Community Art abounds in Elko, Nevada
When we arrived in Elko, Nevada we were pleasantly surprised to find that community art is alive and thriving in the city. We love seeing examples of city planners and community players who understand the importance of public art.
It was an honor to be among the artists who have painted the walls and halls of Elko! Our first mural at the Igloo Rec Center was a heckuva project. It took a lot of effort and was finished just in the knick of time, before freezing temperatures set in.
In contrast, the inside mural went up FAST. This was all thanks to the Nevada Gold Mines team who jumped aboard and made it happen! Nevada Gold Mines supports a great deal of community art in Elko, and both murals at Igloo Recreation Center were sponsored by the company. How special that the NGM crew was able to be so integral in bringing together this piece of community art.
Bright colors at the Igloo Rec Center
The mural was painted in the Igloo Rec Center, in a space highly visible to everyone who uses the space. The wall is in an area where families watch as their children practice hockey, soccer, gymnastics, and batting. The wall was originally painted dark blue. Now it is bright and splashed in cheerful color!
The Igloo Recreation Center is a fully volunteer-run, nonprofit community space. A root of the Elko community, it is home to numerous sports and recreation clubs for all ages. We love seeing spaces like this. Built by the community, for the community. Events were sparse because of COVID, of course. But we still enjoyed catching glimpses of how the space is used.
My favorite moment? As we were painting the last finishing touches, I heard a small gasp behind me. I turned to see a young gymnast – perhaps seven years old – gazing up at the mural, mouth gaping wide. “Woooooow,” she let out in a long, drawn-out whisper, “That is a beautiful painting!”