The Holland Project’s Billboard Gallery showcases the work of exceptional emerging and established regional artists on billboards throughout Reno’s surface streets. Three new artists are installed every four weeks. For January 2023, our participating artists are Edw Martinez, HT MacDiarmid, and Miya Hannan.
JANUARY 2023 ARTISTS + WORKS
Location #1: above Jelly Donut , past the Wells Avenue Roundabout (near the Holland Project)
Artist: Edw Martinez
Artwork: Momento Vivere, mixed media
Bio: Edw Martinez has been creating both two and three-dimensional art for a very, very long time. While primarily known for his multimedia prints and monotypes, site situated sculpture, and anthropomorphic ceramic effigies, he has recently followed up on his long interest in making and flying kites, including many that obviously do not fly. He has participated in more than two hundred group and one person exhibitions at the regional, national, and international level, including a traveling color print exhibit in all fifty US states. Martinez graduated from the University of Iowa’s renowned Iowa Print Group and the University of Nevada’s department of journalism. Prior to sliding into a career of visual arts and teaching, he was a prize-winning general assignment, police beat, and government reporter with the Reno Evening Gazette. Martinez taught university visual arts courses in printmaking ,drawing, and ceramics for more than thirty years and is the UNR Art Department chair emeritus. He has been an artist-in-residence at the Kimmel Hardin Nelson Art Center (NE), Jentel Foundation (WY), and the McNamara Foundation (MF). He has printed professionally at the Tamarind Foundation (NM), Kala Institute (CA), Institute de Artes Graficas de Oaxaca (MX) and the University of London Slade School of Art (UK). Martinez is a recipient of the State of Nevada’s Governor’s Award for Excellence in the VIsual Arts. He is based in Virginia City and Reno, with seasonal studios in Las Vegas and Mohawk, CA.
Artist Statement:
My use of the image of James Butler Hickok was initially not for use on a billboard. It was simply the kite construction I was working on at the time I received the proposal to do the Holland Project. But, reflecting on Wild Bill, I decided he might just fit the bill for a memento mori or vanitas artwork. Memento Mori is Latin for “remembering that you (have to) die.” For my piece I changed it to Momento for moment.
In the 17th century Renaissance, Vanitas was a popular art trope, usually in still life or nature mort paintings. It featured objects and symbols of life’s transience and reminding viewers of their impending mortality. An inherent purpose was a sly cry out to REPENT, “clean up your act”, live for today because tomorrow may not come. Memento Vivere is the opposite and for “remember to live.” Vivere tells us to cherish every moment in life and feel gratitude towards what you have.
Now as many people know, Wild Bill Kickok was shot in the back of his head by a town drunk while playing poker in a saloon on a summer Sunday morning in Deadwood Dakota Territory. The blood splattered cards he was holding included two pairs- black aces and black eights. Nopw infamously known as the “Deadman’s Hand.”
At the time of his violent death, he was at age 39m a broke and out-of-work gunslinger, in poor health and slowly going blind, resulting in a very diminished life expextancy. He is my memento mori poster boy.
So, look up and see the billboard! Yes, we can live Vivere and follow through with those positive new years resolutions. Happy New Year 2023.
Location #2: Keystone Ave between 2nd and 4th St.
Artist: HT MacDiarmid
Artwork: Play, play script and image printed on torn out empty pages from the end of a classic novel then bound back into the book and scanned to digital file, 2022
Website
About: HT MacDiarmid was born in Reno, Nevada where he currently lives and works. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in Photography in 2018 from the University of Nevada, Reno. He has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions at the Holland Project in Reno, Nevada from 2015 on. He helped organize and curate for the Reno, Nevada gallery, window mine from 2020 through 2022.
Location #3: Wells Ave between Vassar St and Broadway Blvd
Artist: Miya Hannan
Artwork: Crossing Paths, soot on paper, 2022
Website
Bio: Miya Hannan’s interdisciplinary artwork shows her view of the world that is constructed by the layers and linkages of human lives and histories. She tries to preserve stories that are almost forgotten or that would otherwise be lost. Hannan has been actively showing her work in many solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally. Before coming to the United States, she received a bachelor’s degree in medical technology and worked for a hospital for seven years in her native country, Japan. She is an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.
The HP Billboard Gallery was made possible by an Art Belongs Here Grant from the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, generous donations from supporters like Temple Builders LLC, Brooks Family Dental, and Sierra Hearing Center, as well as the support and guidance of our partners with the Wells Ave. Merchants Association and Lamar Outdoor Advertising. Thank you!