On a quiet, unassuming street in Reno, there is a warehouse. Inside, you may first be drawn to the 20 foot skeleton, the room full of tie-dyed wonders, or the colorful neon hanging from the ceiling. But if you stay awhile and zoom in, there is much more to see.
At 1995 Dickerson you’ll find the work studios of thirteen different Reno artists. I stopped by during recent Saturday open studio hours, and had the privilege of meeting three of these artists: Lauren Huff, Meredit Tanzer and Robin Ruybalid.
They welcomed me in, and told me a bit about 1995 Dickerson and the community that has been growing there. Lauren described the Reno art community as a space where artists build each other up, and connect one another with opportunities. In a society full of competition and greed, communities like these of Reno artists are communities that should be lifted up.
Walking from studio to studio, each artist (even those not physically present) is seen coming out through their creations. No matter the medium, beauty seeps through the warehouse. Paint, sculpture, watercolor, wood carvings– even tie dye and huge skeletons. Looking through windows into other people’s souls may remind someone that they can create those windows, too.
“I think what I love is that people can come here and just chill out for a minute,” Meredith says about the studio. “Sometimes it's hard to find things that are free. And you don't have to come with any previous knowledge. You could just go wander around, take a little minute for yourself. Be excited to see something that maybe you didn't consider you were going to see, or do something you wouldn't have considered. You could just come here and sit down, and color, if you wanted to take a minute.”
Every third Saturday of the month, 1995 Dickerson hosts their open studios. They encourage attendees to drop by, check out all of the amazing art, and bring projects to work on in their community art space. For those who have only dabbled in art, watched a little Bob Ross, or don’t consider themselves to be “good artists”-- there is a space for you at 1995 Dickerson studios.
I sat across a table from Meredith as she happily worked on a new project. She gave me a recycled music sheet and some markers to doodle with. I asked Meredith what being an artist meant to her:
“I know that it's something that I absolutely need in my life. I love both to see it and to do it,” Meredith said. “And it's also my therapy… I'm able to connect to something far bigger than whatever's going on. Whatever I'm working on at that moment, most of the time it just takes me away. I need to have some peace in my life. It’s chaotic all the time. And sometimes sitting down and working on something that's chaotic, also is the greatest peace. I guess it means connection, to me, because it really is a connection to a spirit.”