Comstock Wabi-Sabi exhibition opens on Saturday, August 29th
Virginia City, Nevada – The public will be treated to a free reception with live music and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the opening of Brian Schorn’s new exhibition at St. Mary’s Art and Retreat Center in Virginia City on Saturday, August 29th from 1pm-6pm. Brian will share about two dozen pieces of new artwork he’s created during the opening of his exhibition, “Comstock Wabi-Sabi”, at the art center’s George Post Gallery. If you miss the opening reception, don’t despair – the exhibition will remain on view from August 29th through September 6th during St. Mary’s open hours (11am-4pm Thursday through Sunday.)
Where is St. Mary’s Art Center? Situated approximately 30 miles from Lake Tahoe, 26 miles from Reno and just 17 miles from Carson City, St. Mary’s Art Center is housed in a lovely historic building with striking views of the Comstock.
Comstock Wabi-Sabi: The Comstock region National Historic Landmark, including Silver City, Virginia City, Gold Hill and Old Town Dayton, is rich in objects from days gone by. Brian Schorn of Michigan, visiting artist with the “Resident Artist Program in Silver City”, has been discovering some of these objects this summer and incorporating them into striking assemblage pieces.
Asked to explain the term “wabi-sabi”, Brian said, “Since I arrived in July, I’ve been fascinated by the landscape of the high desert and, in particular, the evidence of the past Comstock era. I’ve been exploring the region and creating a new series of wall assemblages that utilize found and natural materials. The Comstock landscape reminds me of the Japanese aesthetic of “wabi-sabi” – the recognition of the beauty that can exist in the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. I’ve integrated this unexpected beauty into my new work.”
Brian Schorn is a multi-disciplinary artist whose visual art has been exhibited widely for the last twenty years in numerous solo exhibitions, and whose music has been performed in France, Austria, New York, Oakland, etc. His creative writing has been published in many books, journals and anthologies. He was awarded the Academy of American Poets Prize, and his hand-made poetry books can be found in the Marvin Sackner Collection of Concrete and Visual Poetry. Brian has taught art, graphic design and creative writing at the University of Michigan, Brown University and Interlochen Arts Academy. He has hung the work of many well known artists in various capacities as a gallery and/or museum preparator, including work by artists such as Yoko Ono and Frank Stella.
What Can I Do During the Reception? During the reception, guests can sample hors d’oeuvres made with local organic ingredients from Healthy Communities Coalition’s Community Harvest CSA, and enjoy blues and folk punk tunes performed by musician Mylo McCormick. Visitors are also invited to wander through the Center’s other 6 galleries and view original art works by established national and international artists. A large permanent collection of art featuring the landscapes, historic buildings and big personalities of the Comstock can be found in St. Mary’s 15 guest rooms.
Gallery Talks: Brian Schorn will also offer gallery talks about his work on both September 5th and September 6th between 11am and 4pm, when St. Mary’s docents are on-hand to offer guided tours of the historic building and all of its galleries. For more information about St. Mary’s Art Center, including exhibitions, retreats, docent tours, and classes, call (775) 847-7774.
An opening reception for Brian Schorn’s new exhibition will be held at St. Mary’s Art Center
What is the Resident Artist Program in Silver City? Silver City is a small community on the Comstock that was recently declared an “Arts and Culture Resources Production Center” due to the high output of visual art, music, publications, and historic preservation resources by residents over the last 50 years. The recently developed Resident Artist Program provides an opportunity for those creating in the performing, visual, media, design, or literary arts to reside in Silver City in housing provided for visiting artists for periods of up to 4 months, in exchange for offering free public performances, exhibitions, workshops, etc. in the community. The program is privately funded and organized by Theo McCormick and Quest Lakes.
Funding and Sponsorship: Brian Schorn’s exhibition and opening reception are made possible by St. Mary’s Art Center, the Resident Artist Program in Silver City, and Healthy Communities Coalition of Lyon and Storey Counties, and its Community Harvest CSA (community supported agriculture) local produce baskets.
