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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 at Red Barn
• sun and other desert weather protection
• water/snacks
We will be providing restrooms with wash basins and a food truck will be present for most of each day.
Beatty, Nevada is 5 miles away for other accommodations.
Scheduled times are an estimate.
Friday, Oct. 18
5-8pm: 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
Parade lineup is from 10-10:30am
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
Keynote speakers: at the Goldwell Visitor Center
Former Resident Artist/Composer, Nolan Stolz
Current President Michelle Graves
Current Executive Director Suzanne Hackett-Morgan
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.
Food Truck open until around 4:30pm
5pm Musical Entertainment: at the Red Barn
"Toasters n Moose" musical performance (viral on YouTube!)
UNLV Percussion Ensemble interlude
Vincent Gargiulo National Park musical performance (mastermind behind Toasters n Moose)
Sunday, Oct 20
10am 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 Barnled 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