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RTIA 2022 Full Recap Video
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After moving here a few years ago, Kevin O’Keefe and his daughter, Briana Dolan, fell in love with the abundance of art in the area. “We were totally shocked to find that there are so many artists, makers, designers and builders of all kinds here in Reno alone, and then, of course, in Tahoe and the expanded region,” Dolan said during a recent phone interview with her and O’Keefe. The two of them decided to sell some of their art—and that effort quickly morphed into a city wide collective. Now, they’re prepare for their biggest project, the Reno Tahoe International Art Show (RTIA), taking place Thursday, Sept. 8, and through Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. From visual art in numerous mediums to live music, screenings, Q&As and more, the RTIA is truly celebrating everything that is art. “I was working for a hospitality designer in New York City, and my dad had previously been in the trade show world, and he was running a big exhibition in New York City called ICFF (the International Contemporary Furniture Fair),” Dolan said. “Our two careers were sort of intertwined that way, but both came crashing to a halt because of everything happening with the pandemic. Ever since we’ve arrived here … this whole city and region continue to surprise us in so many ways, all positive, that we’re very happy to be forwarding this mission that we’re calling the Reno Creative Movement.” Dolan and O’Keefe began selling some of their art online, but quickly broadened that idea. “We turned it into the Reno Fine Arts Collective; that was initially just an online gallery and collective of local artists presenting their work and selling it online,” Dolan said. “We popped up a gallery downtown at the bottom of the Chase building on Virginia for five months last summer, and it was really just to kind of test the market. Two things we were hearing so prominently was that there was really nowhere to hang art for local artists, and people felt that consumers who could buy art of any level of quality would not come to the locals to buy it; they would go to a major city like San Francisco or L.A. with the assumption that the quality is higher in these larger places. We were pleasantly surprised with the reaction to the gallery we had, considering the smoke last summer, and lingering COVID issues. We had a lot of art that sold; we had a lot of people come in, and a lot of enthusiasm around the addition to the art scene.” This enthusiasm led to the inaugural RTIA show, an event Dolan said she hopes will lead to more recognition for Reno’s art scene. You Need a Home in Palm Springs “The last piece of this creative movement was always going to be a large show, because that’s where my dad’s background comes in,” Dolan said. “… There’s an energy here in Reno; we feel the timing is really great to try something really loud and to make a statement about Reno being an arts and culture destination, and a center that could really be recognized nationally. Maybe someday … people don’t talk about Austin or Miami; they talk about Reno and Tahoe.” O’Keefe focused in on Miami as an example of what she he and Dolan want to accomplish. “Miami was a very dangerous place, and no one would ever visit there willingly—and it was totally changed with Art Basel, which at first wasn’t a big deal—but within four or five years, they ended up being the art center for both North and South America,” O’Keefe said. “… With all these changes, with COVID—with California and New York changing so much—we really felt that this was a time to take all of these artists, put them all together, and feature them … going out to all of the galleries in the country to say, ‘You need to come here.’ “We have 100,000 people who have moved here from someplace else who are wealthy and affluent art buyers, and we have a lot of people here who are art enthusiasts.” Dolan pointed out that the show has a tongue-in-cheek slogan: “Reno, NV … who knew?” “Every piece of the show celebrates this sort of discovery of how cool this region is. … We’re very happy to be able to incorporate the film aspect and celebrate some local filmmakers,” Dolan said. “For the talks, we’re putting together a schedule that’s exciting and interesting. and really highlights a lot of pieces of the show. We also have musicians throughout the weekend. Many of the performances will be taking place at the Convention Center, but we do have an opening-night concert taking place at Cargo Concert Hall at the Whitney Peak … highlighting an all-star group of selected musicians who will be performing together for one time only. We also have a (Reno Tahoe Artist Award) program that is going to culminate with a gala event at the Nevada Museum of Art on Saturday over the show weekend; that’s a separate 501(c)(3) program. We’re giving out eight awards in various categories plus a grand prize we are calling the Reno Creative Movement award. Some of the art from Burning Man will also be making an appearance in the RTIA show’s sculpture garden. “We’ve also got the sculpture walk, which is actually a huge piece of the puzzle that we did not anticipate,” Dolan said. “We wanted to have some sculptures coming from Burning Man because of the timing (just before the RTIA show), so we’ll have almost 20 large-scale sculptures coming directly from the desert to the show. Those will be paired with almost 40 other sculptures throughout the entire show, and those are coming from artists from all over the world, many of which are associated with the Buffalo Creek Art Center in Gardnerville.”
Double Scoop Art
Arts writers often say something is a “must-see event.” I’ve never said it in my life. I’m saying it now. The Reno Tahoe International Art Show is a must-see event. RTIA is the brainchild of East Coast transplants and father-daughter art marketing team Briana and Kevin Dolan. It’s an art fair in the traditional sense, a giant cornucopia, the likes of which our region’s art scene has not, until now, reached a large enough critical mass to pull off. Artists and galleries from Reno, Tahoe and beyond are showing off just about everything from Sunday paintings to abstract sculptures that’ll fill the foyer to museum-style wall works—from contemporary urban pop to austere and contemplative. There’s a strong showing of Burning Man sculptures fresh from the playa, indoors and out. If you’re already a member of our local art community, I recommend dropping by to reconnect with acquaintances—more of them, from more corners of the scene, than you’re likely to see in a room together anywhere else. This is also a great chance to get an eyeful of work by artists, architects, and collectives from around the country. A few out-of-town displays that caught my eye were the luscious, bright, bling from the Los Angeles team Startup Curatorial, a whole roomful of lesser-known Jackson Pollocks, which the Wyoming Working Group has been unearthing and documenting for two decades now, and extravagantly curvy, wooden interior fixtures by Seattle designer Nathie Katzoff. (Stick around the booth for a while to check out his books.) If you’re new to town, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit. This is the biggest collection of artists you’ll see in town, probably ever. Whatever your taste, I’ll be surprised if you don’t find it here. With 240+ booths, there’s a potential for overwhelm, but the event is carefully designed so that you can isolate a bit when you need to. Many of the spaces are sectioned off enough to make it feel as if you’re in an intimate gallery rather than a sprawling convention hall. There are opportunities to catch a somewhat private chat with an artist you’re connecting with, and there’s plenty of artwork in the spacious outdoors. The roster of events is busting at the seams with art talks, films from our local Cordillera International Film Festival, a concert schedule with favorite local acts playing all weekend, both onsite and around the city, and an awards gala Saturday night at the Nevada Museum of Art. The Reno Tahoe International Art Show runs through Sunday, Sept. 11. I wholeheartedly recommend a visit, and if you can’t make it, I recommend cursing through the exhibitors list for some new favorites to follow. Ticket info here.
Sierra Sun
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — From north to south, the Lake Tahoe Basin is a hub for local creators, artists and designers. For the first time, Tahoe community members and visitors can experience a culmination of local and international artists’ work at the inaugural Reno Tahoe International Art Show, also known as the RTIA, taking place Sept. 9-11 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno. In a proactive effort to showcase the vast amount of regional talent in the area as well as connect artists from around the world together in one space, this event brings the Reno and Lake Tahoe communities together to exhibit what the Reno/Tahoe arts and culture scene resembles. “Many artists and organizations work with more of an ‘island approach’ and we’re able to put them together in one place along with the regional artists to present to attendees to ultimately provide the message that this is what Reno/Tahoe is,” said CEO and co-founder of the RTIA Briana Dolan. “We have this enormous baseline of artists and talent near and far, and we are looking forward to showcasing that in Reno.”
Artist will show at the RTIA Show
Every year, tens of thousands of people from across the globe gather in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for Burning Man, an experimental festival focused on art, self-expression and community. The week-long event has participants arrive with their own shelter, food and water, and supplies to make art. It climaxes with the burning of a massive human-shaped effigy. This year is the first time Burning Man will be held since 2019, and amongst the many sculptures scattered across the desolate landscape is one created by Watsonville metal sculpture artist Pierre Rich. Dubbed “Golden Possibilities,” the 10-foot-tall piece, made of cut metal sheets, depicts a rearing palomino horse. When installed at Burning Man, it will be one of 10 horses that will make up “Wild Horses of the American West,” an exhibit aiming to raise awareness of wild horse populations. According to the coalition, wild horse overpopulation in the West has resulted in environmental impacts, traffic fatalities and deaths of horses due to dried-up water resources. “I love sculpting horses because they are beautiful, powerful creatures but also have an amazing historical connection to humans,” Rich says. “There are not enough resources to help wild horses right now. They are undervalued and overpopulated. We hope this project will make a statement about what’s happening.” Rich says he created the piece through a grant from the Coalition for Healthy Nevada Lands. A friend told him about the grant only two days before the deadline, giving him enough time to develop a proposal. “It’s not a huge grant, but enough to allow me to get some materials and give me the incentive to devote the time to it,” he says. “I’d also just sold another big sculpture, so I had enough resources and funds to keep me going.” “Golden Possibilities” took Rich three months to complete. He worked on it nearly every day, preparing a template, creating a rough drawing, and manipulating sheets of laser/plasma cut steel sheets around the frame. “At the end, it was a grind,” he says. “It was pretty stressful. But it worked out.” Rich, who attended and participated in Burning Man off and on between 2006 and 2010, says the event provides opportunities for artists who might otherwise not have a space to display their work. “[Burning Man] is special in terms of its ability to show off large-scale pieces,” he says. “There are some amazing works there that you won’t see anywhere else. The high caliber for showcasing metal sculptures is incredible.” Rich also highlighted the unique community of cooperation at the festival. “People from all walks of life, from different financial statuses, come to Burning Man,” he says. “It’s a real melting pot. It’s all about exploration.” Wild Horses of the American West will include horse sculptures from 10 other artists and eight additional artists who volunteered to build artworks to accompany the group. After Burning Man, which runs Aug. 28-Sept. 5, some of the sculptures will be transported and exhibited at the Reno/Tahoe International Art Fair in mid-September. After that, Rich says, there are plans to place some pieces, including Golden Possibilities, around the Reno area for six months. During that time, the pieces will be up for sale. Rich says he hopes the exhibit will draw attention to the ongoing challenges for wild horses in the West while inspiring artists and art lovers. “[The sculptures] should inspire awe,” he says, “not just for their artistry, but also for humans’ connection to horses, our coexistence.” Learn more about Rich’s art at pierrericheart.com.
Eddy House booth at the RTIA Show
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - For the last 11 years, Eddy House has been a safe place for thousands of homeless and at risk youth in our area. But as the need for their services grows, so does their need for funding and community support. CEO, Trevor Macaluso, and Marketing & Events Manager, Precious Kay-Sumption, stopped by Morning Break to share several upcoming fundraisers and events that the community can get involved with. First, this weekend, August 6-7, Ceramic Tile Center is giving away a custom bathroom with all the proceeds going to Eddy House. Saturday, August 6, there will be an open house Ceramic Tile Center from 4:30-6:30 p.m. This is where you can purchase tickets for bathroom giveaway raffle. The drawing will happen Sunday at the Village Well Taproom in Rancharrah. The party is from 1-4 p.m. and last minute tickets will be sold between 1 and 3 p.m. The drawing will take place at 3:30 p.m. You can also support Eddy House and enjoy a Reno Aces baseball game. Sunday, August 21, $9 of every ticket sold for that game against the Salt Lake Bees will go to the non-profit. You can also get free hat with your ticket.
Mountain Living Magazine
Over 200 regional artists join 40+ national and international galleries, filmmakers and furniture designers in Reno September 8-11. The Reno Tahoe International Art Show (RTIA Show) will be the first-ever international art fair of its kind in Nevada and will anchor a large-scale city to lakeside celebration of art and design, including an Opening Night Concert and a regional artist awards ceremony at the Nevada Museum of Art. The event is the foundation of a broader vision that seeks to lift Reno Tahoe onto the national stage as an arts and cultural center. Unlike many art fairs in the US, the RTIA Show will showcase 200+ curated regional artists and bespoke furniture designers as part of a central ‘Heart of Reno’ feature, presenting over 1,000 pieces of original fine artworks never before seen outside of Northern Nevada. Showcased in the adjacent ballrooms will be 40+ national and international galleries presenting the works of renowned artists from around the world. Locally sponsored bars and over 50 live musical performances throughout the weekend will create a lively, fun environment unique to the region. Running in the days following the conclusion of Burning Man, the RTIA Show will feature an outdoor Sculpture Walk presenting large-scale installation art shown at this year’s Burning Man. The show will also incorporate award-winning short film screenings curated by the Cordillera International Film Festival as well as a significant First Nations, Indigenous Peoples art exhibit.
Tahoe Quarterly Magazine
The inaugural Reno Tahoe International Art Show debuts in September, with organizers and participants alike ready to stake a bold claim in the country's cultural scene. Reno and Las Vegas are not neighbors. You know it. I know it. But does the general art-loving public know it? In Briana Dolan’s experience, the answer is no. “Half the people that I talk to from the East Coast? They think it’s next to Vegas,” she says. “They just have no idea even what it is.” Dolan is on a mission to change that perception—not just for people on the opposite side of the country, but for everyone throughout the United States and beyond. That’s why she’s been working with her father, Kevin O’Keefe, to bring to life the first-ever Reno Tahoe International Art Show at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center from September 8–11. Their vision is an exhibition of local talent and more far-flung artists welcoming viewers, browsers and buyers from the immediate community and broader art world. At least, that’s part of their vision. In addition to participation from more than 100 regional artists setting up in a “Heart of Reno” space, and more than 40 galleries filling the ballrooms with international work, their plan for the “city to lakeside” event also includes a First Nations and Indigenous Peoples art feature, live music, a Cordillera International Film Festival–curated short film program and a display of Burning Man sculptures hauled in straight from the playa. The desert-based cultural phenomenon ends the Monday before the show, so these sculptures will be fresh. he enterprising father-daughter duo is fresh to the area as well. Dolan and her husband Michael had been living with her parents in Connecticut as a stopover while they decided where they wanted to end up. Their “stopover” turned into a four-year stay, with Dolan having two children while leading communications for Tihany Design, a luxury hospitality design firm out of New York. Her dad, O’Keefe, worked on large-scale international design trade shows. Then COVID-19 shut down both of their industries, so they took the hard stop as an opportunity to move west in 2020. Dolan’s husband is the great-nephew of Tom Dolan, founder of Dolan Auto Group, so they all moved to Reno to be near Michael’s immediate and extensive family. After settling in, O’Keefe began oil painting as a stress-relieving hobby, quickly filling his garage with work. Ultimately, he asked his daughter to create a website to showcase his pandemic output. She obliged, adding in some of her own work as well. “We started talking about expanding the idea and figuring out what actually was going on in Reno and the surrounding regions as far as the art world, because while there’s tons and tons of family in this area, not a single Dolan is a creative artist type,” Dolan says with a laugh. “We just had no idea what was going on. And we were shocked to find that there were so many existing art organizations.” Thus, the Reno Fine Arts Collective was born. Dolan says local groups, galleries and incredibly talented artists collaborated often, but she felt there was no united front to represent the area as a major player in the country’s art scene. The message she heard repeatedly was that people who buy art turn to San Francisco or Los Angeles with the assumption that work coming from these larger cities must be of higher quality. The collective soon held a pop-up gallery that rotated hundreds of pieces of art through the space from July to November 2021. “We just wanted to be able to test whether or not local people would buy local art. And they did,” Dolan says. “It was a great motivator for us to take the next steps. Those next steps are what they’re calling the Reno Creative Movement, an effort to show locals that they are worthy and capable of drawing national attention—and then actually drawing that attention by using Dolan’s experience in hospitality design and O’Keefe’s institutional knowledge of fairs and design trade shows to launch the Reno Tahoe International Art Show.
This is Reno
Over 200 regional artists will be joined by 40+ galleries and features from around the world at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center September 8-11, 2022. The Reno Tahoe International Art Show (RTIA Show), taking place September 8-11, 2022 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, will be the first international art fair of its kind in Nevada and will anchor a large scale city to lakeside celebration of art and design in Reno Tahoe, including an Opening Night Concert at Cargo Concert Hall and a regional artist awards ceremony at the Nevada Museum of Art. The event is the foundation of a broader vision that seeks to lift Reno Tahoe onto the national stage as an arts and cultural center. Unlike many art fairs in the US, the RTIA Show will showcase 200+ curated regional artists and bespoke furniture designers as part of a central ‘Heart of Reno’ feature, presenting over 1,000 pieces of original fine artworks never before seen outside of Northern Nevada. Showcased in the adjacent ballrooms will be 40+ national and international galleries and features presenting the works of renowned artists from around the world. Locally sponsored bars and over 80 musicians performing live throughout the show weekend will create a lively, fun environment unique to the region. As part of the Reno Tahoe presentation, the RTIA Show will host pavilions representing UNR School of the Arts and the John and Geraldine Lilley Museum of Art, Truckee Meadow Community College, Sierra Watercolor Society, Latimer Art Club, Tahoe Art League, The Generator, Holland Project, Buffalo Creek Art Center and Sierra Arts Foundation, with a space sponsored by Renown. Additional features at the show include an outdoor/indoor Sculpture Walk presenting large-scale installation art shown at Burning Man 2022, award-winning short film screenings curated by the Cordillera International Film Festival, a silent auction benefiting the Eddy House, pre-bidding capabilities for the door of Renown’s ‘Art for Recovery’ and a significant First Nations, Indigenous Peoples art exhibit. The RTIA Show opens with an evening VIP Preview event Thursday, September 8. Open to the public, show hours are 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. on Friday, September 9 and Saturday, September 10, and 10 a.m. -4 p.m. on Sunday, September 11. Daily, Weekend and VIP tickets are now available at www.RTIAshow.com and include the option to purchase tickets to the Opening Night Concert and Saturday night Awards Gala. The RTIA Show invites designers, architects, art consultants, collectors and art enthusiasts to take part in this inaugural event and the overarching Creative Movement igniting in Reno Tahoe.
Artfairmag
With a draw to the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe and the majestic Sierra Nevada range, Reno Tahoe has long been home to a significant fine arts community. The inaugural Reno Tahoe International Art Show (September 8-11, 2022) now presents interior designers, architects, art consultants and collectors with an array of new and better fine arts and furnishings at prices untouched by a pressured market. Over 200 regional artists will be joined by over 40 galleries and institutions invited to exhibit from around the world. The show anchors a citywide celebration of art and design, complete with a music festival, awards program and ongoing hospitality.“The Reno Tahoe International Art Show seeks to profile a curated showcase of over 1,000 artworks and bespoke furniture to a national and regional audience of designers, collectors and high net worth buyers.”
