Nevada State Bank recently completed a massive mural on the side of its West Liberty branch, located at West Liberty and Virginia Streets in downtown Reno. Created by artist Jesse Melanson, the original piece was designed in a low polygon artwork style to represent the future and technology, in relationship with earth, water and natural surroundings of the Reno area. The project was an official event for Artown, the summer arts festival that transforms Reno each year, featuring about 500 events produced by more than 100 organizations and businesses in nearly 100 locations across the city.
The mural project began with a mysterious doodle grid stretching across the property’s north-facing wall, measuring 23 feet high and 76 feet wide. Although the doodle grid gave the impression that the graffiti-style lettering was the final mural, it was actually Melanson’s method of mapping and scaling his artwork. The doodle grid was filled with inspiring words and illustrations hand-picked by NSB executives, such as “Art lives here,” “The Door to Your Future,” and “Home Means Nevada.”
Then, NSB hosted a special Artown event announcing the transformation of the graffiti-style doodle grid into a showstopping display of color. Melanson and Rick Thomas, executive vice president and Northern Nevada executive for Nevada State Bank, were lifted in the air to paint the first strokes of the mural and commemorate the next phase of the mural process. After 12 days, NSB announced the completion of the newest edition to its West Liberty branch main entrance. Watch a quick time lapse video of the project at www.nsbank.com/mural.
"Our goal with this project was to connect with Nevadans through artistic expression during Artown and beyond," said Thomas. "After enduring such a challenging year as a community, we wanted to celebrate moving forward together and add to the cultural revolution on the streets of Reno."
Melanson said his goal was to create something showing the beauty of the high desert mountains and surrounding waterways in a way that’s relatable to anyone in Reno as they are traveling between downtown and midtown. “I want the art to help ground people and make them feel welcomed at West Liberty, while recognizing the beauty of the area. I hope this mural inspires people to be creative and get outdoors, and go explore this beautiful landscape,” said Melanson, a multidisciplinary artist whose eclectic work explores relationships between how we can and do experience space and time.
“Nevada State Bank believes in the arts,” said Beth Macmillan, executive director of Artown. “As a major sponsor of Artown, their support embraces access to the arts, which is validated by commissioning public art on their building. The location where this art is displayed is a connecter between the arts district of downtown Reno and the gateway to the blossoming Midtown district. We are thrilled to bank with, and be sponsored by, a bank that supports the arts.”
To learn more about Nevada State Bank’s mural installation, visit nsbank.com/mural.