David Walker: Why Nevada? Why Now?

Nevada is situated in North America’s largest deserts and is likewise home to the largest land-based artworks in the world. It has seen atomic testing and the emergence of Burning Man’s experimental community. Geology and environmental science are vast, slow stories that continue to unfold. 21st-century themes have been playing out in Nevada for a very long time. And gaining perspective on Nevada can tell us a lot about our world today. Based in Reno, the Nevada Museum of Art has thrived in this milieu. With an interdisciplinary focus on the way humans creatively interact with their environments, they work with both world-renowned artists such as Ugo Rondinone and Ed Ruscha as well as showcasing up-and-coming talent. Their internationally recognized research center for Art + Environment hosts a unique triennial conference exploring art, environment, and culture; and their artistic and educational programs grow more ambitious each year. The Museum’s Executive Director and CEO David Walker will discuss how they got here and where they are going, including putting artist Trevor Paglen’s latest work into space and delving into Deep Time with artist Jonathon Keats, who will also speak.