Art on the Porch Set for Friday to launch Carson City Jazz and Beyond Festival

Carson City, Nevada — To help launch the annual citywide Jazz & Beyond Festival, Capital City Arts Initiative will host artists selling their art at the Bliss Mansion prior to the 6:30 p.m. main concert. The art sale will take place Friday, August 5 from 4-6:30 p.m. on the porch, 608 Elizabeth Street, Carson City. The free events include art for sale, music, food, and a lovely home and garden to tour. The public is cordially invited.

Local artists will have their artwork for sale at Art on the Porch. Carol Brown will have hand-made books, blank greeting cards, and small prints. Debbie Howell will have her landscapes created with crushed colored-glass. William Hutchison will have his hand-blown glass ornaments. DePaul Vera will take your photograph to produce a personal portrait. Mischell Riley will give a bronze sculpture demonstration.

Nevada Art Association artists will also participate in Art on the Porch. Susan Schmid, an art coach and teacher, will demonstrate her plein-air oil painting techniques. Artist and teacher, Kristy Dial, will have her unique painted gourds for sale.

Susan McCormick, Terri Akins Calleas, and Vickie Workman Detomasi will bring the renowned "Miss Dixie Vintage Bus" from Fallon with art, craft, handmade goods, and jewelry to sell.

A story about the "Miss Dixie" bus was sent by its owners/resident artists: "Dixie Valley is two hours east of Fallon and a long time ago folks lived out there. After the Dixie Valley School was closed, the kids had to ride the school bus into Fallon — over 2 1/2 hours each way. When the Navy bought out the Valley, the little school bus came to Fallon and morphed into the School District’s maintenance bus. They painted it white, removed the seats, loaded it up with tools and it traveled from school to school doing repairs. When the Churchill County School District put the bus on its auction list, Terri was the high bidder.” She said, “We named the bus 'Miss Dixie' in honor of its former home. We load her up with all kinds art, crafts, and vintage treasures — and off we go."

During the afternoon, you can take a free, guided-tour of the Bliss Mansion, at 5 p.m. or at 6 p.m. The mansion is a fully-restored fifteen room Italianate-style Victorian mansion completed in 1879 by Duane L. Bliss. At the time, it was the largest and most elaborate home in the state.

The Triple Treble flute trio will provide music from 4:30-6:30p.m. The main concert will begin in the Bliss Mansion garden at 6:30 p.m. with Cherie & John Shipley and Take This. The band features Cherie, vocals; John, keys; Paul Covarelli, guitar; Doug Coomler, sax; and Steve Self, drums. For the concert on the lawn, please bring lawn chairs or a blanket for seating. Low chairs get the best spots - in front near the stage. This evening's activities kick off more than 60 Jazz & Beyond events at multiple Carson City venues.

The Jazz & Beyond Festival is supported by the Mile High Jazz Band Association, City of Carson City, and private donations. For additional information, see jazzcarsoncity.com.

The Capital City Arts Initiative is an artist-centered organization committed to the encouragement and support of artists and the arts and culture of Carson City and the surrounding region. The Initiative is committed to community planning and building for the area's diverse adult and youth populations through art projects and exhibitions, live events, arts education programs, artist residencies, and its online projects.

CCAI is funded in part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Arts Council, City of Carson City, NV Energy Foundation, U.S. Bank Foundation, Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the John and Grace Nauman Foundation.

For additional information, please visit CCAI’s website at www.arts-initiative.org.