Nevada Museum of Art

VIRTUAL AND HYBRID PROGRAMS AND EXPERIENCES

By Kendall Hardin

The Nevada Museum of Art had just opened its unique blockbuster exhibition, The World Stage, for two days when Covid-19 forced the museum to close in mid-March.  What appeared at first to be a paralyzing disaster has morphed into a heap of serendipity, once the staff harnessed virtual technology and a hefty dose of innovation and hustle.

Featuring 90 contemporary artworks by 35 renowned American artists, The World Stage showcases some of today’s global influencers alongside prominent names from the 20th-century art canon. The selected works comprise a variety of media, from painting to installation to mixed media, with a special focus on prints made in a wide range of techniques.

Drawn from the collection of renowned art collector and philanthropist Jordan D. Schnitzer, The World Stage includes works by some of America’s brightest superstars from the past 50 years, including Helen Frankenthaler, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol, Wendy Red Star, Mickalene Thomas, and Kehinde Wiley.

Though unified by the country in which they live, these artists possess widely diverse backgrounds, world views, and approaches to artmaking.  Emerging works include many by Black, Indigenous, queer, and artists of color.  When the Black Lives Matter movement materialized during the pandemic, the exhibition became even more relevant as a mirror to the global society we face today and tomorrow.

Now that the Museum has reopened (since June 18), visitors can view the exhibition in person or online with “virtual tours and interactive discussions.”  All visitors are invited to share their thoughts by going to nevadaart.org/informthefuture and complete the form provided.  The Museum is happily extending The World Stage until February 7 to allow important space for expanded community reflection and dialogue during this critical moment.  The show will then travel to the Boise Art Museum in Idaho.

In the meantime, a whole array of the new virtual and hybrid programs and experiences are now up and running at the Nevada Museum of Art including . . .

• Hands ON! at Home “Art Investigators” Program
  Designed for the whole family to enjoy together, this free program via Zoom encourages participants to create their own masterpiece around a key theme, and then share their creations to the Museum’s social media channels. High-spirited fun and very inventive!
• Virtual Art Afternoons – Workshop-Socials for Seniors
  In this popular program, staff shares perspectives on select artworks through lively group discussions and a capstone workshop on Zoom.
• Virtual “First Thursday” Celebrations
  The traditional standing-room-only gathering at the Museum has transformed itself during the pandemic into a special broadcast with featured musicians and artists, which can be viewed on YouTube and accessed with other virtual attendees via the Museum’s Facebook page.  A local brewery that supports the camaraderie offers a First Thursday growler special for Nevada Museum of Art members.
• Virtual Educator Evenings, Roundtables and Professional Development Opportunities
  A wide array of online offerings that enhance educators’ skills and insights are offered online.  Short Educator Evenings and Educator Roundtables engage people around specific topics, while more in-depth and sequenced professional development opportunities enhance skilled educators’ credentials in line with core standards in the field.
• Virtual E.L Cord Museum School Experiences
  Taught by leading artists in the field, classes such as “Landscape Photography” present a “hybrid” experience of online recorded content, interactive discussions and demonstrations, culminating in a location shoot.  A wide variety of online classes are designed to fit all ages and disciplines – from novice to professional level.  The Museum also hosted its first Virtual Summer Camp this year.
• Virtual Art Discussions in English and Spanish
  Accomplished museum docents guide both English and Spanish-speaking visitors online, providing fascinating background on select artworks and interactive conversations among participants.  Currently, interested viewers can access Virtual Art Discussions on works featured in The World Stage exhibition.
• School Tours
  The Museum’s Virtual School Tours now extend to teachers and students in the Clark County School District and other educational institutions throughout Nevada.

The Museum offers free admission on Second Saturdays and Member Tuesdays as member-only days with special 20% savings at the Museum Shop in downtown Reno. To safeguard against the spread of COVID-19, the Museum requires advance reservations to limit long lines and the number of visitors each hour.

While there is no substitute for in-person direct experience in a museum, staff have discovered that “layered programming” through Zoom or online website content can offer unexpected advantages, such as virtually visiting an artist’s studio for a demonstration and having an interactive chat online.  Enhanced online content can augment one’s direct experience before, during and after visiting the museum. User-friendly interactive platforms allow participants to communicate with Museum staff and each other as well.  And, for all aspects of education, e-learning is definitely here to stay.

In this way, residents of the Silver State can join the Nevada Museum of Art as members and partake virtually in the museum’s expansive exhibitions, programs, classes and benefits.  For more information on museum hours, exhibitions and program offerings, visit nevadaart.org.