OAKHURST – There’s a new gallery in Oakhurst – The Firefall Gallery located at 40680 Highway 41, next to the bicycle shop.
Firefall Gallery, named after the iconic event which took place on summer evenings in Yosemite until 1968, emphasizes Yosemite landscape and wildlife photography. The gallery also features etchings, pastels, watercolors, sculpture, jewelry, fiber art and an extensive selection of ceramics.
Firefall Gallery showcases a variety of local artists, catering to visitors and locals alike who want to take home something special. The gallery sells Nancy Robbins’ framed and unframed fine art photographs predominantly of Yosemite, large and small matted prints, as well as her cards.
The gallery was established in early 2018 by Nancy Robbins, Rikki Alley and Carol Kovach. Nancy and Rikki were the owners of Studio 41, just a half-mile north of Firefall Gallery, since 2008.
Nancy had been wanting to find a more visible space in Oakhurst, so when the current building looked like it might become available, she quickly procured the space. She invited Carol and Rikki to join her, as Carol had shown her ceramics at Studio 41 during Sierra Art Trails for two years, and the two had been friends for almost a decade.
The gallery creates an inviting atmosphere with three rooms of art in which to browse, including a wonderful collection of old cameras which are displayed in the gallery. After several months of refurbishing and painting, they made the move from Studio 41 to Firefall. Rikki’s special photographs of Bodie (which she frames with old barn wood) form a distinctive display in one of the three rooms.
Nancy’s career as a photographer spans many decades. Moving from San Diego to Wawona in 2004, she has established herself as one of the premiere fine art Yosemite photographers in the area. Nancy is also a sought-after wedding photographer, and has taken thousands of portraits during her years as the photographer for the renowned Bracebridge Dinner held at the Majestic Yosemite (Ahwahnee) hotel during December.
Nancy’s book, A Sense of Yosemite, was published by Yosemite Conservancy in 2016. Visit Yosemite through photographs and stories in the book, which is available in Yosemite, online, and at the gallery and Visitor Center in Oakhurst.
Carol Kovach has been involved with the arts for many years in the mountain area. She was the executive director of the Mariposa County Arts Council in the early 1990s and was responsible for creating and managing their gallery. She has been a member of the Sierra Art Trails committee for a number of years. While in Mariposa, Carol began her ceramics journey under the tutelage of Ann Mendershousen at Merced College over 20 years ago.
Organic and free-form describe Carol’s hand-built style of ceramics. Using the textures in lace, leaves and twigs, combined with coil-building techniques, Carol creates one-of-a-kind pieces. She is known for her collectable “little houses” and whimsical wall art. Using a variety of glazing techniques, from under-glazing to raku firing, Carol offers a wide selection of ceramic pieces that are affordably priced.
Nancy and Carol are both participants in the 2018 Sierra Art Trails held this year on Oct. 5-7. This is a great chance to explore the gallery and in particular their work.
Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday through Sunday during Art Trails. Regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
