We are excited to be hosting the Black Rock Desert NCA Artist-in-Residence (AiR) program for a 9th year in partnership with Bureau of Land Management Black Rock Field Office (BLM). Click here for a brief history of this program. 

UPCOMING SHOWS

Humboldt Museum

Reception:

Dec. 17th 10am-2pm

175 Museum Ave, Winnemucca, NV 89445

Installation from December 17th – January 29th

AND

California Trails Interpretive Center

Installation from January 30th through February 28th

1 Interpretive Center Way, Elko, NV 89801

Collaborative artistic team: Courtney Sennish & Lisa Rock  

Courtney Sennish and Lisa Rock come to the Black Rock Desert residency as a collaborative team that hail from the Bay Area. They explore humankind’s relationship to the natural from different mediums; Sennish creates sculpture while Rock makes paintings. During their residency they plan to explore shared ideas to make work concurrently through their own perspectives.

Website: 

Mark Maynard’s collection of short stories ‘Grind’ was the 2016-17 Nevada Reads Book and he’s the recipient of the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame Silver Pen Award. Mark teaches English and creative writing at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno, NV. He earned his B.A. in English from the University of San Diego and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles. He is currently enrolled in the Masters of Journalism program at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Website:

markmaynard.info

The Program

The AiR program promotes awareness through art of the exceptional places protected within the BLM’s National Conservation Lands. The experience provides an opportunity for learning and dialogue about the value of preserving public lands in the Black Rock Desert National Conservation Area. It will engage and inform an audience through public programs by participants and will provide time for artists to pursue their work.

LENGTH OF RESIDENCY: Up to two weeks for each artist.

Call for Artists

The Winnemucca District BLM, along with partner organization Friends of Black Rock-High Rock (FBRHR) announce a call for artists to share in celebrating one of Northern Nevada’s icons by applying for residencies at the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA). This project is sponsored by the BLM in partnership with FBRHR.

If you are interested in applying for the program, we will announce the new 2023 call to artists on our website and social media. Application submissions should include a resume, statement of purpose, samples of artwork and a response to the application questionnaire. Application proposals should reflect the artist’s unique perspective of cultural and natural resources. Winning proposals will promote public appreciation of the landscape, raise awareness of its unique and fragile nature, and inspire conduct that helps to preserve its resources.

History of our Artist in Residence Program

Since 2014, Friends has been proud to partner with the Bureau of Land Management to host the Artist in Residence program. 

Participating artists reflect on the Black Rock Desert NCA’s scenic beauty, natural history, and cultural significance. They use these experiences to create artwork that will contribute to the public’s understanding and engagement with National Conservation Lands in Northern Nevada and nationwide.

We encourage the chosen creators to depict the variety of cultural and natural resources of the Black Rock Desert NCA, including historic structures, artifacts, cultural landscapes, the local ecosystem, and wildlife.

In addition to creating artwork, it’s equally important that the artists provide a positive interpretive experience for the greater public to enjoy.

2022 Artists

Collaborative Team, Courtney Sennish & Lisa Rock: Sculpture and Paintings

Mark Maynard: Creative Writer and Multimedia Arts

2021 Artists 

Lauren Cardenas: Print Media, Printing and photography

Devan Horton: Oil and Acrylic Painting

2020 Candidates*

Anna Moore: Graphic Design and Illustration

Ryan McCarthy: Interdisciplinary and Multimedia

*Unable to complete 2020 Artist in Residency due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

2019 ARTISTS

Jack Hulbert: Photography

Mary Kenny: Digital prints and screen printed collages 

2018 ARTISTS

Teal Francis: Printmaking

Clairissa Stephens: Mixed media 

2017 ARTISTS

Maggie Remington: Earth pigment paintings

Elizabeth Cadigan: Songwriter 

2016 ARTISTS

Megan Berner:  Photography 

Deborah Finley: Ceramic Artist

2015 ARTISTS 

Virginia Catherall: Textile Artist/Knitwear Designer

Lewis Williams: Mixed media

2014 ARTISTS

Judy Hilbish: Paintings  

Stephen Chandler: Large Format Photography