at the suggestion of another artist who is familiar with her weakness for the Beatles song of the same name.

"He knew I wouldn't say no," she said.

Blackbird features studio spaces and small galleries representing local artists such as Lynne Adamson, Mike Arthurholtz, Gia Ray, Enrique Nevarez and Jesse Smigel.

Quaranto said she was devastated upon learning the Place Gallery she helped to open and build from nothing less than a year ago would be closed.

"The building's owner just had a different vision, and then things kept going wrong," she said. "I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I just knew that I was getting calls from everywhere, not just artists, asking me to do whatever it takes to keep the spirit of what we'd created in that space alive. It was a lot of pressure."

Quaranto spent weeks looking at various, vacant Arts District properties. The last on her list was the Commerce Street building.

"I walked in and couldn't believe the space," she said. "I could really see us making a home here."

Quaranto said that when First Friday began eight years ago, the building was an operating gallery that drew people in on a regular basis.

"It was sort of off the beaten path, and it somehow lost its momentum," she said. "Eventually, it closed. We are hoping to revive it."

Quaranto said the 3,800-square-foot facility will feature monthly exhibits from guest artists, the first of which features a themed, mixed media show from artist Mark T. Zelmain.

The show, "Masterpiece," is conceptual and runs on the premise that a great artist invented a masterpiece he has been working to surpass early in his career, but the goal seems always beyond his reach. The show is scheduled to end Sept. 28.

"He doesn't know if he will ever top himself or be able to create something so beautiful again," Quaranto said. "It's a very interesting show. I love it."

Las Vegas resident Stacey Blair attended the opening with friends and said the new space was much bigger than she had anticipated.

"I was a big fan of the old Place, but this is really something," she said. "It's beautiful. I'm not sure exactly what I expected but not this, in a good way."

Adamson, one of the gallery's resident artists, followed Quaranto to the new space from Place and worked for weeks to ready her studio.

"We have been helping each other out," she said. "Of course, I've worked to make sure I have everything I need in my studio done, but everyone here has worked to make sure the entire building is ready. It's been a collective endeavor of painting and hammering and laughing and frustration."

Adamson, who has been an artist in the valley since the 1960s, specializes in acrylic, mixed media and colored pencil works.

"I feel very blessed to be an artist in this community and be a part of this gallery," she said.

Adamson lost her job 18 months ago and has since been solely focused on her artwork.

"This is my life," she said. "When things went awry at the other Place, and Gina approached me with the idea to move operations over here, I didn't blink. I didn't have to think about it. This is a clean, fresh start. Life is what you make it. And this gallery will be what we make it. It already is."

Quaranto said she plans to host a collaboration session for local artists, along with possible classes and outreach efforts.

"We want to be a solid part of the community," she said. "When people think about art in Las Vegas, I want them to think about this gallery and what we stand for. We've been through a lot so far and we are still standing. We just keep coming back. I think, in a way, we're a metaphor for this city and its people."

Gallery hours vary. For more information, call Quaranto at 782-0319.

Contact North Las Vegas and Downtown View reporter Amanda Llewellyn at allewellyn@viewnews.com or 380-4535.