August – A Woman´s 4 Day Art Adventure

Sadly, from the perspective of a working artist, there is just NOT enough art in the building. They had several shows up, including the 2005 Nevada Triennial which display what an assigned juror considers the best new contemporary works from Nevada artists. The show was quite interesting and definitely stimulating, however I found myself drawn to only a few pieces. One dealt with Urban Art or graphitti and the other an artist who created a filled book with quick automatic drawings. They were both fun and spontaneous.

Now if only NAM could get some of “The Art of the Motorcycle” traveling exhibit presented by the Guggenheim Museum, now that would be fantastic!! The show was in Las Vegas, which is almost reason enough to ride there…almost.

I found a couple of interesting pieces in the NAM’s permanent collection. One was a tableau by the artist Tom Judd, called the “Hermit Project.” This was a life size re-construction of a deserted cabin he discovered as a child. In creating this work, he was able to play with concepts of memory and the passage of time through his perspective, ultimately seeing that the nature of life is ephemeral and fleeting. This artist and I share an aesthetic in the use of material and construction. It was a pleasure to view.

The Hermit Project

One of my sculptures, Diadactic

The other piece was a series of painting by Robert Beckmann that showed a nuclear test house in southern Nevada in the 1950s. The series of nine paintings showed what would happen to a home close to point zero in a matter of nano-seconds after a nuclear blast. It was an awing series, especially after growing up in the “duck and cover” generation in Nevada.

Frist pic in the Beckmann series

Ok…enough of the art diversion, now back to the art of motorcycle riding.

I headed south on Hwy 395 to the Hwy 341 otherwise know as Geiger Grade, the road to Virginia City. This highway has been recently redone and compared to the earlier version they laughingly called a Hwym it is smooth and glassy. It was once narrow, steep and twisty; a motorcyclists dream. The road is now smoothly surfaced, with new guard rails along the way, however there are still enough tight turns to make even the most veteran rider smile.

As I was paused to snap some photos, a DOT man stopped his vehicle. I was down on the lookout point and when I returned he was checking out my bike.

“So, where is your man, the one piloting the machine?”

Thinking this is possibly a trick question, I consider my answer carefully. “He is home tending to the children.”

Laughing….”OK, so you are riding this big boy alone??”

“Yep, this big girl and I are intimate pals, we have been through trying times together.”

Still chuckling, “well, good for you girl….good for you. It is great to see a woman out riding her own big ol’ bike. Now you be careful though, there are a lot of tourists out.”

I have to smile to myself, wondering if he saw the CA plates after the tourist comment. Guess I had that local Nevadan look on my face.

Looking down Geiger Grade

New pavement on Geiger Grade