Many call all art beautiful, but it depends on who you ask. Maybe it's graffiti, a mural, or sculpture—whatever the case, Reno, specifically Midtown, is filled with hundreds of murals and I wanted to see if we truly are an “Art Town.”
Most people either love the art murals or don’t even notice them. Sometimes I question what I am looking at.
One that did that for me was the loud “TBK Homies” mural that is filled with cartoon-like characters. It’s a bit chaotic and overwhelming; I didn’t know where to look. There is a skeleton holding a head and scythe, an alien, and many more odd figures. It was like each character was trying to be the focus.
Some may call it expressive or meaningful, but for me it felt like too much to take in. I think real art should express meaning or emotion, something people can relate to. This just felt like it was trying to grab people’s attention.
It seems like these murals convey the good and bad sides of Reno’s art scene. The mural is well-done and colorful, which shows that expression and creativity are important to the community. I can appreciate that it is different than other pieces in Reno and that it stands out. But most of the art here feels a little performative, with no real meaning.
Many art pieces have something to do with Reno, which felt repetitive and boring to me. The buildings downtown, the arch, the skyline—it was like everyone wanted to paint the same thing but in a slightly different way. Like the artists are trying to prove we are an “art town”, but when everyone paints similar things it doesn’t feel like we are. I get being proud of where you live, but art loses its impact when it all looks the same.
I think Reno would be an “art town” if artists started showing their own purpose and feelings through their work, and let their individuality shine in their art. Surely not every artist wants to just paint about Reno. This city is more than the sign and slogan, it’s also the people in it. Art should be new, and exciting to look at; a way to express your story as a creator.
Taking pictures of these murals made me realize that I don’t have to love every piece to appreciate the effort behind them. I think we could use more variety—more creativity that goes beyond the obvious. Reno’s murals make the city colorful, sure, but I think the next step is making it meaningful.
Anonymous contribution for our Ideas for Progress series