City honors arts center couple with downtown mural

The Fallon community continues to honor the couple who placed the Lahontan Valley at the forefront of arts for present and future generations.

Their legacy in transforming Fallon into an arts center was further recognized Wednesday when Mayor Ken Tedford unveiled a mural of both the late Valerie Serpa and Kirk Robertson on the south wall of a city building on 98 S. Carson St.

Tedford said this is the first of many mural projects the city wants to undertake to honor those who have made an impact on Fallon and the surrounding area.

Serpa, who grew up in Fallon, died Dec. 5, 2021, along with pilot Donald Sefton, also of Fallon, when his plane crashed after takeoff from the Medford, Oregon, airport.

Over the years until their deaths, Serpa and Robertson became synonymous with the Churchill Arts Council and Barkley Theatre.

Robertson died from complications of a stroke on May 1, 2017 at age 70. Robertson grew up in Southern California and attended California State University, Long Beach, where he studied with well-known poet Gerald Locklin. He earned a degree in Language and Literature.

Robertson arrived in the Silver State more than 40 years ago and eventually Fallon, where he settled down, met Serpa, whom he later married.

When she spoke at Serpa’s funeral, Gailmarie Pahmeier, an English professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, compared her friend to a poem written by Lord Byron.

“Byron’s poem is classic and beautiful. Valerie was a classic beauty,” Pahmeier said. “There was nothing cliché about Valerie. She was exceptional.”

Pahmeier also spoke at a celebration of life for Robertson and remembered how each complemented one another.

 “Kirk was blessed with his love for Valerie, who already inspired an already unique voice to a heightened heartfulness,” she said.

From humble beginnings more than three decades years ago to the present, the Churchill Arts Council developed into a respected humanities programs.

“Valerie’s story began right here in Fallon where she was born and raised,” Tedford said. “After graduation from high school, she made the decision to purchase the Serpa family home to renovate it and the surrounding property. Through hard work and dedication, she was able to honor and preserve the history of the home accentuating its beauty.”

Tedford said Serpa always had an interest in culture and the arts and eventually she earned her bachelor’s degree in history and cultural anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

“It was her immense love for art that stood out above all. Valerie’s passion for art led her to joining the Churchill Arts Council at its inception in 1986,” Tedford added. “Together, they turned their share of love and also love of the arts into action, contributing to the transformation of Oats Park Arts School into the Oats Park Arts Center.”

Tedford said their bond for the arts and their love for each other provide a long-lasting bond of love and devotion. Even after Robertson’s death, Tedford said Serpa continued with her love and passion for the arts council and had the desire and drive to spread her love for the culture even in the face of her own loss.

“Her devotion to friends, her family and community exemplified her unwavering commitment to bringing people together and showing them the importance of inspiring the beauty of art to other lives,” Tedford said, adding her willingness to give back to the community through the arts has woven her into the community’s history.

Before the mural’s unveiling, Tedford said artist Erik Burke shows the couple’s vibrant spirit and her radiant spirit and energy while also illustrating their legacy. Tedford said the mural will stand as a lasting tribute to both Serpa and Robertson, two outstanding pillars of the community.

“Their legacy will continue to inspire us all,” he added.

Dr. Tedd McDonald, a member of the arts council board and a former classmate of Serpa when they both attended Churchill County High School, said it would be difficult “to find a more perfect thing to do” than unveil a mural dedicated to their honor.

Within the halls of the Oats Park Arts Center, McDonald said a gallery is named after Robertson, while Serpa put her touches on the Arts Bar.

“The arts council was Valerie’s and Kirk’s baby,” McDonald said.

Ty Whitaker, co-founder and chief executive officer of The Abbi Agency, said the idea for the mural started after the COVID pandemic subsided. From the idea of honoring Serpa and Robertson, Whitaker, who grew up in Fallon, said Tedford wanted the Abbi Agency to put together a plan to honor local people through murals.

“We identified three areas — South Carson Street, the library and the third place the city’s public works building,” Whitaker said. “That (public works) will have more a nostalgic look.”

Eventually, Whitaker said the city wants to create a walking tour using a computer app which would incorporate the story behind the murals with a stroll through downtown Fallon.

Julie Serpa, Valerie’s younger sister, was left in awe with the unveiling.

“I think it’s amazing they did this to honor her — but also her hard work and dedication – and captures my sister exactly how she was,” Serpa said. “I miss her so much. This is so beauty, and our family is honored to have her.”

Brooke Fitch, Valerie’s niece, said the mural was a nice touch to memorize her aunt in the town she loved.

“She was a great aunt, wonderful sister. We can’t replace her,” she said.