Nesting in Reno's riverwalk sculpture garden

“Nesting” sculpture by Jeff Schomberg and Laura Kimpton

Metal-gear bird

“Nesting” is one of six pieces of the current collection of sculptures displayed in the Bicentennial Park at the Truckee river. “Nesting” was created by Jeff Schomberg and his wife Laura Kimpton. The artist couple is best known for their word sculptures, such as “BELIEVE” at the waterfront of downtown's Art Plaza. While “BELIEVE” comes with a silhouette of cut-out birds, “Nesting” features metal-gear birds on the tip of bending beams supporting a metal nest.

Calling the phone number provided at the sculpture pedestal, 775-334-3330 ext 5, you will learn that the idea behind the sculpture is “to create the experience of life in the world.”

The birds do not fly away. The current exhibit—curated by First Reno Rotary—is rotating and the bird-tree sculpture will make place for the next inspiring design. Therefore, the gear birds are soon going to nest somewhere else.

References and more  to explore

[1]  VIDEO: Bicentennial Sculpture Park Opening and The Playa Art Park Preview [http://thisisreno.com/2016/11/video-bicentennial-sculpture-park-opening-reno-playa-art-park-preview]
[2] Reno Gazette-Journal: Reno welcomes six-piece sculpture garden to riverwalk  [http://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/2016/10/27/reno-welcomes-six-piece-sculpture-garden-riverwalk/92851804]

From the Playa to the Plaza: B·E·L·I·E·V·E

Section of  the cut-out bird silhouette of  the “BELIEVE” sculpture

What you see in the top picture is the upper backside of the letter B in the “BELIEVE” sculpture. This popular, seven-letter sculpture by Jeff Schomberg and Laura Kimpton [BELIEVE In Reno] has found its permanent place in downtown Reno. The letters, two to three times as tall as an erect human being, are standing on City Plaza, aka Art Plaza—with the historic, recently renovated United States Post Office across the Truckee river in the background.

“BELIEVE” sculpture during the Sculpture Fest in May 2015 (then a few blocks north from City Plaza)

Jeff Schomberg was present with his Burning Man playa bike during the docent-led “Downtown Mural and Burning Man Art Tour” on the opening day of Artown this year. The walking tour started at the “BELIEVE” sculpture, a contribution to the 2013 Burning Man event. Jeff told us that it takes about three to four weeks to fabricate a single letter. The City of Reno paid $10,000 per letter. A signature of the sculpture is the cut-out bird silhouette, which transforms each letter into an art object of its own. While the sun and clouds are moving over Reno, letters are individually changing in appearance. The artists have played with the sculpture in the past by turning selected letters upside down. Welcome to the convertible perceptions of the word believe. Great to have inspiring letters and artists in town. Kids will get some hands-on experience with a word; maybe even before they know how to read.

Kids love both the letters and the birds

BELIEVE it or not, large-scale outdoor sculptures attract more and more visitors to downtown Reno, turning the city into an urban-art hot spot—and not only during the month of Artown.

Who is dancing between the Nevada Museum of Art and the Sundance Bookstore?

“Early to Rise” by Erik Burke, Reno, Nevada

It is a father sundancing with his daughter. This mural on the backside of the Nevada Museum of Art is named “Early to Rise,”created by Erik Burke in 2016. Erik Burke lives in Reno, Nevada. He creates urban art in Reno and throughout the world—promoting his view that art should be free. You can find a brief description of this mural at artspotreno.com: under Public Art Tours select Downtown Reno Mural & Public Art Tour. On the map, click the blue pin between W. Liberty St. and California Ave. Viola! The “Early to Rise” box pops up. The virtual downtown tour includes other murals by Erik Burke as well.

Participants of the “Downtown Mural and Burning Man Art Tour” at
the “Early to Rise” mural

I joined the docent-led “Downtown Mural and Burning Man Art Tour” on the opening day of Artown. It was a Saturday and the parking lot in front of the mural was empty. Enough space to dance and to take pictures without parked cars blocking the view. The docent explained that Burke often paints off photos. Obviously, he turned his photo by 90 degrees to fittingly cover the low, long wall. Do we see dancers or dreamers? My guess is both! The father is spiritually sundancing with his young daughter in a yellow-green setting contrasting the silver-black walls of the art museum in the background.