Make an Impression and Know about Reno’s Arts
A friend recently hosted a dinner party while her mother was visiting Reno from Cleveland. It was a lovely evening with delicious dishes and great conversation. I always enjoy chatting with out-of state visitors. It’s a way to stay connected with what’s going on in the arts in the rest of the country. I also get to find out what they think of my city.
Diana lives in Cleveland, Ohio. Although she didn’t know about Corky & Lenny’s, which, in my opinion, is one of the best Jewish delis around, she knew what was going on in her arts community.
She told me about the 20-foot-tall outdoor chandelier that recently was positioned in Cleveland’s theater district and hangs 24 feet over a the area’s main intersection. We then talked about the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra and its music director, Franz Welser-Möst. But she was most excited to tell me about the Cleveland Museum of Art’s recent expansion and renovation, which added more than 35,000 square feet of gallery space, including Gallery One, a high-tech space that features interactions with top pieces of art. Plus, the museum is free.
Diana most definitely wasn’t a philistine and was proud to tell me all that was happening culturally in her city that sits on the southern shore of Lake Erie. But she also enjoyed coming to Reno and said she even has encouraged her friends to visit the Biggest Little City.
Really, I asked. What impresses you most about Reno? The public art, she said.
Explore and learn
I’ve been thinking about my conversation with Diana and wondering what Renoites would say about their city’s arts and culture scene.
When I asked one of the women running for mayor that question, I knew she wasn’t getting my vote when the only thing she talked about was what happens in July. One month doesn’t make a year and it definitely doesn’t make an arts city.
That’s the main reason for Art Spot Reno. We want to celebrate Reno as the spot for year-round art. And if you don’t know what’s going on, we’ve made it very easy to find out with a comprehensive calendar. Please use it and explore your city.
When you go on those summer vacations and someone asks about Reno, I want you to be as impressive as Diana was about her city.
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Here are a few things that impress me about Reno’s arts and culture scene:
- The city has more than 170 pieces of public art and its collection is commensurate to a city the size of Sacramento. The city’s sculpture collection includes many national names, including Michael Heizer’s “Perforated Object” in front of the Bruce R. Thompson Federal Courthouse on South Virginia. Heizer is known for the 340-ton boulder that sits on the grounds at the L.A. County Museum of Art.
- The Nevada Museum of Art is the only accredited art museum in the state.
- Because Reno is the gateway to Burning Man, the city has become a key location for pre-building and staging playa art. Artists and builders around the world are watching how Reno is doing this.
Geralda Miller, Curator
I totally agree that it’s frustrating that many people only think about art for one month of the year when really, it’s all over Reno if you just look around. I love the red spikes sculpture you pictured in this post and especially that I get to drive by it twice every day on my way to and from work. There are great sculptures at the roundabout off Plumb near Marshall’s and on on the roundabout at Wells. Finding murals where I didn’t know they were painted is always a nice surprise, and I’ll always miss the Hello Goodbye installation Joe Delappe did at the airport. Perhaps one of the most fun things I saw this past weekend was a bike rack outside Cargo that looked like a giant spiraling bike lock. Cheeky!
Last week I walked down an alley near West Street Market and came up a set of beautiful murals. What joy! David Boyer’s kinetic sculptures also are lots of fun.
Check out It’s a mobile app developed during a recent that gives you location based information about our city’s public art collection.
Hmm my html is bad. Check out Reno Art Explorer and the Reno Hackathon!
Yes, admin, to chime in, David Boyer’s metal wind sculptures always catch my eye and adds artistic interest to downtown street corners. I also especially love the river walk between the Wild River Grille and Wingfield Park……
Would love to connect with other people who are interested in art. I have been here sine 1991 and have not been involved the the arts. This has always been my passion and have not been able to find it in this town. I long to have people to share ideas and creativity with.
Kelly, please come check out the Art Walk on First Thursdays. It’s a great way to meet other artists. Also, we’ve got a comprehensive calendar on this website that will keep you very busy, just attending artists’ receptions.
More Art Everywhere!