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NORTHERN NEVADA FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012
Sparks seeks fire safety grant
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CONTACT JACKIE GREEN 775-788-6528 JGREEN@RGJ.COM
RGJ.COM/LIVING
FOCUS ON: COMMUNITY
By Michael Martinez mmartinez@rgj.com
The Sparks Fire Department is seeking a $55,055 federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors for about 250 of Sparks’ oldest homes. The Sparks City Council authorized the fire department to pursue the grant during Monday’s City Council meeting. The competitive, merit-based Fire Prevention and Safety grant will allow the department to expand the existing Project SAFE Residential Smoke Alarm and Home-Safety Education Program. The grant does not require matching funds from the city. The grant will allow the fire department to purchase 1,000 smoke alarms and 250 carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in about 250 Sparks homes. Within those homes, installation teams will also place 10-year batteries into existing, working smoke alarms. Devices for the hearing impaired also will be made available. This grant application also will request funds to provide a public fire safety educational wrap for the existing fire safety trailer. While visiting the homes, installation/education teams will provide each household with a home-safety checklist and fire-safety material. As evidence of the necessity of smoke alarms, the Sparks Fire Department pointed to responding twice on June 27 to two separate residential structure fires in which smoke alarms were instrumental in saving the lives of occupants. The first structure fire was caused by children playing with matches in a bedroom. Smoke from the fire seeped out from under a closed door, causing the smoke detector in the hallway to sound. The smoke alarm alerted the parent in another room, who found the children’s bedroom mattress and bedding on fire. Early notification from the smoke alarm allowed the parent enough time to get everyone out of the house safely and call 911. The second structure fire was caused by accidental ignition of lighter fluid. While standing in the kitchen, the resident heard the smoke alarm near the living room and found an upholstered chair on fire. The smoke alarm gave the resident enough time to get out of the house safely. The smoke alarms in the second residence had been installed by the fire department in 2010 during the first federal grant-funded Project SAFE. The project had installed 1,628 smoke alarms and 255 carbon monoxide detectors in 633 homes as of June, with a grant of $89,702.
SEND US YOUR VACATION PHOTOS Summer is halfway over, and we’d like to see your summer vacation photos. Try to pose in front of a recognizable landmark — the Las Vegas Strip, the Liberty Bell, etc. — and send your photo to readerphotos@rgj.com with “Vacation 2012” in the subject field. We’ll post our photos in a gallery on RGJ.com and on special Labor Day weekend travel pages.
Artist Eileen Fuller stands in the Artists Co-op as she give a tour of the gallery, which has been showcasing local artists for 46 years. PHOTOS BY ANDY BARRON/RGJ
Artists Co-op Reno focuses on Nevada art Gallery has been promoting local work since 1966 By Scott Oxarart soxarart@rgj.com
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n 1966, a group of nearly 20 artists in Reno got together to form an art gallery. They weren’t interested in private galleries with high prices and people flying from all over the world to see their selections, though they wouldn’t turn them away. They were more focused on creating a local cooperative gallery, showcasing Reno’s top artistic talent in a fluid way that would give new people room to display as well. Organizers said it’s not easy satisfying so many artists or having a gallery run by the people for the people, but the Artists Co-op of Reno has successfully done it for 46 years. “I always tell people this is a well-oiled machine,” member Bryn McCubbins said. “It really is. It’s a very unique place.” The gallery, at 627 Mill St. off Wells Avenue, has been a mainstay in the community for nearly half a century, though on weekdays only a handful of people stop by. The walls are covered in rich history from photographs of old Nevada buildings and wildlife from Terry Cynar and Jack Hursh, paintings and watercolors by Barbara Maclean and Eileen Fuller, blown glass to barbed wire by McCubbins and more. Each medium has a different skill or craft used to erect it. “We do a great job of rotating the work, so every time you come in, it’s fresh,” said Fuller, who specializes in watercolors. “It’s such a well-run example of what a cooperative should be.” The co-op has art from around 50 Nevadans at a time, all for sale. The gallery is open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and only closes four days a year for holidays.
Monthly exhibits The back room in the 2,220-square-foot facility is dedicated to monthly themes decided by the gallery’s 20 members. Starting Wednesday through the end of August, the co-op will display its newest monthly exhibit, “Piecing it Together: A Celebration of Glass and Mosaics.” Before each new exhibit, the co-op hosts receptions on the opening afternoon with food and drinks. July featured “Rockin’ Out,” a collection of artistic rock pieces that benefited the Nevada Rock Art Foundation. McCubbins will set up her exhibit next week, and her space is dedicated to show that glass can be manipulated to form any piece of art. It also can be useful. “I do a lot of functional pieces,” she said, “things such
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THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND
Artown 2012 is winding down. Here are five things not to miss during this final weekend of Artown:
‘GREASE’ IS THE WORD “Grease,” the classic movie musical starring John Travolta and Olivia NewtonJohn, is tonight’s “Movie in the Park” at Wingfield Park, First Street and Arlington Avenue. Bring a blanket or low-backed chair and snacks, sit back and enjoy. Admission is free. The Artown event is sponsored by University of Phoenix.
‘ORPHEUS DESCENDING’
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as night lights, dishes, mirrors and such.” For the exhibit, McCubbins took a wine bottle, heated it until it became flat. She then formed it to be slumped so it can be used as a serving dish for appetizers or a spoon rest. Often, the artists come in to interact with customers, and that’s how McCubbins gets some of her ideas. The monthly exhibit allows art lovers to see new themed pieces, as well as the revolving collection by member artists who occupy their own walls. Larry Hunt is one of the more intricate artists; he creates metal pieces that often have bright colors, different shapes and lights. In the “Rockin’ Out” exhibit, his elaborate 5-foot-wide piece consisting of four gulls wavers across the wall. To become a member of the co-op, an artist is selected by a group of 20 members who have space in the building. The waiting list consists of 30 to 40 people interested in showcasing their art. When selected, they sell their art but also must pay a $35 monthly membership fee, show up to social functions and work the register. Once the art sells, the gallery and artists split the sales.
Tonight is the final night to see Tennessee Williams’ “Orpheus Descending” at the Bruka Theatre, 99 N. Virginia St. RGJ arts reporter Geralda Miller calls it a “scorchingly hot play just in time for summer and Artown that confronts racism and the repression of women.” Williams’ play, which runs from 8 to 10 p.m., is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and is set in the South. Admission: $16 student or $18
This functional art piece by Bryn McCubbins can be purchased at the Artists Co-op Gallery.
ARTISTS CO-OP OF RENO WHERE: 627 Mill St., off Wells Ave. HOURS: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily WHAT: A gallery of various art all from Nevadans DETAILS: www.artistsco-opgalleryreno.com
general in advance; $20 at the door. Detail: 775-323-3221.
NEVADA MUSEUM OF ART The Nevada Museum of Art has two Artown offerings to enjoy this weekend. “Southwest Pottery — From Anasazi to Zuni” offers a look at pottery produced by Native American tribal groups in Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico. “Edward Burtynsky: Oil” chronicles the production, distribution and use of oil, which on its face sounds boring but is actually a fascinating and artistic view of a fuel that touches the entire Earth. Admission is free for museum members, $10 general admission, $8 students/seniors, $1 ages 6-12, ages 5 and under free. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 775-329-3333 or www.nevadaart.org.
COMPRESSION! ART AND FIRE Reno City Plaza will be a dazzling place to be from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday when “Compression! Art and Fire” by Controlled Burn takes over. The free event features entertainment from local artists, most involving fire, and an alternative vendor village. Organizers promise fiery — but safe — fun for the entire family. Admission is free, although there is a suggested donation of $5 for premium seats. Reno City
Last year’s Compression in downtown Reno drew a large crowd. RGJ FILE
Plaza is at 10 N. Virginia St. Details: 775379-0186 or compression.controlledburnreno.com.
MAMBO KINGS MEET RENO JAZZ While you’re watching “Compression,” you might wander down to Wingfield Park to see the Reno Jazz Orchestra and the Mambo Kings celebrating Tito Puente for a night of Latin and jazz. The free performance is from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the park. Details: 775-848-4417 or www.renojazzorchestra.org — Jackie Green, RGJ