b'T H EC H A M B E R SP R O J E C TD S ,F U N&P A S S I NA S S I O NL Y ,F R I E N ,F A M I L , I E Y TRINA KLEISTBto de-stigmatize psychedelics, he says, LESSON LEARNED: and his website calls it the worlds rian Chambers has blended lovey. Inside for his family with passionFigure out what youre here for. leading psychedelic art gallerfor art, opening a newthe corrugated metal building, works space amid the COVID-19evoking a range of roots portrayother-pandemic. His gallery, The Chambers Project in mid-town Grass Valley,T A BUNCH OF MAGICIANS YOU GE OM TOGETHER, AND showcases a psychedelia-fueled aestheticIN A ROwhere he offers multi-media events,MAGIC HAPPENS.pioneers collaborative creation, draws Brian Chambers, The Chambers Projectinnovators from around the world and boosts the local economy. worldlylandscapes, fantastic cubes and Photos by Trina KleistWhen Chambers was 16, the Tennesseedizzying swirls of finely drawn shapes native found his lifes project: He startedand carefully blended color. They speak collecting concert poster art from the lateto Chambers own artistic viewpoint: I 1960s and 1970s think Jimi Hendrix atlike to wonder what Im looking at.the Fillmore in San Francisco and thePainting by Colin Prahl His present positive reality includes Grateful Dead at Hill Auditorium in Annbringing together gallery, artist and Arbor, Mich. He expanded into albumChambers landed herestrategically, hethe viewing, appreciating and buying covers and the artists who drew them saysin 2008. As social media changedpublic. Chambers has encouraged such as Yes and Roger Deanorganizingy shows around the country. relationships between artists and artseveral artists from across the countrgalleries, Chambers recalls feelingto relocate to Nevada County. He calls threatened and worried about his business model. But it became apparent (Instagram) was going to grow, so you figure out a way to work it to your advantage and bring it to a positive reality, he says.Meanwhile, his shows often took him far from family. Chambers wanted his two young daughters to see up close the Photos by Trina Kleistlesson he had been blessed to learn: You can turn your passion and what you love into your job. Now 43, he recalls this epiphany: I came to a crossroads: The Chambers Project is a gallery, eventHow am I ever going to teach this toBicycle Day, 2012-2013 is a center and creator magnet that hasmy kids if Im doing my biggest showscollaboratiom by Alex Grey and drawn artists from around the nation andin Miami? He yearned to pour all thisMario Martinez (Mars-1).the world. Top row, from left, are artistlove, effort, energy and finances into the Julian Vadas, Gallery Manager Jon Ohia;place where he lived. himself old-school, meaning, he and the Chambers family, Aiyana, BrianMy kids are here, he says pragmatically.loves creating events where people and Kyrah. Bottom row, from left, areThey get to see what I do. gather in-person around art and artists Colin Prahl and Johnny Thorne.CURATING EN VIVO artists, talk, shake hands, celebrate The painting behind them is Blueand make friends. I feel like Im Desert by Roger Dean. In November 2021, amid thea conduit to bring that around, Drawn by Nevada Countys naturalpandemics second wave, he opened TheChambers reflects. Im in a very beauty and creative ecosystem,Chambers Project. It was an opportunity 8 Nevada County Business Focus'