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.