..Nevada in Time: Photographs of a Changing Landscape and the Power of Observation.

Nevada in Time: Photographs of a Changing Landscape and
the Power of Observation

 February 12, 2015 by Victoria Vallis

Photographs of altered landscapes of
Northern Nevada are the subject of an exhibit at the Knowledge Center.
Landscapes,
made by nature or by man, which change daily, yearly, and generationaly, are
featured in this exhibit
exploring the dynamic and changing landscapes of northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe.

Among the
photographers whose works are featured are Stephen Davis with “Truckee Meadows
Open Lands Project;” Jack Hursh with photographs “Nevada Historic Barns and
Ranch Architecture;” Peter Goin, University of Nevada Reno Foundation Professor
with “Selected Images from Stopping Time: A Rephotographic Survey of Lake
Tahoe; Mark Klett with the “Rephotographic Survey” and Howard Goldbaum with
“American Flat.”



Three of
the photographers: Davis, Hursh and Goin, took part in a forum titled
“Photography, History and the Power of Observation” at the Wells Fargo
Auditorium inside the Knowledge Center. Stephanie Gibson, a writer with a focus
on contemporary photography, and arts administrator from Ottawa, Canada, who
now lives in Reno, moderated the discussion.



The
discussion was introduced by Kathy Ray Dean, and looked at the importance
of  photographs of a changing landscape
and difference between documenting history and family photographs which are a
visual bridge to the public.



 “Nevada in Time: Photographs of a Changing
Landscape,” tells the story of Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe through images of
a landscape in flux. Using photographs from the University’s Special Collections
Department, combined with contemporary projects, it shows how the camera helps
define and record our surroundings.



 Kimberly Roberts, who is the photo curator for
the special collections department, said the photographs offer an unvarnished
look at various landscapes in the region along with the changing environment.
For example, one set illustrates the changing of Plumb Lane through the years from
largely open space to a cityscape.



 Her intent in the curation of this show is to
demonstrate that history is not something that is confined to the past or to
books, but is all around us and is happening now, especially with the Truckee
Meadows on the cusp of another major transformation as more industries move
into the area, explained Roberts.



The
University of Nevada Reno’s Archives at the Knowledge Center has many
historical photographs. The exhibit also includes many of these historic
photographs from Special Collections and from Reno Photo Service. Dozens of
photographs make up the exhibit, and are displayed on the second, third, and
fourth floor walls of the Knowledge Center. 




Reno,
Nevada is in a constant state of flux and change. Having grown up here, I have
personally witnessed many of the growth expansions discussed in this forum. I
watched medical centers, malls, schools and houses take over the vast cow
pastures I used to ride horses and bicycle through. I experienced firsthand the
construction of I-80 and then 395 and the spaghetti bowl with all of the
traffic that now congests its roadways. I am glad that these and other
photographers have documented the expansion, and that family albums prove how
it used to look here.



I used to
play at American Flats and even had a pottery class there with Fred Reid and
Bob Griffin, and now it is gone. Only a memory, like so much of my vanishing
past. As my two questions I asked the panel what they thought of the
disappearance of American Flats and the wild horses. The answers I heard ranged
from it’s too late,… to must be managed. Goin 
believes we are all part of history and would like to see a living park
built with the artifacts of American Flats. Hursh who photographs old barns
before they fall down with time, helped to preserve some old buildings which
have been moved to Bartley Ranch. Kudos go out to all who help to preserve the
past, because once it is gone, there is no replacing it.