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309 S. Valley View Blvd., LV, 89107
inside Springs Preserve
Black Art: Mission or Expression?
by Joan Whitely
Should art by a black artist be simply personal expression, or ought it also be “propaganda” on what it means to be black?
Panel moderator Brent Holmes himself mentioned "propoganda" when kicking off the Feb. 15 discussion at Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas. The event was part of a photo exhibit and five-session panel series on building black identity and community in Las Vegas in which the museum celebrates Black History Month 2020.
The panelists who joined the state museum’s “Obsidian & Neon” discussion on black art that day delivered an array of thoughts on the mission-or-expression question. Most attendees agreed the discussion was intense and worthwhile.
In the end, panelists came to the conclusion that the making of art is open to all comers. Children, in particular, should be exposed to art and encouraged to make their own. Regardless of who views any piece of art, that art comes in “layers.” And, according to panelist Ashanti McGee, a black person enjoying the work of a black artist may be able to grasp more layers of that work than others enjoying the same work.
Here are few excerpts from the lively, thought-provoking conversation:
CHASE R. McCURDY, a painter and artist who combines multiple disciplines, said, “My identity is for my solace, not your entertainment.”
KIM RUSSELL, education manager for The Smith Center and a teacher of creative writing, created a family history by compiling her parents’ love letters. She said art is “a way to share our culture, our stories, our history - and to figure out ... is this the right direction?"
ASHANTI McGEE, visual artist and activist said, "It's a way of speaking and a way of communicating, opening up about an experience and inviting people in."
VICKI RICHARDSON, who is both artist and founder/director of Left of Center Art Gallery, said art is “a way of communicating, sharing, educating, reflecting spirituality."
BRENT HOLMES, a multi-disciplinary artist and graphics artist, said, "Being black in America is political, inevitably."
'Don’t Bomb Bighorn’ garners national attention
The Friends of Nevada Wilderness expect the U.S. Air Force will soon reveal its new position on cutting the size of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge just north of Las Vegas, Shi-Lynn Campbell, a representative from the wilderness group’s Las Vegas office, told museum Friends at their Feb. 20 meeting.
The wilderness group in 2019 launched a high-profile campaign to stop, or at least reduce, the military land acquisition, calling it “Don’t Bomb the Bighorn.” The Nevada State Legislature passed a resolution opposing the expansion. Hunters, researchers and Native Americans have voiced opposition, too.
“A dry lakebed, a relic of the landscape’s prehistoric past, could become a landing strip, kicking up dust and disrupting wildlife corridors,” a High Country New article noted in 2018.
The military has said it needs more acres from the refuge for the Nellis Test and Training Range in order to improve combat training, which includes bombing runs. The military needs more space to conduct these runs because newer aircraft travel faster, not because the number of runs needs to go up. That means the planes require more distance to slow down, Campbell said the military has explained.
Bighorn sheep on the refuge - Nevada’s state animal - are more threatened by additional fencing around any new acres taken for training than by the risk of getting bombed, according to Campbell.
"Fencing is horrible for these big-game animals,” he said. It impairs bighorn grazing, which impairs healthy reproduction through the mixing of gene pools. Campbell added that several small Nevada towns that rely on tourism, such as mountain bikers, for revenue will be adversely affected.
The military’s original proposal asked for 300,000 acres from the refuge. Currently, Nevada’s Congressional delegation - both senators and four representatives - is backing a compromise bill that would take less than a third of the military’s requested acres.
In addition, the compromise bill - introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) extends the arrangement for 20 years - which was also past practice - with continued oversight by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whereas the military wanted to take the lands permanently, ending primary jurisdiction by Fish and Wildlife.
In June last year the New York Time sized up the debate as “a battle for the control of the Nevada desert. ... Bombing range or nature preserve?”
The Friends Need Your Donations
On January 25, 2019, your Friends board had our annual meeting with the museum staff.
One of the key outcomes from the discussion was generation of a “wish list" of items that the staff felt was important to do their jobs but was not included in the Museum's annual budget. The Friends have provided some similar items in the past.
We are seeking Friends members who are willing to donate either the below items or money to obtain these items. Please place donated items in the donations basket in the Friends office at the Museum or by emailing us, and we will arrange pick-up. Financial donations can be either mailed to the Friends, dropped off in the donation box, or delivered at the March Friends meeting.
The museum staff greatly appreciates any donations. Thank you!
The “wish list" items with estimated costs are:
Put the Friends May 2 Book Fair On Your Calendars
The Friends will be hosting a Book Fair at the Barnes & Noble at 567 N. Stephanie Street, Henderson on May 2. The Book Fair will run from 9 am to 9 pm, so stop by anytime during the day and make a purchase. A percentage of your purchase price will go to the Friends. There is no extra cost or donation on your part. Barnes & Noble will make the donation from their revenue based on the amount of sales that day. Anything in the store, including food, but excepting electronics, is eligible.
So, if you're hunting for a Mother's Day gift, or a Father's Day gift, or even a graduation gift, May 2nd is a great time to buy, and Barnes & Noble is a great place to make a thoughtful purchase! We'll even have free gift wrapping available.
A Very Advance Notice to Save Donations for Stuff-A-Truck
Our second annual Stuff-a-Truck fundraiser will be held in September this year. The date and time will be announced later. Our first Stuff-a-Truck, held last year in October netted $175! We collected items that members were ready to discard (clothes, books, toys, tools, household goods, etc. – anything that you would give to other charity organizations).
Members, this is your first notice – 7 months in advance! Save all your donated material. The heavier the items the better – we earn money by weight.The more the better!
Examples of worthwhile soft goods to donate are: clothes, shoes, coats, socks, purses, carry bags, backpacks, belts, gloves, hats, scarves, towels, bed linens, tablecloths, curtains or jewelry. The Friends receive 20 cents per pound for eligible soft goods.
Examples of worthwhile hard goods are: hand tools, small appliances (popcorn popper, coffee maker, blender, etc.), silverware, dishes, glasses, mugs, pots, pans, kitchen utensils, toys, games, puzzles, hand tools, knick-knacks, holiday decorations, yard decor items, luggage. In this category, we will earn 10 cents per pound.
Please do NOT donate: books, media (videotapes, vinyl records, DVDs or CDs), large appliances, bicycles, lawn mowers, mattresses, furniture or baby gear including high chairs, cribs, playpens or car seats. Some items are forbidden for safety or hygiene reasons. The other items earn us either zero, or such a low reimbursement - for example, 5 cents per single piece of furniture - that it’s not worth our while to give them valuable truck space.
Thank you!
| 2020 EVENTS, NV STATE MUSEUM, LV All events held at the museum and are free with paid admission or membership. No registration required unless otherwise noted. Friends general meetings are the 3rd Thurs. of month. The museum is at 309 S. Valley View Blvd., inside Springs Preserve, LV 89107 |
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| DATE | TIME | EVENT | SPEAKER/LEADER | CONTEXT |
| Monday March 2 | 12 pm | Science is Everywhere | Museum celebrates May 2, Science is Everywhere day, with an activity area for small science-related projects. Museum needs Friends volunteers. | Museum Event |
| Sat March 7 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Obsidian & Neon: Black Women Speak | “Black Women Speak” is a roundtable that will be the fourth in a series of five discussions about black identity and black community in Las Vegas. | Museum Event |
| Thu March 19 | 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm | Scientific Hunt for Nevada’s State Flower | Jeanne Howerton, local author, speaks about the discovery and naming of Nevada's state flower. | Friends Event |
| Sat March 21 | 2 pm - 4 pm | Obsidian & Neon: LGBTQ Lives Matter | "LGTBQ Lives Matter: Community Within Community" is the fifth in a series of five panel discussions about black identity and black community in Las Vegas. | Museum Event |
| Sat Feb 29 | 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Obsidian & Neon: Black Economic Presence | In honor of Black History Month, third in series of three discussions. This one to cover "Black Economic Presence and Mobility in Sin City." | Museum Event |
To see the complete schedule for the year, please go to our Events page.