NADA DADA Art Festival

Sunday June 19th at 5:00pm

NADA DADA Closing Party and BBQ

2035 Dickerson Rd. Reno, NV 89503 

BYOB and we supply FOOD, MUSIC, & ART!

June is in full swing and, if you know the art scene in Reno, that means it time for the annual anti-organization art festival called NADA DADA!

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Over the years the non-profit art festival known as Artown has taken over the month of July in Reno, showering performance, gallery and family art events all over the city but especially downtown. Artown is an amazing organization of devoted people, artists and businesses that "bring art culture" to Reno during this annual event. To participate in an Artown event there is no cost but a long and extensive application and advertising process and the events are juried (a.k.a: they can tell you "no thanks, we don't want you to be in our party.")
The NADA DADA concept began as a reaction to Artown, local artists rebelled against the idea the Reno didn't have artistic culture. To be completely honest Reno is not San Francisco, Washington D.C., Seattle, or any of the many other large and cosmopolitan cities that claim to be bastions of "culture" in the U.S.A. However, that doesn't mean that there are no artists in Nevada, or that there is no support for them (just almost no support.) The fact is that Nevada is a very rural state whose citizens have priorities other than art, especially with almost 15% unemployment in some of it's major metropolitan areas these days. There isn't as much state and federal grant money for artists these days and it usually comes with plenty of strings attached.
Artown, as a reliable and popular receiver of funds, is able to get uninterested citizens in "art" and "culture" by bringing recognizable performers and creators to the area. While it's nice to have a chance to see "famous" people, it's not supportive of the home team - artists and performers who have labored to maintain a creative environment and eke out an existence for themselves in this town. As the years continue more local events and artists are getting involved, hopefully one day the local population will get just as excited to see their neighbor's art as they are to see People From That Famous Place's art.

NADA DADA is the complete opposite of the organized, mediated, grant-receiving Artown. There are no leaders, founders, or favorites there are just participants and attendees and even that line is blurred. The concept is basic - find a hotel, rent a room. When artists decide they will get together and do it the same weekend at the same hotel it becomes NADA DADA. It's $150 to buy a table for the weekend, or you can open your studio.

Open Studio is the option I chose. From June 16th through the 19th I will be in my shop as much as I can, creating art, and hopefully selling a few cool things. On sale in my area in the back will be posters, art prints, cards, books, and magnets. There is also a whisper on the wind about grab bags with mysterious but cool contents for only $5! But you'll have to come by to check it out for yourself.

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Don't Forget! : Sunday June 19th at 5:00pm NADA DADA Closing Party and BBQ
2035 Dickerson Rd. Reno, NV 89503

Party will be held at Oxboo Press (my studio included) and at the Sierra Water Gardens across the street
It's Bring Your Own Beverage, but John will be cooking enough food for 50 people - so come early, meet cool people while seeing art and eating yummy BBQ food!