维克多Ehikhamenor seated in front of “Like Water God Riding His Dragon”, Ne10工作室, 霓虹博物馆.
Propelling Nevada through the arts is a collaboration initiative between Cultural Alliance Nevada (CAN,) and Sierra Arts Foundation, with participating arts organizations curated by Reno Arts Commissioner & CAN Board Member, Mark Salinas. The invited arts organizations, from each of Nevada’s 21 Senate Districts, nominated artists to be featured in the exhibit, which is on display in the Reno Tahoe International Airport’s depARTures gallery. Designed to coincide with the 81st session of the Nevada State Legislature, the exhibition runs January 28 through May 2, 2021.
霓虹博物馆, representing Senate District 2, nominated 2020 National Artist in Residence, 尼日利亚/美国 维克多Ehikhamenor. One of three artists to represent 尼日利亚 at the first 尼日利亚n Pavilion in the 57th Venice Biennale in 2017, Ehikhamenor is also a former Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellow. He is the founder of Angels and Muse, a thought laboratory dedicated to the promotion and development of contemporary African art, and he maintains studios in both Upper Marlboro, 马里兰州和拉各斯, 尼日利亚.
Throughout his career, Ehikhamenor has maintained an interest in signs, symbols and language. For his new body of work “What You Mean To Me” created during his Neon Museum residency, Ehikhamenor interprets the language of iconic Las Vegas signage in his large-scale sculptures. Exhibited in 霓虹博物馆’s Ne10工作室, these new works mark a fresh avenue of exploration for Ehikhamenor through the incorporation of the medium of neon. Take a self-guided virtual tour of 维克多Ehikhamenor’s “What You Mean To Me” 开放的工作室.
Drawing for “Harvesting Dreams and Fireflies With My Brother”, 维克多Ehikhamenor, 2020 / 维克多Ehikhamenor with “Harvesting Dreams and Fireflies With My Brother”
霓虹博物馆’s contributions to the Propelling Nevada exhibit include images of 维克多Ehikhamenor’s works installed in the Ne10工作室, along with archive items. Giving an overview of the exhibit, Mark Salinas writes in 委托+设计 on the Nevada Humanities website:
“The intention of this installation was to manifest the Carson City arts community as the first and last impression on delegates’ minds. At a gathering of 187 reception attendees, enough to fill a Boeing 737, Nevada Assemblywoman Sarah Peters (District 24) stated to the crowd, “Art is the universal language. There is perhaps no greater form of expression that allows people to bridge communities and cultures together.”
“A Biography of the Forgotten”, exhibition catalog for the 尼日利亚n Pavilion at the 57h Venice Biennale. Published by Temple and Tyburn Gallery, 2017
Propelling Nevada Participating Organizations / Nominated Artists:
City of North Las Vegas / Larry Rush; City of Las Vegas Arts & Culture / Nancy Good, Valentin Yordanov, Natalie Delgado; 霓虹博物馆 / 维克多Ehikhamenor; City of Henderson Arts Council / Bracken Robinson Hermansen; Clark County 公共艺术s / Frederic Bonin Pissarro, 追逐R. 麦柯迪, 杰夫Fulmer, Harold Bradford; Clark County Library Art Galleries / Brian Martinez, 洛丽塔Develay, Eyob Mergia; Core Contemporary / Leobardo Bracamontes; 18b The Las Vegas Arts District / Izaac Baron Zevalking V; College of Southern Nevada / Suzanne Acosta; Nevada State College / Ross Takahashi; The Generator / Killbuck Norman; The Holland Project / Marjorie Williams; The Wedge /Joan Arrizabalaga; Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum / Collections ; Tonopah 游客中心 / Anna Whiteside; Sierra Nevada University / Rick Parson, 雪莉·利·奥康纳, Hannah Fridholm; St Mary’s Art Center / A. Perry; Goldwell Open Air Museum / Richard Stephens
