Poetry reading set for Saturday

Churchill Arts will present a poetry reading with David Lee tomorrow night at the Art Center. Lee is the author of more than 20 collections of verse and was named the state of Utah’s first poet laureate.

His spoken vernacular poems are insightful, often humorous, evocations of those living in the rural American West.

His most recent book is “Last Call” (Wings Press) and the author will have copies available for purchase at the reading. There will be a meet-the-author reception beginning at 5 p.m. and the reading will begin at 6 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, you can call CAC at 775-423-1440.

Reno’s Stremmel Gallery will be opening “My Montana,” two new shows of work by Montana artists on Thursday.

Gordon McConnell’s paintings and drawings draw upon stills from old black-and-white Western movies—such as “Red River,” “Stagecoach,” “My Darling Clementine” and many others.

The artist has said that his work is darkly nostalgic and his paintings evoke a post-modern reconsidering of popular western imagery.

The other artist whose works will also be on view is Jerry Iverson. Unlike McConnell, Iverson’s paintings are collaged abstractions that conjure notions of an East Asian calligraphy re-expressed as references to the stark landscape of Montana’s high plains.

There will be a reception for the artists on Thursday from 5:30-7 p.m. to which the public is invited. The gallery is located at 1400 S. Virginia in Reno and for more information you can call 775-786-0558.

And, coming up next month is the first of the City of Fallon sponsored free in-the park concerts. Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys will perform on the Centennial Stage in Oats Park on June 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The Art Center’s galleries and Art Bar will be open following the concert and we’ll have more information on the show in the coming weeks.

Kirk Robertson writes about the arts and may be reached at news@lahontanvalleynews.com.