Cultural Commission tees up busy 2013 for Carson City folks, tourists

The Carson City Cultural Commission has set the stage for wild horse art, helping with an arts convention and dialogue about an art ordinance in 2013.

The commission, which met Tuesday, unanimously voted to support Commissioner Jeffrey Scott's idea for a special arts and cultural event called The Wild Horses of Carson City.

"I think this is a spectacular, spectacular idea," said the commission chairman, Eugene Paslov, in describing the proposal to have 30 or so horse statues on display for two to four months around Carson City.

Others agreed, some suggesting that, after the display of the wild mustang art in the city, the horses could be sent around the state to other cities as the Nevada Sesquicentennial begins in 2014.

Scott said his idea may spark controversy, but that fuels healthy community discussion. The idea is to solicit local businesses to help underwrite the horse statues and display them, local artists chosen through a juried process to do the art work, and an auction and/or traveling show when the display period ends.

Scott said other communities have done projects featuring animals or other artwork. He said this one could spark excitement and pride, help businesses and add to community tourism allure.

Others suggested grant money might be obtained to help get the project off the ground. The display period in warm months could end in October.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to help out in sponsoring an April 22-23 convention in Carson City, which is The Nevada Arts Council's gathering at the Plaza Hotel Conference Center and the Brewery Arts Center. It is called Arts @ the Heart Convening.

One speaker will be Barbara Schaffer Bacon, co-director of Animating Democracy, Americans for the Arts from Washington, D.C. The other is Beth Flowers, executive director of Beet Street, Ft. Collins, Colo.

The commission also approved starting the process toward a public arts program ordinance, which will require public comment next year. Among other things, it would provide that 1 percent of any excess left over in savings from each year's general fund budget go to community arts.

An updated draft will be determined by mid-January. That would be followed by a six-week public comment period before a final draft is considered again in March by the Cultural Commission for submission to city supervisors.