Reno plein air artist captures Nevada history

Artist Erik Holland is inspired by crumbling buildings.

He likes to paint structures that have a history, be it 100 years or 20. He likes the ones that remind passers-by of a particular rural town. Among them are the old bar on South Carson Street that is boarded up, or a bar next to the railroad tracks in Lovelock, or the Owl Club in Battle Mountain.

Several of his paintings of notable Carson City buildings will be featured in a June 4 art show in Reno.

"I like the old buildings because they have a story," Holland said. "I like the architecture. I love the 'out-thereness' of Nevada buildings."

Holland, 47, is also a teacher and political cartoonist; His cartoons often appear in the Nevada Appeal. He teaches his students at Rainshadow Community High School using the same art books he used as a student. Holland studied art and history at San Francisco State.

Paintings included in the show: A watercolor of Jack's Bar (the original oil hangs in the Wingfield Springs golf clubhouse owned by casino lobbyist Harvey Whittemore), the Nevada Press Association building, the two-story blue building that houses Java Joe's, the Lucky Spur (which is now Stew's Sportatorium), an acrylic painting of the Hardwicke House in Silver City, the Virginia City Miner's Union building, Piper's Opera House and the Silver Dollar Hotel. Prices range from $250-$1,000.

Owners and managers of local businesses operating in these buildings were surprised to hear about the attention they received from Holland. Scott Johnson, one owner of Stew's, said he'd like to see the painting.

Eight weekends out of the year Holland is traveling through Nevada looking for subjects. Usually he doesn't tell the owners that he's painting their buildings. He just does it. Holland's goal is to paint a picture of at least one old building of every town in the state. This task seems more attainable in Nevada, until the ghost towns are factored in.

"I've got a big job," he said. "I plan to do Tuscarora and Midas this summer."

Despite its prominence in the American tourism psyche, Las Vegas has yet to be featured in a Holland painting. The flashier Strip casinos won't make it onto his canvas. He tends to like buildings that are "off the main drag.

"I like the authentic old cattle ranches or mining towns. I lose interest when they get gentrified. And once a building comes down I'm not interested anymore."

He painted Jack's Bar from the Legislature lawn three years ago. He urges Carson City residents to unite and demand that this historic bar be renovated and opened.

According to Nevada State Archivist Guy Rocha, the squat building beside the Ormsby House only dates to 1899. It was first known as the Bank Saloon but has gone by other names, including the Bank Resort, Hernando's Hideaway, the Y-NOT Bar, Angelo's, and, beginning in 1966, Jack's Bar. Rocha wrote about the bar in an article titled "Carson City's Jack's Bar: 'A Saloon Since 1859?'" which is available on the state library Web site.

Jack's Bar is owned by Cubix Ormsby LLC, which is renovating the Ormsby House. The fate of the building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is still in discussion, co-owner Don Lehr said.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.