Over 300 artists of all media and disciplines have participated in this art gathering for the past 4 years. Over 5000 people have visited the event. National mainstream media has covered NadaDada. Even the New York Times wrote about it last year (June 22nd).
Artists are taking action and they simply "get a room, make a show." The concept is simple and the do-it-yourself attitude of these self-starters has brought a creative pride to downtown Reno as well as direct revenue to local small businesses and artisans. As revenue for public art funding dwindles, Reno City Councilman Dave Aiazzi praises NadaDada Motel as a positive example of self-initiated action.
No particular theme or genre is suggested as there are no curators. Artists promote themselves and the variety of art ranges from painting and sculpture, video and photography to neon, installation, performance, jewelry, as well as the new and uncategorized media. For artists to open motel rooms to the public, the exhibitions have been a more personal way to connect with an audience. Each room is an independent art show.
Locations are the motels along Arlington from the Townhouse Motorlodge at 2nd St. to Super 8 at 5th St. Also Strega Bar, 2 blocks South of the river on Arlington, hosting "5 Rooms at the Witch". An additional event featuring printmakers will be happening at Oxbow Press at 2035 Dickerson Road, "Naughty; Taboo; Just Plain Wrong", a print portfolio exchange.
Live entertainment is scheduled to happen in the Trocadero Lounge at the Hotel El Cortez on Friday, June 18th, Strega Bar, Saturday, June 19th and the Townhouse Motorlodge all 3 days. Maps of various locations involved will be made available before and during the event.
This DIY artists’ movement began in 2007 when six artists joined forces in Reno, not so much to be radical–as the artists from their Dada namesake would have had it–but simply to create an opportunity to exhibit their work and to offer the same to others. The artist/organizers worked with the management of historic Hotel El Cortez in downtown Reno and artists flocked to the event to rent their own rooms and open their doors to the public–over 1200 people came to that first year’s event! The number of artists involved during the course of the first 3 years has risen from 6 to 300. NadaDada adherents are from the disciplines of visual art, music, poetry, performance and combinations of such.
Subsequently other motels and venues became involved and national exposure has ensued. An exhibition featuring selected NadaDada artists was held in Los Angeles this year and two NadaDada exhibitions in a Las Vegas museum have happened.
Reno’s NadaDada Motel will happen from June 17th to the 20th, 10am to 10pm 2010 in the Town House Motorlodge, Star of Reno, Keno 1 and 2, Lido, In Town, Super 8, Strega Bar, Oxbow Press and with entertainment at El Cortez’ Trocadero Lounge. 100 artists are expected to participate in the upcoming Reno motel event. Bicycle ricksaws will be on hand accepting donations and transporting the public from location to location. Aside from admission for shows at the Trocadero, it’s all FREE!
