Art In The Park 2024
Art Festival and Marketplace
July 13 and 14th, 9:00-4:00
Art in the Park After Dark 4:00 to 8:00 pm Saturday
Submitted by Susanne Kaime Reese (Historic documents provided by ECAC)
Elko County Art Club’s (ECAC) Art in the Park is widely recognized as one of the premiere cultural events in Northeastern Nevada. This open-air festival, traditionally held on the second weekend of July, provides visitors of all ages and interests with the opportunity to meet more than 100 artists and purchase their original Fine Artworks and crafts. During the two-day event, ECAC presents a variety of live entertainment, contemporary arts and crafts, along with an exceptional array of live entertainment, park performances, wonderful food and hands-on activities for children.
Elko County Art Club (ECAC) fosters, promotes, and sponsors art outreach activities which aim to expand artistic perception and increase public interest in the arts and related activities. The Gallery & Gift-Shop is an educational and entertaining forum for adults and children alike. Art exhibits are primarily based around talented local artists and their varying mediums, techniques and styles. The exhibits change frequently and original, one of a kind artistic gifts can be found in the Gallery Gift Shoppe. Many of the Artists are also art educators who provide many interesting and informative classes and workshops. You are invited to contact the Gallery at
775-753-8170, Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, 407 Railroad Street, Elko, NV 89801, hello@elkocountyarts.org
A History of the Elko County Art Club
70 years of volunteering to enhance art education outreach and Artist’s services in Elko County
(Following history was documented in a a letter written by Charles W. Paul dated January 20, 1982)
The story of the Elko County Art Club reaches back in time 70 years and is a story where the true credit goes to the Elko community and volunteers in every walk of life. It began in December 1954, when three friends got together to discuss the lack of art classes or an organized art community in Elko County. Charles W. Paul, owner of the local hardware store, Merle Trehal with the Cosgriff Sign Company, and Shorty Powell decided to hold an exhibit of local art in the hardware store building. The original exhibit featured over 100 images, art contributed by 25 or 30 local artists. What had been planned for a one day show, was immediately extended to three days, due to the popularity of the event. Who knew Elko had such a rich and varied art community hiding quietly in the vicinity? Mr Paul later wrote, “we found so many people who thought their artwork wasn’t good enough to warrant viewing by the public. It seemed they didn’t have the courage to show what they had been doing, not even to their families or friends.”
Thus encouraged, the friends contacted Mr. Neil Jones, Principal of Elko High Highschool and asked to meet in the Highschool Auditorium. They asked to meet free of charge. Art was not taught in the highschool at that time, so there was no designated room for art or creative activity. After only four months, the meetings became so popular, that a plan for adding additional rooms to the Auditorium was initiated. Principal Jones stated that it was clear that the arts helped the community and school, and in 1954 plans for a designated art room were budgeted and plans for the school’s first credited art classes were added to the curriculum.
Once again, the next road block the club faced, was to locate a permanent space to meet. Shorty was the one that suggested the idea of asking the Elko County Fair Grounds for permission to use a room in the Woman’s Exhibit building. They met with the County Commission and the Fair Board, and the artist’s were given the use of the building with no rental fee.
The main room was plenty large and if it got too warm, they could open the doors. It was quite different when the weather turned cold. The artists decided to move into the small room on the east side of the building. They purchased a used oil stove and by opening the room early, on meeting days or evenings, the room would be nice and warm. Many times throughout that winter, they would find that snow had drifted and a trail would have to be shoveled from the cars to the building. Many times, those who came in from Lamoille would leave for home in a blizzard or encounter a white-out before arriving there.
During the first meeting in the Exhibit Building, December 1954, Charles Paul was elected President, and Merle Trehal was elected Vice President. It was decided that Shorty Powell would instruct those who wanted to join as beginners.
On December 14th, 1955, after serving as President for a year, Charles W. Paul was reelected to serve another year. His officers were Beth Griswold as Vice President. Ruby Ruby was elected Treasurer and Mary Ann Ryan was Secretary. A constitution and By-Laws were drawn up and accepted by members of the Club. It was announced during that meeting that Shorty Powell had moved to Arizona due to the cold weather affecting his arthritis.
As a group they were able to bring in several large exhibits such as Art Train, which was co-chaired by Mildred Byers and Mrs. Mcarthy and provided co-sponsorship of the Fine Art Exhibit.
Elko built a new museum in 1968 and when Howard Hickson was hired as curator, the Elko Art Club found him to be a very willing and helpful in promoting the Elko County Art Club. Classes were then relocated to the Museum, and with Mr. Hickson’s recommendations, they were able to successfully write for a Nevada State Grant that helped pay for the services of professional art instructors to teach classes. Time passed, and in 1982 the art group was still meeting in the Museum, which was about to undergo a remodeling project.
Once again, the group was in need of a meeting space and meetings were relocated to the Desert Gold Gallery.
Good fortune and fate intervened when Oren Probert came to Mr. Paul’s office to suggest a meeting to introduce Mr. Louis Heinzman, a well known artist from Salt Lake City. Mr. Heinzman received his training in art from the Munich Royal Academy and in Paris at the Ecole de Beaux-Arts, and had studied art in Rome. He had traveled worldwide, including Egypt and India, and was proficient in eight languages. He had much experience and talent to share with the Elko artists.
From that meeting, a long and beneficial friendship evolved and Mr. Heinzman returned to Elko to participate and help promote the Spring and Fall Art Festivals each year. The Art Club developed ongoing field painting trips, exhibits and events. The Rotating Art Project was started and original artwork was exhibited in Elko business offices. An Artist of the month was featured in the Desert Gold Gallery. Two annual scholarships were established for Elko County High School Students each year. Artists were traveling many miles to Elko to participate in Art Club activities. The Elko County Art Club reputation as a fine art group was firmly established.
It has to be said that our Elko County Art Club would not have survived until 2024, without the steadfast talents and determination of many fine leaders and volunteers. Every year has brought certain challenges, especially as members retire, move from Elko County, or funds and support decline. The ups and downs of non-profit entities seems to be a natural occurrence in small rural communities, depending on available manpower and local resources.
Today, you can support the annual scholarship program, promote art education outreach and classes, exhibit opportunities and the Gallery space, by joining the Elko County Art Club and participating in their monthly planning meetings. Everyone brings a different skill set to the group and your enthusiasm and loyalty can help sustain the Elko County Art Club for future generations.
Please remember, that when you purchase a raffle ticket from the Elko County Art Club during the Art in the Park event, you are directly supporting the two annual Elko County Highschool Scholarship awards. Please support artists and local small business. Purchase original art for gifts, and for your living and work spaces!