Silver City Arts Group Offers Free Music, Art and Poetry Events

Silver City, Nevada - After a lively arts town hall conversation in February 2014 hosted by the Nevada Arts Council, Silver City residents were inspired to form the Silver City Arts group. Since then, the energetic group has hosted music, visual arts, and poetry events and programs, and has plans for more. The group draws on the community's own rich resource of artists, artisans and musicians, and also connects with regional and statewide nonprofits to bring in programming by national and international artists and musicians. The group's mission is "to encourage the arts, build community, and share our unique town through free, public events."

Below are a few highlights from the last two years, and schedule of upcoming events.

In October of 2014, the work of both local and visiting artists was celebrated. The arts group partnered with St. Mary's Art Center and the Silver City Volunteer Library to bring internationally acclaimed Danish artist Nes Lerpa to Silver City for an intimate "first look" at his most recent large scale abstract paintings in a "pop-up" show. Next, the group hosted an exhibit of fine art, photography and publications by long time Silver City residents. The exhibit was recognized as one of the official Signature events across the state marking the Nevada Sesquicentennial, and the opening reception attracted about 200 visitors from many communities in Northern Nevada and beyond. Not bad for a town with a population of about 180 souls!

Holiday Show: In December of 2014, the group offered a holiday event with music by cellists Diane Kotik and Becky Crowe, and sales of hand-crafted items such as jewelry, wreaths, centerpieces, and ceramics by Nevada artisans, as well as prints and photography by Larry Kotik, Canyon Cassidy, Verne R. Horton, Mel Matlean, Carolyn Brown, Robert Elston, and others.

Screening of Documentary by Silver City Native: In May 2015, the group hosted a well-attended screening of "Rockin' at the Red Dog: The Dawn of Psychedelic Rock." The documentary is by Silver City native Mary Works Covington, whose father, Don Works of Silver City, was one of the founders of the famed Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City in the 1960s. Covington was on hand to introduce the documentary.

May 2015 Nevada Historic Preservation Month Exhibit: The town of Silver City experienced a "cultural re-population" beginning around 1965. Photos from the Germino Archives, courtesy of Sam Toll, plus essays and newspaper columns from the past 50 years illustrating the demographic shift were on display during a pop-up show, along with a display of Comstock music memorabilia by Mary MacDonald.

Summer Fine Art Exhibition: In July of 2015, the group hosted an unusual fine art show featuring some of the artwork by others that Silver City residents own and treasure. The exhibition served as a tribute to the love of art that thrives in the small community, and also provided a rare opportunity to see artwork from residents' diverse private collections. Art by Walter McNamara, Estelle Peck Ishigo, Mick Sheldon, Joan Arrizabalaga, Bob Adams, Nolan Preece, Ray Obermayr, Edw Martinez, Gus Bundy, Jim McCormick, Mimi Patrick, Jeff Nicholson, Karen Kreyeski, Jean LeGassick, Lorna Obermayr, and many others was included. Brian Schorn, a visiting artist from Michigan with the new Resident Artist Program in Silver City, contributed his considerable experience to preparing and designing the exhibit. Brian has hung the work of many well known artists in various capacities as a gallery and/or museum preparator, including work by artists like Yoko Ono, Duane Hansen, and Frank Stella.

Music Display: The Silver City Post Office has a new display case where locals can show special collections. The Silver City Arts group created a display for December 2015 - January 2016 with photos, instruments, and album and CD covers to celebrate the music of present and past Silver City residents. Musicians such as Lynne Hughes, Daniel Yuhasz, Jake Wise, Tal Morris, Hammerstone, American Phlats, Darius Javaher, Will and Sheree Rose, Ukalocos, Betty Kaplowitz, Tommy Thomsen,the "Leftovers" youth band, and many others were included.

Upcoming Events:

Silver City Poetry and Song Lyrics Project: This ongoing project of Silver City Arts gives past and present Silver City residents a chance to share their work publicly in a designated "Poetry Corner" at the local Post Office. Next year, with the writers' permission, poems will be published in a book of "Silver City Post Office Poetry." Poems can be send to Quest at quest@theodata.com

Make a Valentine: Silver City Arts invites people to a Saturday, February 13 Valentine making afternoon, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the School House. SCA facilitator Carol Godwin writes, "Young and old, come to visit, make valentines, and partake of cookies. Everyone needs a valentine. This is cheaper and more heartfelt option."

Acoustic Jam Sessions: Tentatively scheduled for the 4th Saturday of each month, the Silver City Arts group invites people to bring musical instruments (or their voices) and jam. The first session in January was a big success, with about 20 music lovers of all ages showing up with quite a collection of instruments, including a mandolin, a ukelele, an accordion, piccolos, and guitars. The next jam session is Saturday, February 27 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Contact: For more information about the Silver City Arts group and their monthly meetings, contact Carol Godwin at godwinsilvercity@aol.com. The group has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Silver-City-Arts/618872294885649