Ronni Hannaman: Carson’s outdoor art movement began in 1997

As Carson City continues to reinvent itself into a city that has fallen in love with the outdoor visual arts, we want to remind our locals – old and new – how the wonderful metal art seen along the Carson stretch of I-580 came to be, for that amazing art project could be considered the birth of today’s local outdoor art movement.

We often forget those who have made major impacts in our community. As we go forth in our enthusiasm for outdoor art, it is time to give credit where credit is due for this outdoor art movement that began in 1997 with the simple concept of encouraging landscaping for the future freeway.

It took a veritable village and then some to get the ground-breaking freeway art project off the ground. The following is a far shortened version of the story that had so many interesting twists and turns including being in the right place at the right time.

It all started when a soft-spoken Mary Fischer called NDOT asking whether her family could finance the landscaping of the interchange where the new freeway was to bypass the mobile home park she and her husband owned off Arrowhead Drive.

NDOT was receptive to the idea and after meeting with NDOTs then landscape designer, Lucy Joyce, the idea for more than landscaping was born. It was Joyce who suggested the incorporation of art elements or “hardscape” and suggested incorporating Carson’s history into the landscape design.

Not a stone was left unturned, blending art and landscaping even to the point of rearranging the stones that were dug up to create a pleasing visual “stonescape.” This home-grown project that began by a request to be able to eliminate possible blight on one small piece of land came to be a template for future statewide NDOT highway construction projects.

Once Fischer got the encouragement to proceed, she was instrumental in starting the non-profit GROW, Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides, after meeting with the Carson City UNR Extension Master Growers who became “master promoters.”

The end project you see today began as committed volunteers devoted thousands of hours to planning, promoting and studying Carson City’s rich history. Ah, but how to finance the first phase of this project?

Fischer recruited then Mayor Marv Teixeira, who recruited his good friend the very powerful Nevada Sen. Harry Reid to pave the way. To gain support of Nevada’s politicians, the charismatic duo trekked to Washington, D.C., resulting in a $2 million funding from the Federal Highway Administration.

The remaining $1 million was raised locally through donations and an NDOT grant. The first phase of the “Carson City in Motion” unique art project was completed in 2012 starting with the eagle – denoting our Eagle Valley – in flight at the north end and as each subsequent phase was completed, Carson’s history took shape.

Today, the magnificent eagle, installed just before Christmas 2017 at the south end, is resting at the intersection of Carson Street, I-580, and Highway 50. In the brochure, Fischer refers to both eagles as “bookends to the rich historical story of Eagle Valley.”

Those who want a short visual history of our city can make it a point to stop at the 15 sites to learn more about what makes Carson City history unique. A descriptive plaque is installed at each site, or you can refer to the free e-book found online: https://www.blurb.com/b/3850587-carson-city-s-history-in-motion?ebook=360767.

Each Carson City interchange has a story to tell. From the explorers led by John C. Fremont in 1844 who reportedly traveled along Fairview Drive, to the coming of the Basque sheepherders depicted on Koontz Lane who settled here in the mid-1800s, on to Lt. Col. Eisenhower’s convoy passing through the Arrowhead Drive area to record the poor state of the coast-to-coast highway system in 1919, and ending at the southernmost interchange showing the settlement of the Washoe Tribe, these adventurers and settlers receive their due.

Those who use the Arrowhead interchange will chuckle at the seasonally decorated “Ike” and his fellow soldiers with Santa hats provided by a citizen(s) with a sense of humor.

As we go forth admiring the new mural art brought forth the past two years for our viewing pleasure and the new art to soon be installed at the round-about, we salute all the artists who continue to make our city more interesting while still remembering those who started it all in 1997.

Today’s art guru is Eric Brooks, arts coordinator for the Carson City Visitors Bureau, who introduced the concept of murals in 2023 now seen all around the town. Anna Freeman of the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department shepherded the revitalization of the former firefighter’s memorial at Mills Park by the Carson City Chamber Leadership Class of 2024 to create an inviting space for locals to entertain or gather.

Mary Fischer passed on Feb. 14, 2021; however, her gift to Carson City remains visible as she wrote: “It is easy to think that one person – one voice – means nothing in today’s complex society. A prevalent belief is that an individual cannot make a difference. One voice may make a small impact, but a voice combined with many other voices can change policy and procedures.”

A fitting thought in these times. Go out and explore the art in our city whether for the historic knowledge or the colorful visual impact, for scientific studies continue to show art appreciation improves our quality of life and makes us feel good.