Exhibit tracing 100-years of women and auto shows now open

They’ve been called models, sex symbols and eye candy, but the best attribute of these engaging automotive specialists was their ability to sell cars by enticing customers with facts, not just glamour. The fascinating women of the auto shows are featured in the newest exhibit at the National Automobile Museum, Sirens of Chrome: The Allure of the Auto Show Models.

Sirens of Chrome takes visitors on a visual joyride through auto show history and features a treasure trove of rare images of turn-of-the-century goddesses, 1950s sex symbols and today’s highly trained product specialists.  The exhibit showcases posters and photographs of human hood ornaments, fast cars and vintage auto show fashions.

“The talent at auto shows throughout the past century has actually gone through as much of an evolution as the cars themselves,” said Margery Krevsky, founder and owner of Productions Plus–The Talent Shop, a nationwide company that recruits, outfits and trains talent for auto shows. Krevsky is also author of the award-winning book, Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models, which served as the muse for the exhibit.  “Auto show models truly morphed from ‘plaster to poster to person’ and now serve as ambassadors of their brand who entice customers with facts and vehicle comparison information.”

Following the format of the book, the Sirens of Chrome exhibit includes many historical photos that have been carefully culled from private collections, auto enthusiast portfolios and the National Automotive Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library together; they tell the larger story of auto show models and the timeless allure of automobiles.

Attendees of the Sirens of Chrome exhibit will discover whose “body” inspired the Rolls-Royce hood ornament and who sat in a “rumble seat” with 1930s silver-screen goddess Joan Blondell.  They will see the depth of information included from the Dagmar Bumpers, gawk at the over-the-top opulence of the Somali leopard pelt-upholstered 1950 Cadillac Debutante and view in wonder at the fur-clad model atop a Soviet-built Lada.  In total, the exhibit features nearly 75 pieces, mostly photographs, posters, auto show programs and automobile magazine covers.

Also on display are several costumes, which add sizzle to the Sirens of Chrome theme from space age tech to Hollywood glamour, on loan from Karen Burns Productions’ collection of more than 1,200 authentic costumes from the world-famous MGM stage show, Hello Hollywood Hello.

An Evening with Margery Krevsky: Sirens of Chrome

Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models author Margery Krevsky will share behind-the-scenes insights and personal anecdotes while telling her story of defying trends in the auto industry to celebrate the opening of the newest exhibit at the National Automobile Museum based on her book. She co-founded Productions Plus in 1981 and the agency rapidly became one of the major players in selecting, outfitting and training talent for auto shows across America. Krevsky, dubbed “The Queen Bee of the Car Show Models” by Forbes, will wrap up the evening by signing copies of her book, Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of Auto Show Models.

When:  Thursday, March 14, 2013 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Where: National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection

What: Presentation and book signing with Margery Krevsky. Wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Cost: Free for members; $10 for the public.

The Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum (The Discovery) recently added several new exhibits focused on early motion picture techniques in its Da Vinci’s Corner gallery. The additions include a tabletop praxinoscope and zoetrope and a large, free-standing zoetrope that measures more than six feet in diameter. A humorous animated introduction to the inventors of these animation devices is also featured as part of these new exhibits.

“The Discovery’s Da Vinci’s Corner gallery focuses on the intersection of art and science,” said Will Durham, exhibits manager. “One of Da Vinci’s early works was the projector, or “magic lantern,” so these early movie making devices feel right at home amongst the other exhibits in this hands-on gallery.”

All of the new exhibits in this unveiling were designed and built on-site in the museum’s workshop by museum staff and volunteers. Exhibits designed and built in-house are just one of the ways The Discovery keeps each visit to the museum engaging and new.

For more information about Da Vinci’s Corner and other galleries at the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, visit www.nvdm.org.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport will be hosting the first American Indian exhibit in its history and invites the public to the opening reception on Monday, November 14, 2011 from 6:00-7:30pm.  Governor Brian Sandoval, Washoe Tribal Chairwoman Wanda Batchelor and Chairman Wayne Burke from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe are scheduled to speak, accompanied by performances of local American Indian artists.

The exhibit opens during November, National American Indian Heritage Month.  Governor Sandoval has also proclaimed November as American Indian Heritage Month in Nevada.

“We are very pleased that the Nevada Indian Commission could facilitate this project,” said Sherry Rupert, Executive Director of the Commission.  “The partnership we have with the Nevada Arts Council and the Indian Territory made this initial exhibit possible.”

The Nevada Indian Commission worked with the Arts Council’s Folklife Program and the Nevada Indian Territory to develop a special edition of the Arts Council’s “What Continues the Dream” traveling exhibit and includes posters drawn from the pages of the gallery guide and photographs of powwow dancers in their colorful regalia; an Indian Territory graphic display; and hand-crafted cultural objects provided by the Nevada Indian Commission. The exhibit will be on display in the Connector Collections Gallery on the second floor, between the B and C gates through January 22, 2012.

“An American Indian cultural exhibit at our airport has been highly anticipated and a long time coming,” added Rupert.  “When a visitor enters the airport they should know they are in the lands of the Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone people.”

The Indian Commission’s mission is to ensure the well-being of American Indian citizens statewide through development and enhancement of the government-to-government relationship between the State of Nevada and Indian Tribes, and through education for a greater cultural understanding of the state’s first citizens.  The Commission was established in 1965 to be the conduit between the Governor and the 27 federally-recognized Nevada tribes.

Paiute Elder Ralph Burns will provide the opening prayer.  Burns is the recipient of the 2011 Nevada Heritage Award, which honors Nevada folk artists and tradition bearers who are the finest and most influential masters of their particular art forms and who have had a significant impact on the people and communities of the state.  Gayle Johnson a Bishop Paiute Tribal Member will provide the Paiute Flag Song and Red Hawk Warriors along with various Powwow dancers will be on hand to celebrate the evening.

For information on the Nevada Indian Commission visit www.nic.nv.gov and for more information on the Nevada Arts Council and the Indian Territory please visit www.nac.nevadaculture.org and www.NevadaIndianTerritory.com.

The Sparks Heritage Museum became the first Museum in Nevada to incorporate I-pad technology into their exhibits.  Thanks to a grant from the Ben Snow Foundation, the Museum has been working to create a more interactive experience which will appeal to patrons of all ages.   The first exhibit, the I-pads, will appear in the new Sparks in Space exhibit. 

It is a little know fact that the rockets that got the first man on and off the moon were developed and tested right here in Spanish Springs, at the Nevada Field Laboratory, a facility operated by Rocket dyne.  In partnership with the Challenger Learning Center of Northern Nevada, the Sparks in Space exhibit presents an in-depth look at the US space program with an emphasis on manned space flight and the role the City of Sparks has played.   The three major topics include: “From Railroads to Rockets,” “Animals in Space,” and “The Next Generation.” 

 From Railroads to Rockets

Most people know Sparks began as a railroad town. Now, thanks to an oral history project conducted by Dick Dreiling, a Museum Board Member, the important role Sparks played in the development of space transportation systems is documented and on exhibit for all to learn.   Fun interactive bonuses include the new I-pads kiosks in the Space exhibit, as well as in the Museum’s Railroad Room.  Children can learn about outer space on apps researched and selected by the Sparks High School Astronomy students. Visitors can have their picture taken looking like an astronaut, or try their hand at piloting a space craft and landing on the moon using the “Return to Camelot” simulator.

Animals in Space

It just so happened that the Museum Docent is the Veterinarian who supervised the mice that went to the Moon on the Apollo 17 mission –  Dr. Richard Simmonds.  Not only does he volunteer at the museum teaching visitors about Truckee Meadows history, but he is also a Challenger Center Board Member.  His passion for teaching is evident in the exhibit. Visitors can learn about various animal astronauts including dogs, mice, fish and primates, and see first-hand the prototype of the “mouse hotel” that Dr. Simmonds helped develop to care for the mice on their journey into outer space.   Interestingly, the species of mice that travelled into space exist in the deserts of Nevada and were chosen as they require very little water to survive.

Over the next six months, the Museum will offer a series of activities focusing on the different topics featured in the Sparks in Space exhibit, including dome programs, movies, poetry readings and lectures.     Blast off with your family at the Sparks Heritage Museum! 

The Sparks Heritage Museum is located at 814 Victorian Avenue, Sparks on the corner of Pyramid Way. 

The Museum is open  Saturdays and Sundays 1 pm to 4 pm, Tuesday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm

ADMISSION:  $5 for Adults, Children 12 and under Free.  Active Military and their families are FREE.   

For more details please call (775) 355-1144.

Join artist Patricia Johanson as she leads guests through an intimate discussion of her Petaluma Wetlands Park project, while viewing the numerous drawings and designs on display in the CA+E LAB. Balancing beautiful design with ecological sensitivity, Johanson’s work is considered one of the most dynamic and functional landscape architecture projects in recent years.

Using constructed and natural wetlands Johanson created a multi-purpose public landscape providing three miles of recreational use, educational programs and nature study alongside a facility that simultaneously processes human sewage, while also generating crops and creating wildlife habitats. Art, ecology, landscaping and functional infrastructure meet in this collaborative project.

This exhibition is presented as part of the Art + Environment series, an initiative of the Nevada Museum of Art that brings together community, artists and scholars to explore the interaction between people and their environments.

Art Bites give attendees the opportunity to experience an informal and intimate introduction to works in the galleries over a short half-hour dialogue. Cost: $5 / $4 Museum members. The Art Bite series is supported in part by the Gabelli Foundation.

- From the Nevada Museum of Art

The Nevada Museum of Art, located in downtown Reno, is going big this season with two great exhibits featuring the work of Rembrandt and Raphael. Mark your calendars.

Rembrandt: The Embrace of Darkness and Light

November 7 – January 17, 2010

Visit the Museum this holiday season and explore the life and legacy of the legendary Dutch etcher and painter through this exhibit featuring 130 of his most celebrated prints. The exhibition traces the artist’s entire career as a printmaker from the drama and technical genius of his early productions to the quiet mystery and poetry of his final works. More information online.

Raphael: The Woman with the Veil

January 9 – March 21, 2010

A stunning example of the High Renaissance, Raphael’s masterpiece painting The Woman with the Veil (La Velata in Italian) comes to Reno as part of an exclusive three city only U.S. tour. Presented by Reno’s ArteITALIA, the piece depicts the artist’s lover with incredible elegance and detail and is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Reno-Tahoe visitors and residents alike. More information online.

View a complete list of upcoming exhibitions online.

An exhibit showcasing the amazing adventure of a 22-year-old from Hackensack, N.J., who became the first woman to drive across the United States in 1909, is open at the National Automobile Museum, The Harrah Collection, in downtown Reno. “On the Road with Alice Ramsey: 100 Years Ago” will fill the Changing Exhibits Gallery at the National Automobile Museum, 10 S. Lake St. through Jan. 11, 2010.

Challenged by a sales manager for Maxwell-Briscoe Company, Ramsey drove a 1909 Maxwell Model DA – 30 horsepower Touring Car right out of a New York City showroom and into history.
The company sponsored and publicized the trip to persuade Americans that cars were here to stay. The automobile had recently been invented.

There weren’t a lot of roads at the time, and those that existed were often in questionable condition. Ramsey and her three female companions carried a block and tackle, which they used often.
Ramsey changed tires often and cleaned and tested spark plugs when necessary. When she felt a “skip” in the engine she would hold a hammer against each plug and shorting it against the cylinder jackets to find the problem one. Then she would disassemble it, clean it with fine sand paper and reassemble it.

Alice Ramsey would later be the first woman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.

The National Automobile Museum at 10 S. Lake Street in downtown Reno is open Mon. – Sat. from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children 6 to 18 years. Children age 5 and younger are free. Parking is free. For more information, call (775) 333-9300 or visit www.automuseum.org.