Fall is in the air—and arts and culture events are dropping like autumn leaves this month.
The Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl returns to Reno on Saturday, Sept. 10. Participants are invited to join in an exploratory day of fiction, nonfiction and poetry readings, as well as panel discussions, family activities and workshops, all taking place at venues around California Avenue, including the Downtown Reno Library. Access to all events is free and open to the public.
The crawl will kick off with keynote speaker Aimee Nezhukumatathil at the Nevada Museum of Art at 11 a.m. Nezhukumatathil is the author of World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments, named Barnes and Noble’s Book of the Year in 2020.
History is in the air
The Nevada Historical Society, 1650 N. Virginia St., presents Writers’ Wednesday on Sept. 7 with a book signing, reception and lecture from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with Carolyn Grattan Eichin, author of From San Francisco Eastward: Victorian Theater in the American West.
The Historical Society on Sept. 9 is offering a new docent orientation session from 10 a.m. to noon. The society is looking for volunteers to help lead gallery tours for fourth-graders, organizations and adults. Volunteers also are invited to learn how to scan images and create records for the society’s database. Those interested may fill out the volunteer application form at www.nvhistoricalsociety.org or email society director Catherine Magee at cmagee@nevadaculture.org.
On Thursday, Sept. 15, the society’s monthly “High Noon: Shootout With Neal Cobb” lecture will feature Guy Clifton, author of Dempsey in Nevada. Clifton, an award-winning Reno journalist, will talk about Dempsey’s life story from hobo kid to heavyweight boxing champion to beloved American icon. Dempsey, Clifton says, left his footprints across the Silver State.
At noon, Sunday, Sept. 11, Historic Reno Preservation Society will host a program by Debbie Hinman entitled “Exploring the El Reno Apartment Homes” at the Downtown Reno Library, 301 S. Center St. The El Reno Apartment Homes are examples of the work of architect Paul Revere Williams. In 1936, Williams built a demonstration house made of steel for the Architects Building Materials exhibition in Los Angeles. A year later, builder Roland Giroux had 15 of the homes shipped to Reno and assembled at 1307 S. Virginia St. Ten years later, the units were sold off individually and moved to other spaces; 12 of the units still exist. Hinman, a HRPS tour guide and a researcher and writer for society’s publication, FootPrints, will present an overview of the homes and their occupants. Details at www.historicreno.org.
Artown, art shows and Van Gogh
Artown’s September to December Encore Series kicks off at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 12, at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts when the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis makes its Northern Nevada debut. Composed of 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra produces thousands of performances and educational/broadcast events each season, both in New York City and around the world.
On Sunday, Oct. 30, the Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform at the Pioneer Center at 7:30 p.m. Dance Theatre of Harlem is a leading dance institution of global acclaim, encompassing a professional touring company, a leading studio school, and a national and international education/community outreach program. Then on Sunday, Nov. 6, the Soweto Gospel Choir is scheduled to perform at the Pioneer. The choir is a three-time Grammy Award-winning group which commemorates South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The evening will include a program of South African freedom songs and works by Billie Holiday, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin. Details: artown.org/encore.
Beyond Van Gogh continues at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall 3 through Monday, Oct. 3, with continuous performances Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The show boasts more than 300 of the greatest works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh projected as a three-dimensional immersive experience. Tickets start at $39.99, and details can be found at vangoghreno.com.
Capital City Arts Initiative’s Contrasts exhibition, by Mariah Vargas and Sogand Tabatabaei, is open at Western Nevada College’s Bristlecone Gallery, 2201 W. College Parkway in Carson City, through Thursday, Sept. 15. Other Carson City Arts Initiative events include James McCarthy’s Alignment photography exhibit at the Community Center’s Crowell Board Room, through Thursday, Oct. 20. Moiré, by Claire Pasquier, continues in the Courthouse Gallery through Thursday, Sept. 29. Details at www.ccainv.org.
Jewish festival and Numaga pow wow
The 35th Annual Numaga Indian Days Pow Wow is scheduled from Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, in Hungry Valley at 266 Loop Road in Sparks. The free, family-friendly annual event features the best Native American dancers, singers and drummers in the country.
The pow wow, named after Numaga, a famous Paiute leader, features entertainment and more than 25 vendors selling traditional Native foods and handcrafted silver work, bead work, baskets and other American Indian art.
The Host Drum is Poundmaker, from Saskatchewan, Canada. Men will dress and dance in styles including Northern and Southern Traditional, Fancy Dance, Grass Dance and Chicken. Women will dress in cloth and buckskin outfits in both Northern and Southern Traditional styles, Jingle Dance and Fancy Shawl Dance styles. The grand entry, which features all the performers, begins with more than 100 dancers grouped by their dress style led by Native American military veterans.
Jewish Nevada, a nonprofit organization representing the more than 70,000 Jews in Nevada, has scheduled its inaugural Milk and Honey Jewish Cultural Festival for Sunday, Sept. 18, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the McKinley Arts and Culture Center, 925 Riverside Drive, in Reno. The event is free and open to the public. The festival showcases food trucks, live music, an interactive play area for children, and more. Entertainment includes jazz vocalist CeCe Gable.
“We are thrilled to invite the community to come learn about our traditions, roots and celebrate with us,” said Mara Langer, Jewish Nevada spokeswoman. “This is an opportunity for people of all ages to share our traditions, enjoy a wide array of delicious food, and participate in festivities.”
A.V.A. Ballet Theatre and the Reno Phil’s Swan Lake. September 17 and 18 at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts. Laura Jackson is conducting the orchestra. Pioneercenter.com