Will the real Reno please stand up?

The iconic Reno sign. Photo credit: Mary Donnelly

By: Amanda Wash

Reno has an image problem.  Most people unfamiliar with this northern Nevada town think it has nothing more than casinos, quickie weddings and even quicker divorces.  Worse, they think of it as a “little Las Vegas.”  While this may lower outsiders’ opinions of the biggest little city in the world, there are some serious economic issues that plague the city as well.

The housing crisis of 2008 hit the town hard. Large numbers of houses were either foreclosed upon or underwater.  Reno, like the rest of the United States, shows signs of life after the economic downturn.  Even though this is promising news, it does little to help sell a positive image of Reno to those who don’t spend much time here.

Tourist reactions to Reno are mixed.  Sylmar, Calif. resident Ted Onufryk says, “[Reno is a] dirty old city.  There are some nice places, but overall, we don’t care for it.”    While he comes regularly for the Hot August Nights car show, he rarely comes to Reno other times.

Lindsey Huff of Maryville, Tenn. thinks that Reno is “a pretty nice town.  I enjoy visiting the casinos and seeing the sights.  It’s my first time here, but I’ve had a good time while I’ve been here.”  When asked if she would come back and visit again, she says, “Yes.  It easy to get around and not as chaotic as Las Vegas.”

Reno residents are aware of the bad rap the city gets in the media.  As recently as June 24, the website Escape Here named Reno as the third worst city to visit in the United States.  Though the author inaccurately claims that Reno has a lot of violent crime, this type of publicity does nothing to help the city’s image problem.

Reno residents are quick to point out the positives of the town.  Phil Rauscher, 18-year resident of Reno, says, “Reno is great for adventure.  We have all four seasons, and we are close to Lake Tahoe.  Some people think Reno is a trashy place, but there is a real movement to use local products and to revitalize the river walk area.  For a small town, it feels like a real city.”

Local government and media are working hard to reverse the negative image.  The Reno Gazette Journal started a blog called “Reno Rebirth,” which focuses on “issues related to jobs, education and quality of life as Reno’s economy recovers.”  This is a way to let the public know that Reno suffers from many of the same problems as most American cities, but locals are looking to rebrand Reno in a more positive way.

The city of Reno and local businesses also partner with Artown, an annual non-profit arts festival that runs the entire month of July.  Its mission is “to strengthen Reno’s art industry, foster civic identity and enhance its national image, thereby creating a climate for the cultural and economic rebirth of the region.”

It is unclear as to whether public perception of Reno will change for the better in the near future.  However, residents continue to sell all the positives that Reno has to offer.

July is Artown

By Nancy McGonigal

Over the past 19 years, “The Biggest Little City in the West”, also known as Reno and the stepsister of another gambling and entertainment mecca in Nevada has tried valiantly to morph into a different classification.  Reno, once considered a shining star all her own, has suffered setbacks recently but continues to repaint her image as Artown, USA.

Artown?  Somehow that just doesn’t seem to fit the image of this former western gateway of the Sierra Nevada desert and silver mining industry. But ask Reno citizens about Artown, and chances are they’ve enjoyed an art event, display, performance or lecture somewhere in town in July.  From Basque dancing to quick-draw events to concerts to edible art to poetry to dramatic recitations, and even animals interacting with art, Reno’s Artown consists of many venues and reflects a community coming together to appreciate art in all forms.

The official Artown poster for 2013

 Like painting?  There’s a presentation or display for that.  Like singing or music?  Take in the the free Monday night concerts at various locales around the city.   If the performing arts are more your style then look for the Chautauqua presentations or the many dramatic performances at different theaters in the area. Artown has an extensive website (http://www.renoisartown.com) with a calendar and maps to help residents and non-residents navigate to the events of their choice.

Stephanie Briggs, a teacher from Sparks, Nevada attended the Art Paws event with her daughter Maddie and their lab Allie on Sunday, July 21st.  This is the one pet-friendly, Artown events that caters to four-legged friends. Amidst the clamor of barking, whining and general hullabaloo,  animal-lover Briggs said, ”Reno is amazing in July.  We love the many arts events and try to get to as many as we can.”  Her daughter Maddie, 10, agreed.  She especially liked getting to bring her dog to this art and animal event at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center.  Based on her wagging tail, it seemed Allie didn’t mind either.

When the most recent recession hit the country, the Reno-Sparks area was hit hard.  Housing starts were down nearly 40%, and the value of the average home fell at about the same rate.  With income down and a loss of nearly 17% of all jobs in the area, the art community felt the hit too.

Reno’s iconic arch is highlighted in the waning summer sun.

But, the Artown Committee forged ahead and continued promoting the idea of Reno as an art town.  So even in the midst of downsizing and job loss, and what might appear to be some very dark days in the area, Artown persisted.

Briggs, who left the Reno area in 2006 right at the start of the recession for the state of Montana, returned with her family in 2012 so her husband could open a barbershop and she could teach in the Sparks school system.  She acknowledged the difficulties still plaguing the area.

 “At first, I was reluctant to move back.  Things were really tough here still.  But my husband had an opportunity to take over for a retiring barbershop owner, and he just didn’t want to pass it up.  We were both raised in the Reno area, and it was coming home for us.”   As she continued to talk, Briggs sounded optimistic about the future of the Reno area, noting that the Artown events are a highlight.

Artown in July is sponsored largely by a grant through the Nevada Arts Council and has brought art to the area for 19 years.  Other sponsors include NV Energy, The Reno Gazette Journal, NPR, and KOLO8 among others.  These businesses have been integral in keeping the program going.  Executive director for Artown Beth McMillan said the arts festival is, “about inclusiveness at its heart. From whimsical to compelling, we (The Artown Council) are elated to bring another month of events, exhibits, workshops and innovation to northern Nevada.

Allie, a friendly lab takes in ArtPaws at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center.

One permanent opportunity to take in art is The Nevada Museum of Art located at 160 W. Liberty Street in Reno. It is the only nationally accredited art museum in the state of Nevada. It’s been around in some format or another since the turn of the century.  Now in an ultra modern four-story building, the museum features exhibitions by national and international artists and currently has a permanent collection of 19th through 21st century art.

Katrina Raenell, an arts and culture reporter for the Reno Gazette Journal, says she thinks Artown is still relevant even after 19 years.   “Some patrons might think the festival is dwindling,”  she said, but she thinks it has given confidence to local artists.  Some might even branch out.   Raenell continued,  “I wouldn’t be surprised if the local artists start to do something on their own.”   However, she is confident July will continue to be tagged as Artown due to the clear branding the festival has enjoyed.

Reno has a lot of art at its fingertips, and even the most reluctant of Reno citizens can find opportunities to enjoy the art medium of  their choice.  Make a visit to a museum or check  out the University of Nevada Reno.  This 128-year-old urban university  has art exhibits in the Church Fine Arts building on campus.  It is not uncommon to find displays put on by students as well as renowned artists.

Art has the ability to cross barriers such as cultural, and socio-economic.  Times have been tough in Reno, but many signs point to a much more vibrant future, and it seems that Reno might once again be on the rise.  Many of the Artown events in July are completely free.

Of dainty ducks and mischievous Pucks: a review of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

By: Amanda Wash

The stage at Sand Harbor State Park

Nestled between the Sierra Nevada and Carson Range mountains is the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. For its forty-first season, the LTSF chose to perform  “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”  The Bard’s play of magic and mischief is much beloved by English teachers everywhere.  (Full disclosure:  I am one of those English teachers.)

I had high hopes for this performance.  It combined three things I love: Shakespeare, the 1960s and The Beatles.  In fact, my expectations were so high, I braced myself for big disappointment.   I’ve endured disastrous live performances of a few Shakespeare plays.  A bit of advice to all you Summerstock directors out there; never, ever cast a female in the role of Hamlet.  I don’t care how edgy you think it is to gender-bend roles, I shouldn’t be subjected to that again.

All of this ran through my mind as I climbed up the sand dune that served as the amphitheater.  As I took my seat, put my toes in the sand and gazed out at the stage and lake, my trepidations lessened.  At least if the play was bad, the scenery was worth the price of admission.

As the sun began to set, Hippolyta entered the stage to strains of The Beatles’ “Within, Without You.”  From that moment on, my trepidations disappeared.

For the next three hours, I was drawn into my own midsummer dream.  As Lysander and Hermia snuck off into the forest, the backdrop opened to brightly colored grass and clear blue water.  Large applause erupted at the realization that the vistas of Lake Tahoe and surrounding mountains were better than any set design that could’ve been built.

All of the actors’ performances were entertaining and well done; however, the two stand-out performances were those of Jeffery C. Hawkins as Puck and Shad Willingham as Nick Bottom.  Both actors threw themselves gleefully into the much beloved roles.

Hawkins looked very much at home in his role as the original merry prankster.  His frenetic energy was contagious.  Hawkins captured the audience’s attention from the moment he walked on stage, and did not let up until the last monologue.  He was Puck, not an actor playing Puck.

Willingham’s performance as the overconfident and not-so-smart Nick Bottom was perfect.  Where most actors would overact due to the character being broadly written, Willingham knew how to use physical comedy to reinforce Bottom’s overconfidence without going too far.  His ability to take Bottom up to the line of caricature without crossing it shows his talent as an actor.

The highlight of the performance was “the play within the play.”  The mechanicals, Bottom included, stumbled upon the stage dressed as members of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, ready to perform their tedious and brief scene of Pyramus and Thisbe.  Their hilarious performance of this scene was adored by the audience, who responded with raucous laughter and applause.

Director Charles Fee stated in his director’s note that his vision for the play was to “create a look and rhythm that will engage the audience in the text and heighten our awareness of what is timeless in the play.”  His excellent use of Beatles’ music, the costumes and setting accomplished this superbly.  For three hours, we were transported to a dream world, one from which I was loathe to leave.

Windy Moon Quilts

by Janmarie Smith 

Sandy Sullivan  is not in her store , The Windy Moon, and the workers who are in the store have only worked there a week.  So I am left to wander until they find her.

The store is more than a fabric store.  Quilts  are on display all around the store, draped on bolts of fabric, lining shelves,  tacked to every wall and hung on the ends of shelves. Most  have been quilted  and pieced by sewing machines. The deep expensive colors draw the eye to different areas as I walk around.  Something brighter catches my eye and  I look up.   Tucked , draped,  and folded carefully among antique artifacts  on the top of the rows and shelves are some unique, very old quilts.

These are sewn by hand. stitch by stitch, inch by inch  and pieced by hand,  old patterns,  Crazy Quilts,  Around the World Quilts, appliqued quilts. . . .    The crazy quilts with uneven pieces of dark jeweled colors are pieced together  with embroidery stitches.   Stained glass quilts with a softer palette of pinks and blues and whites.  As my eyes start to circle the room at the top, I see old books,  spinning wheels,  clay pots,  non electric irons,  brown tone photographs.   and other antiques fitted among these quilts.   “ It’s a sort of museum,” said Sandy as we finally were able to talk.

Sandy has been over at the Ramada Inn next door conducting a workshop.  She explains that they run classes on anything their clients are interested in :  machine quilting,  machine pieced quilts, appliqued quilts  and hand quilting and hand piecing.  If a client comes in and asks to learning something,  then they will teach a new class.   Many of those classes are held next door at the Ramada Inn where she is today.

Classes that  are being taught right now at The Windy Moon  are  lace ornaments and free standing lace,  piecing houndstooth,  and machine embroidery.

When asked about the old quilts on the tops shelves,  Sullivan said,   “Many people bring those in and give them to me.  Maybe Grandma dies or they clean the garage.  They find an old quilt; nobody wants it but they know it shouldn’t be thrown away, so they bring them to me because they know they will be cared for.”    And they don’t have to worry about the store closing because Sullivan  has been in business 24 years in Reno and just opened a second store in Sparks.    Her husband Michael also works at the store.   He said that it is a full time job, but they love it.  And he adds that those quilts entrusted to them will be safe.

The store is teeming with fabric also, of course,  to make the quilts.   “ None of our fabric comes from the United States.   Our raw cotton is sent overseas, so I buy fabric from all over.    A common fallacy is that is comes from China, but very little comes from China, “ explains Sullivan .    China is the largest producer of cotton, but they use all they produce.  For many years, the United States  is the largest exporter of cotton.   Sandy knows this and it is documented by  the Textile Fashion Study.

As I leave, I am under the spell of  Windy Moon Quilts.   I want to stay and begin to create, but I must go so I just 2 ½ yard of material for bulletin boards,  You see I am a teacher, no time yet to create.   But time to dream, appreciate and write.

The museum quality of the quilting store shows in these carefully selected quilts.

Artown Photo Essay

Here is a photo essay of a Japanese Sword Demonstration with drums.  Enjoy!

By:Amanda Wash