Wall to wall: City poised for 2nd Murals and Music Festival

Event organizers were busy this week fitting together the final pieces of the puzzle that is a mass public art festival.

The second annual free Carson City Murals and Music Festival is Sept. 26-28 and is already generating excitement, drawing artists from the region and international community. More than 20 murals are planned throughout the city, and live music is set for participating venues.

Murals from last year’s inaugural festival have become familiar: stacked books on the side of the Carson City Library, galloping horses on the Chamber of Commerce building. They’re part of what event organizers call “a permanent outdoor art gallery.” And the logic from last year — enrich public spaces with design and color and celebrate community through art — holds true this year.

“This year we are honored to welcome Spanish artist Jabi Corte,” the Brewery Arts Center said on the organization’s website. “Jabi has created large-scale murals throughout Europe and is the founder of the Cantamañanas International Urban Art Festival in Pamplona, the longest running graffiti festival in Spain, producing 20 events. Jabi will be designing a site-specific mural for the Carson City community and is excited to be coming to paint with the strong tie to the Basque culture he grew up in.”

Other artists will be Priscilla Aldana G. (Prism) from Mexico, Charly Malpass from Truckee, Calif., and Gregg Deal from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.

“BAC believes wholeheartedly in the benefits to both economics and mental health that can be brought by barrier-free access to public art,” Spike McGuire, executive director of the Brewery Arts Center, said in a news release. “From Ely to Elko and Reno to Fernley, the transformative power of mural culture has become a point of pride in Nevada's artistic heritage, and we are happy to uphold the capital city's duty to reflect that."

The event was organized through a partnership between BAC, Visit Carson City and Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Space. The Nevada Arts Council and several community organizations, businesses and private donors contributed to the cause.

Two murals are planned for public property, a floral-themed mural for an interior wall in the Carson City Senior Center and a floral-and-deer-themed mural for the south-facing exterior wall of the Carson City Community Center. Both were enthusiastically approved by the city’s Cultural Commission earlier this month and subsequently approved by the city manager’s office.

One mural is set for the vacant building at 1218 S. Carson St., next to Arby’s downtown. Other murals are planned for thriving businesses wanting to participate: Monarch printing, the White House, Carson Antiques and Collectibles Mall, Heidi’s Family Restaurant, the Bike Smith, Mangia Tutto and Nashville Social Club.

“We are so excited to see the way Carson City is transforming and becoming such a place for vibrant arts, and for us to have this opportunity to be part of that movement, we are just thrilled,” said Nashville Social Club co-owner Kitty McKay. “When we look at the mural that Bryce is intending to create for us, we feel so blessed… the energy of connecting and music and fabulous food is just going to be right there on that really, really big wall.”

Bryce Chisholm, a Reno native and Wooster High grad, told the Appeal the aforementioned mural might change a bit from renderings.

“It always changes a bit while I am painting. For many different reasons,” he told the Appeal. “And there is actually a big electrical box in front of the building, so I'll have to figure that out when I'm there. And this wall has a lot of texture, so that should be interesting.”

Chisholm was thinking of naming the mural “Spirit of Music City” or something similar.

“That is what we are really trying to invoke with the mural. The themes of Nashville, music, Americana roots and warm vibes,” he said. “I have painted in Carson City several times, and every time I get to experience a new place with new friends. Most of the time when I'm visiting Carson, it's a quick trip for a sports event or for the Nevada Day celebration.

“But when I stay in Carson painting for several days, it's completely different. I'm eating at the local spots and going to listen to music in a new (to me) venue. Meeting many of the great people that get to enjoy Carson all the time. A festival really lets you immerse yourself in your surroundings, and that is a great way to experience a town.”

Music performances are slated for festival nights, including a headlining performance from Mike Clark & the Sugar Sounds on the BAC outdoor stage Sept. 28. Additionally, there will be hands-on painting at the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada and clay art at Ogres-Holm Pottery. A full schedule of events will be online: https://visitcarsoncity.com/muralsandmusic.

McKay summed up the festival this way: “I love what we’re evolving into.”