Current Show

April

April 1 – 30

Show Chair: Tricia Poulos Leonard

Co-op Artist of the Month: Christel Neldner

The reception will be on Sunday, April 6, 12-4 pm.

Upcoming Show

May

THE BEAUTY OF PASTEL

May 1 – 31

Show Chair: Tamami Tokutake

Co-op Artist of the Month: Linda Parisi

The reception will be on Sunday, May 4, 12-4 pm.

We are sad to announce the passing of our long-time member, past gallery director, and dear friend Cheryln Bennett.

A Celebration of her Life was hosted at
the Artists Co-op Gallery
Saturday, April 19th from 4 – 7 pm.

Cheryln Ann Bennett passed peacefully at home with her family on February 23, 2025. She is survived by her husband John Ralph Bennett, and three children: Marc, Brycie and Amber, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Cheryln was born in Logan, West Virginia on February 28, 1944.   Cheryln met Ralph when she was a “bar maid” at a local establishment in San Bernadino, CA. Ralph would frequent this bar on his way home from working for the state in mining, engineering and surveying. Their relationship developed and led to a marriage proposal which included Ralph’s three children. Cheryln, due to medical issues was unable to have children, but happily married Ralph and became the mother to three wonderful children in 1968. The couple and children then moved to his family’s cattle ranch near Medicine Bow, WY.   Ralph was a Navy veteran where he began his engineering education. This career took him to various locations around the country, and eventually to one in the art world. Cheryln worked as a substitute teacher and learned to paint under Ralph’s guidance. They were transferred to Reno in 1986, and Cheryln, following Ralph, became a member of the Artists Co-operative of Reno in 1989. That same year, she became a charter member of the Sierra Watercolor Society. She learned and performed all duties at the gallery except treasurer, (Ralph filled that role for 35 years) and she was gallery manager until 2023. Cheryln was such an integral part of the gallery, making lasting friendships and encouraging so many to pursue their artistic selves. She was responsible for training and encouraging new members. Always eager to share her time, her charm, her home and kindness; she was an amazing woman. In addition to watercolor painting, she branched out to gourd works, paper making and basket making. Her creativity was endless. According to Ralph, she became “empowered” when using power tools to carve on gourds. She taught classes and encouraged so many with her love of art. That same love was not restricted to the studio. She and Ralph became members of the Nevada Rock Art Foundation in late 2002. They traveled throughout Nevada, volunteering on recording projects of petroglyphs. Their contributions were priceless. They were both awarded “Volunteer of the Year” in 2007 at Boulder City, NV.   FAREWELL to a fabulous woman who most assuredly inspired and changed people’s lives. She is missed by all who knew her.    Donations are being accepted in her memory for the Bennett Art Center. This is a (501c3 non-profit) building project to be built behind the gallery.

“The Bennett Art Center” We need your help. Consider honoring the Bennetts by making a donation to “The Bennett Art Center Building Fund”. All of the funds will be used to start the new building. This is a (501c3) building project to be built behind the current Co-op gallery structure. We want to honor Cheryln and Ralph by naming the building after them. It will be called the Bennett Art Center. We want to continue in the vein that Cheryln and Ralph have modeled for us. We are bursting at the seams and need to expand. Our plan is to add a new building behind our current building and use it to show more art and also teach classes. Ralph supports our plan and Cheryln would have loved the idea of sharing our knowledge with the community through art classes. Cheryln and her husband, Ralph, kept the Artists Co-op Gallery vibrant and growing for over 35 years. What you see today at the Co-op is largely a result of Cheryln and Ralph’s leadership and creativity. It was Cheryln who brought our consignment artists into the Co-op. It was Cheryln who established our Heritage Art Walls. It was Cheryln who welcomed most of us who are now a part of the Co-op into the fold. Ralph kept the books and accounting for 38 years. The Co-op would not be what it is today without their unwavering support. Donations can be made in person or mailed to: Artists Co-op Gallery Reno, 627 Mill Street, Reno, NV 89502.  Please make checks payable to: “The Bennett Art Center Building Fund” Or donate through our Go Fund Me account using a credit card at: http://www.gofundme.com/artistscoopbuildingfund. Specify you want the donation to go to: “The Bennett Art Center Building Fund”. For more information – Artists Co-operative Gallery of Reno at 775-322-8896. artistsco-opgalleryreno.com

Artists Co-op Gallery of Reno
Current Exhibits Around the City

Darkshot Coffee

300 E. 2nd St. first floor of office building across from Reno Aces ballpark
About 20 pieces of work by ACR artists are on display. Available for purchase on site.

There will be an “artist-in-action” at the Darkshot Coffee House across the street from the Aces ballpark by multiple artists on the following dates from 9am to noon:

May 27 – Eileen Fuller
June 18 – Tricia Leonard
July 1 – Linda Parisi
July 8 – Deanna Cordova
July 15 – Eileen Fuller
July 22 – Michaele Tristram
July 29 – Tricia Leonard

Mathewson Bridge Center

125 W. Plumb Ln, Reno, NV 89509 Call for hours of operation (775-827-3867)
About 20 pieces of work by ACR artists are on display.
Available for purchase by phoning our Gallery at 775-322-8896