‘Silver State Swimmer’ by artist Michael Malley on display at Carson City Community Center

A local artist who uses Nevada’s state fish as an artistic muse is showing artwork in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center.

The Capital City Arts Initiative exhibition, “Silver State Swimmer” by Michael Malley, can be seen for free through Nov. 10.

Malley said the wilderness, and the Sierra in particular, have always been a paramount source of inspiration. His sculptures and drawings are primarily centered on the Lahontan cutthroat trout, a threatened species.

For Malley, the Lahontan cutthroat trout represents the wilderness and the resources that Westerners treasure. This freshwater native lives land-locked in the driest state in the union. Honoring heroes is an ancient role for an artist. Malley feels often our heroes are human, sometimes they are other spirits, which he honors through his art.

Malley illustrates this reverence through his drawings, paintings, and sculptures. He uses graphite, ink, gouache, and oils to create his drawings and paintings, and uses woodwork, ceramics, leather, and oxidized copper to build his sculptures.

Malley, a Gardnerville resident, has taught Art at Carson High School since 2006. In 2000, he earned a bachelor’s from the University of Nevada, Reno, and he earned a teaching credential from Sierra Nevada College in 2006. His show, Fifty-Seven Saints, with historically-based mixed media pieces, was in UNR’s McNamara Gallery in 2000.

Previously, Malley studied Illustration at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, and did special effects work for Disney Animation on feature films, including “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Hercules.”

During his active military service from 1986 to 1990 and reserve service and activated reserve deployments from 1994 to 2010 with the U.S. Navy, Malley served as a Draftsman/ Illustrator for the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet and worked with the Public Affairs Officer in Philadelphia. Locally, he has worked as a portrait and sketch artist in Lake Tahoe on the M.S. Dixie, Tahoe Queen.

The Sierra Room is open to the public during Carson City official meetings including every other Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For Sierra Room access, call 775-283-7421, or check meeting schedules online at www.carson.org/government/meetings-and-events.