by Sheyenne Taylor - There’s this random collection of abandoned cement structures in the middle of the desert near Tonopah. Every time I drive between Reno and Las Vegas, I stop and check out the new art/writing. It’s prettiest at night ! I saw this disc that I selected, and it immediately brought me to that spot.
Reno Nevada- 6/10/2024: As an artist, I am continually inspired by the world around me and the ways in which we interact with our surroundings. When I was approached to participate in the Nevada Awe Project, I couldn't help but feel a sense of alignment with my own artistic practice, rooted in awe and wonderment.
The Nevada Awe Project presented a unique challenge: How do I, as an artist, respond to another artist's work, and how do we create a cohesive expression of awe for Nevada? These questions initially seemed daunting, but they led me to a simple realization when I met Katherine Case.
Katherine's artistry, particularly her line work, captivated me from the moment we connected. The variety and quality of her lines seemed to dance with movement and emotion, evoking echoes of memories past. In her relief prints, I found a resonance with my own visual language—the emotional power imbued in each meticulous mark.
Together, Katherine and I embarked on a journey of artistic collaboration, creating disks that reflect our shared awe for Nevada. Through our work, we sought to capture the essence of this awe, drawing on our individual perspectives and experiences to create a unified expression of reverence for the beauty and complexity of Nevada's landscape and culture.
As artists, we understand the transformative power of collaboration and the ability of art to transcend boundaries and connect us on a deeper level. In the Nevada Awe Project, we found not only an opportunity to express our awe for this remarkable state but also a platform for fostering connections and dialogue within the artistic community.
This has been a wonderful project with so many people coming together to work on little creations. Here is page 98-99 of the NV Awe: Tiny Treasures book.
I loved the discovery and conversation that came through working with my nine-year-old daughter on a NV Awe piece. I first created a ground, using bright neon colors. These are colors that I associate with feminist energy and that frequently pop up in my work. I gave the disk to her with little direction. She decided to draw in this beautiful family of birds migrating across the piece. She explained that the large bird was the mother leading her family to a new home. Her work reminds me of the subconscious influence that I have upon my kids- something that I often forget in the hustle of the everyday. Thank you for this gift, sweet baby.
In my current body of work, the grounds that I work with represent oppression. I choose gridded surfaces, like tile, because of the restrictive nature of the structure. They become useful stand-ins for the patriarchy, language, and gender. Breaking these structures is an act of liberation. It provides novel spaces where new identities can exist and thrive. The cracks in the grid become places for play, and I experiment with bulging forms and gratifying textures.
This project challenged my normal process - the ground for the artwork, a small, round, wooden disk, was given as a gift from a fellow artist. It was given with optimism, trust, and space for creative freedom. Breaking this object, this hopeful gift, changed the meaning behind the break. Gone was the catharsis that I usually experience while breaking my grounds, replaced by discomfort. I decided to push through this feeling and broke the delicate balsa wood with a sharp wince.
In a futile attempt to reconcile this disconnect, I decided to color both the shards of the disk and the emerging coils in a neon green – unifying them visually through color. Along they go to local artist, Grace Davis. Davis has an optimistic, expressive painting style. She works with vivid colors and layered textures. I wonder what energy she will bring to this new object.
NV Awe- a concept that encompasses the imagination of Nevada. I remember being a child and laying on the soft green grass, looking up in the sky and imagining all of the characters I could see in the clouds. Giant mountains surrounded me no matter where I was in the community. They reached the skies and I remember believing they protected me always.
I have watched my daughter grow up around the same beautiful landscape as I did. I watch her get excited over the many species of birds that fly by the windows or make nests in the trees. I smile when she copies the rumbling sound of thunder as the spring storms roll through. I couldn’t wait to see how her classmates imagined their experience in Nevada.
At first, we were nervous that the kindergartens wouldn’t want to share their discs.
However, we were quickly shown that they were not only up for the collaboration but excited to share their experience together. Nevada sunsets, bugs, weather, trees, and picnics under the sun once imagined came to life on the discs.
Reliving the memories of once being a child, I rediscovered my love for Nevada and all the beauty it holds. From the grass, to the mountains and into the clouds—we are all left in AWE. - Rebecca Lewis - Emsley’s mom.
