Cultural Commission approves ‘gorgeous’ murals

The Carson City Cultural Commission on Monday approved two murals on public property for the upcoming Murals and Music Festival after praising the respective designs and artists.

“These are both beautiful. That’s all I wanted to say on the record. They’re gorgeous,” said Commissioner Susan Mowers.

The commission voted 5-0, with Bethany Drysdale and Michael Smith absent, to recommend to the city manager’s office approval of a floral-themed mural for a wall inside the Carson City Senior Center, by artist Hayley Meadows, and a floral-and-wildlife-themed mural for the south-facing exterior wall of the Carson City Community Center (across from the pool) by artist Erik Burke.

The former project was funded by a private donor and the latter largely by a Nevada Arts Council grant. The projects are set to be part of the second annual Carson City Murals and Music Festival Sept. 26-28. According to Visit Carson City officials, 21 murals have been planned for the event as of Monday. More information is online: https://visitcarsoncity.com/events/mural-music-festival-in-carson-city.

Regarding the senior center mural, the project will complement an outdoor patio project to honor a regular center attendee who passed away, according to the city.

“We want this event to be diverse and inclusive for everyone, and we felt the senior center is a demographic that doesn’t get as much love as they could,” said Visit Carson City Arts and Culture Program Manager Eric Brooks.

The second mural draws on Carson’s deer population and includes a rendition of the late famed buck known as “the King of Carson.”

“And we get our king finally somewhere in this town? I’m in,” said Commissioner Barbara D’anneo.

According to the project proposal, “Each of the deer have a floral inset from native plants, including the official flower of Carson City, the prunus andersonii, commonly known as the Desert Peach.”

Visit Carson City Executive Director David Peterson spoke during public comment to support the upcoming festival.

“We’re all out on public art, and I think we have some great tailwinds behind us right now as a community, some really cool projects that you’ve seen up and about, some future ones coming, and some long-term developments as well,” he said.

More information about the artists: https://www.meadows-creative.com/about-hayley-meadows and https://www.eriktburke.com/.

Anna Freeman, the city’s arts and culture supervisor, said the commission’s recommendation will go to the city manager, who can deny, approve or defer the projects to the Board of Supervisors.

Per the city’s public art policy, approval from the Board of Supervisors is required for public art acquisitions greater than $9,999.