Reno Reporter

City of Reno issued the following announcement on July 20.

The City of Reno will officially dedicate Locomotion, a large ground mural located on the ReTRAC Plaza in downtown Reno, into its temporary public art collection on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 6 p.m.

The dedication event will feature remarks by Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve, Reno City Councilmember Naomi Duerr, and members of the Arts and Culture Commission. The event will also include the introduction of the Poet Laureate select, remarks from the Downtown Reno Partnership, and a dance performance by local dance company Around the Stage.

Artist Brad Carney’s mural, Locomotion, was painted on the ReTRAC Plaza over a one-week period in June. Carney, a nationally recognized artist, was selected by the Reno Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and their Public Art Committee (PAC) to design and lead the painting of the mural. He worked with over 150 community volunteers to paint his design on the plaza.

The RACC and PAC put out a call to artists for the ReTRAC project, which covers a space of approximately 18,000 square feet. Carney, who has worked with Mural Arts Philadelphia in varying capacities for 17 years, has created several large-scale ground murals and coordinated volunteer teams.

The design of the mural is inspired by features in the Reno region, including the Truckee River, local flora, mountain ridges, elements of the Reno flag, and a reference to the train track that runs below the space. The vibrant colors are inspired by Nevada’s amazing sunrises and sunsets.

The mural should last for three years with minimal maintenance. The design can be replicated so staff and volunteers can repaint portions of it as necessary to extend the life of the piece.

On July 22, 2020, Reno City Council accepted a $25,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the Asphalt Art Initiative. The grant went toward the creation of Carney’s mural on the ReTRAC Plaza. View the video from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The City of Reno is working with the Downtown Reno Partnership (DRP) on a beautification project for the ReTRAC area. Drought-resistant perennial flowers and large canopy trees were planted with the help of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful volunteers and Omega Landscaping. Artistic fencing will be added to protect the vegetation and the mural, creating a unified look for the area. The mural is an integral part of this plan and will be open during regular park hours.

Original source can be found here.