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Art lovers prepare to celebrate this beloved outdoor sculpture park's timeless contribution to Art, Culture and the Nevada landscape.

RHYOLITE, NV, April 8, 2024—Goldwell Open Air Museum, 15-acre outdoor sculpture park, announced today that plans are underway for the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the museum, which was founded and opened in 1984. Festivities will take place during the weekend of October 18-20, 2024. Several exciting days of food, fun, music, theatrical performances and a parade are only a taste of what participants will enjoy during this special anniversary celebration.

Hey...put it on your calendars...AND READ BELOW!!

Goldwell Open Air Museum 40th Anniversary and Reunion

October 18-20, 2024

Rhyolite, Nevada

***Please see our accommodations webpage for places to stay in Beatty (5 min from Rhyolite.)***

From a parade to Keynote speakers to a performance of “Albert Szukalski’s America,” former artist residents, food trucks, live music and more, please join us for the 40th anniversary celebration of Albert Szukalski and his “The Last Supper” sculpture. Along with the existence of Goldwell Open Air Museum the sculptures that make it one of the most interesting and magical anomalies in the Nevada desert, we invite you to witness what has been preserved.

Here is a list of items that will be helpful for Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th:

• folding chair for the Keynote speakers and entertainment

• sun and other desert weather protection

• water/snacks

We will be providing restrooms with wash basins and food trucks will be present for most of each day.
Beatty, Nevada is 5 miles away for other accommodations.

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Activities and times are subject to change

Friday, Oct. 18

5pm: Casual Meet and Greet for those in town at Beatty's Happy Burro

Saturday, Oct 19

11am Parade: from Rhyolite Depot to the Goldwell Sculpture Park Visitor Center

Featuring:

• Ms. Rhyolite, Debbie Baker

• Miss Beatty, Skye Grant and Jr. Miss Beatty, Amari Knode

• Mojave Desert Celebrities

• Wonderhussy - YouTube Travel Influencer

• and more!
  
  
  

  12pm Welcome remarks: at the Goldwell Visitor Center

• Stavros Anthony, lieutenant governor & director of tourism

• and a Nevada Arts Council Member

12:30pm Keynote speakers: at the Goldwell Visitor Center

• Former Resident Artist, Maryann Bonjorni

• Former Resident Artist/Composer, Nolan Stolz

• Current Executive Director Suzanne Hackett-Morgan

• Current President Michelle Graves

Walk or drive down to the Red Barn for Food Truck libations.

1:30pm UNLV Percussion Ensemble: at the Red Barn

• Led by Kyle Bissantz for the performance of “Ghost Town Miners” by former Goldwell Artist Resident Nolan Stolz
  
  
  

  2pm Screening: "Shiny Things: Life After Albert Szukalski" by Doug Jablin

  
  
  2:30pm: GIFT GIVE-AWAYS!!!

  3pm Short Lecture: by Brian Gibson on Albert Szukalski

  3:30pm Script Reading: “Albert Szukalski’s America” directed by Martin Hackett.
  This play was written by playwright Emily Anderson first produced by Ghost Light Productions and the Goldwell Open Air Museum
  coordinated by the Nevada Arts Council Basin to Range Exchange Program.

More Food Trucks

5pm Musical Guest: at the Red Barn

• "Toasters n Moose" musical performance!!

  After Party in Beatty:

  (Time/Location TBD)

• Vincent Gargiulo National Park musical performance

Sunday, Oct 20

10am Coffee Food Truck: at the Red Barn

10am Poetry readings: at the Red Barn

• Short reading of Sagebrush & Sandstone donated by Nevada Humanities

• Clark County Poet Laureate, Vogue Robinson

• Mojave Desert Literary Laureate, Ruth Nolan

  
  11am UNLV Percussion Ensemble: at the Red Barn

• led by Kyle Bissantz
  
  
  

  12pm Workshop:

• Free Plaster Mini "Ghost" making with Michelle Graves

• limited space of 30 participants

  -> Sign up for the mini “ghost” making workshop here.

Other happenings during the event:

• Book of Sagebrush & Sandstone donated by Nevada Humanities (limited supply)

• Las Vegas Urban Sketchers will be out and about drawing during the event.

Theres's also a commemorative t-shirt featuring the "Keep Going" sculpture by Michelle Graves.

Will be available at the event in the Visitor Center during the event. Available online after the event.

Were you a resident artist at Goldwell? Did you know Albert Szukalski?? We would absolutely love to hear your stories.

Is this one of your special Nevada places? We want you back!

More to be added, much mirth and good art in the Goldwell way!

If anyone would like to participate in the logistics, in the parade, or help managing the day of, please email goldwellmuseum@gmail.com

Join us! <3