RENO BURNERS GUIDE

Arts and Nature

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There is so much art and creativity in Reno (particularly because of Burning Man’s influence), and so much nature to enjoy and appreciate! Check out Playa Art Trail for an inside scoop on Burning Man art in the region, and below you’ll find most of the Burner art, maker-spaces, and museums in the area, as well as some year-round nature projects care of Burning Man Project.

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Artech
130 Woodland Avenue – 775-746-0693 – (West McCarran)
A collaborative workspace and juggernaut supporting artists and their development and projects for Reno, Black Rock City, and beyond. Two of the most amazing projects afoot – The Neon Mile and Playa Art Park (see below) – are transforming downtown Reno. Check out their website and contact them to see what projects are afoot and about joining and contributing to their year-round programs.

Believe @ City Plaza
1 North Virginia Street – (Downtown-Midtown)
Perhaps the most famous of pieces originating in Black Rock City in 2013 and now permanently installed in Reno, Laura Kimpton and Jeff Schomberg’s BELIEVE is in the heart of Downtown Reno next to the Truckee River.

Big Art for Small Towns
590 East Main Street – (Fernley)
The Black Rock Arts Foundation, the City of Fernley and the Burning Man Project collaborated to launch Big Art for Small Towns. The partners were awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant, and with additional fundraising, have installed three projects for installation in Fernley’s new park. The Bottle Cap Gazebo by Max Poynton and Andrew Grinberg, and the Rockspinner 6 by Zachary Coffin, lived once in Black Rock City. Desert Tortoise was created just for the park by local artist Pan Pantoja and reflects Fernley’s character, heritage and culture.

Bruka Theater
99 North Virginia Street – 775-323-3221 – (Downtown-Midtown)
One of our favorite theatre and production companies, founded and operated mostly by burners to create and share the experience of innovative theatre. Call ahead or check out the website for shows and times.

Controlled Burn – 775-686-9608
Controlled Burn is an amazing and long-established Reno-area fire performance troupe that can be of great help to other fire performers and troupes traveling through looking for replacement wicking, a practice space or community burn, or performance opportunities in the area. Check their website and email [email protected] with questions and further info.

Desert Guard @ Sands Casino Hotel
345 North Arlington Street – (Downtown-Midtown)
49′ tall Mongolian Warrior by Lu Ming for Burning Man 2018.

Fly Ranch Project – (Gerlach)
The Fly Ranch Project is an opportunity to explore the potential of the Burning Man community year-round when Black Rock City is gone. Check out the website for its history and vision and projects afoot. Additionally, nature walks are available most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – sign up and more info here.

Friends of Black Rock-High Rock
320 Main Street – 775-557-2900 – (Gerlach)
Open Fri-Tue 8am-5pm. The Friends is the leader in stewardship, education, and conservation of the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trail National Conservation Area. Check out the website or visit the office to learn more about the amazing region and all the many things the Friends are doing in support of it, including Leave No Trace, and you can go here if you are interested in volunteering for Friends stewardship projects during the summer or year-round. You can also acquire many unique and memorable gifts from the region, as well as supplies for the playa (goggles, hats, clothing, camelbacks) at the gift store. And be sure and check out their radio station at 91.5 on the FM dial!

The Generator Community Art & Builders Space and University
2450 Oddie Blvd – map – 775-232-5013
The world-famous Generator was, and again will be, a radically-inclusive maker’s and educational space for artists and art, including for some projects sleighted for the playa. Currently (August, 2021) they are in the process of moving to their new location and building out their new programs, all to be launched in October 2021. See their website for further info and if you are interested in applying for any of their great upcoming programs!

Gift of Flight @Northwest Library
2325 Robb Drive – 775-747-4100 – (West McCarran)
Kinetic sculpture from Burning Man 2008 by David Boyer.

Ichthyosaur Puppet @ The Nevada Discovery Museum
490 South Center Street – 775-786-1000 – (Downtown-Midtown)
50’ scale model of a skeleton of an Ichthyosaur (Nevada’s state dinosaur) from Burning Man 2013 by Jerry Snyder.

Jewels of the Playa by Eleanor Preger @ Sierra Arts Gallery
17 South Virginia Street – 775-329-2787 – (Downtown-Midtown)
Showing Aug 6 to Sept 8. Open Tue-Fri 10am-5pm. Photographer Eleanor Preger will be showing her unique and spectacular views of Black Rock City’s art, people, and the environment.

Nevada Museum of Art
160 West Liberty Street – 775-329-3333 – (Downtown-Midtown)
Open Wed-Sun. 10am-5pm, Thur 10am-8pm. Reno’s largest art museum, and bringing a little more of the playa through art exhibitions and installations to Reno every year — most notably Kate Raudenbush’s Guardian of Eden.

Pan’s Perch @ River School Farm
7777 White Fir Street – 775-747-2222 – (West McCarran)
A scrap metal tree bearing lotus flowers and fruit from Burning Man 2007 by Ryan Jackson.

Portal of Evolution @ Bicentennial Park
10 Ralston Street – (Downtown-Midtown)
Originating in Black Rock City in 2009, Bryan Tedrick’s installation has found a permanent home next to the Truckee River.

The Potentialist Workshop
836 East 2nd Street – 775-391-0278 – (Downtown-Midtown)
An exciting experiment in collaborative space showing over-the-edge local theater and film productions, very popular among the local arts scene. Closeby and kindred to the Reno Art Works, highly recommended you check some of the productions out if you are in town and have some spare time! Call ahead for current showings and times.

Pyramid Lake Museum & Visitors Center Gift Shop
709 State Street – 775-574-1080 – (Nixon)
Open Wed-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Provides a moving history of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe history and culture and of the lake and environs. The Center will also be having a special Arts and Crafts event just for Burners on Saturday August 23 from 10am-4pm. This will be an absolutely invaluable opportunity to check out and acquire some art created by Tribe members before heading off to Burning Man.

Reno Art Works
1995 Dickerson Road – 775-391-0278 – (Keystone)
Open Mon-Fri noon-7pm, Sat noon-8pm, Sun noon-5pm. A relatively new collective of local artists, art spaces, and galleries, many of them inspired by Burning Man. If you have some spare time and want to check out some of the local avant garde, this is one of the best places to start.

Reno Star/Cosmic Thistle
Northwest corner of South Virginia and South McCarran Interchange – (South McCarran)
Large art installation from Burning Man 2012 by Mark Szulgit and Brooke Erdman.

Rearing Horse
Southeast corner of 4th and Arlington Streets – (Downtown-Midtown)
Interactive sculpture by Barry Crawford for Burning Man 2018.

Riverwalk sculptures @ City Plaza
1 North Virginia Street (downstairs to river) – (Downtown-Midtown)
Toposculptures of Nevada scenes by Tutto Ferro.

Space Whales @ City Plaza
1 North Virginia Street – (Downtown-Midtown)
The Black Rock City portal installation of 2016 by Matt Schultz, Android Jones, Andy Tibbets, and Reno Pier Crew.

Squared
Southwest corner of 4th and Arlington Streets – (Downtown-Midtown)
Piece by Charlie Gadeken for Burning Man 2014.

TBD
Southwest corner of 4th and West Streets – (Downtown-Midtown)
Piece by Michael Christian for Burning Man 2018.

The Neon Mile (the stretch of 4th street)

Tree Spire @ Whitaker Park
550 University Terrace – (Downtown-Midtown)
From Burning Man 2007 by the Iron Monkeys Collective.