Ecopoetry with Jared Stanley

Poet and UNR creative writing professor Jared Stanley hosts a poetry reading and discussion about the intersection of ecopoetry and environmental art. Stanley’s poetry explores the way language heightens our relationship with the world, taking cues from installation art, fine press printing, informational signage design, and the lava writing along Eight Mile Flat east of Fallon.
 
Jared Stanley is the author of four collections of poetry, So Tough, EARS, The Weeds, and Book Made of Forest. He teaches creative writing in the MFA Program at the University of Nevada, Reno and lives in Reno, Nevada with an historian and their daughter.

Expanding Creativity Through Multi-Mediums

 This class explores the possibilities of self-expression through charcoal, watercolor, and acrylic. Through guided introspection and creative exploration, students will work to uncover the messages they wish to communicate through their art. Along the way, the fundamentals of each medium will be introduced and reinforced as participants progress toward creating full-scale, finished works. All supplies will be provided.

Friday, February 27
4 – 8 pm

Instructor: Ray Valdez
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels

First Thursday

Meet up with friends for this long-standing monthly tradition of live music, beer, and plenty of fun. Live music hosted by Spike McGuire and presented in partnership with Loud as Folk, a regional singer-songwriter showcase.

Koyaanisqatsi with Director Godfrey Reggio

This documentary draws its title from a Hopi word that means “life out of balance” and reveals how humanity has grown apart from nature. Beginning with extensive footage of natural landscapes and geological formations, the film transitions into thought-provoking footage of modern civilization and technology. Enjoy an exclusive introduction and stay after the film for a special Q&A with the director Godfrey Reggio.

This feature-length, non-narrative film complements the “Altered Lands and the Anthropocene” section of Into the Time Horizon.

Discovering Flora with the Nevada Native Plant Society

Learn about the incredibly diverse flora in our region with Emma Wynn, President of the Nevada Native Plant Society. She shares how the nonprofit organization started and ways to engage with Nevada’s 2800+ wild plant species.
 
 
This is part of an Art Bite series featuring local conservation and sustainability organizations, which complements Into the Time Horizon.  

Branches of Life: Forest Resilience and Collaboration on the Truckee River

When we protect our forests, we protect life. Healthy, resilient forests along the Truckee River reduce wildfire risk, safeguard water quality, and preserve the beauty and biodiversity that define Northern Nevada. 

Learn how the Nevada Chapter of The Nature Conservancy is working to improve forest health – before catastrophic wildfires occur – by restoring the natural role of fire, strengthening forest ecosystems, enhancing community safety, and honoring Indigenous knowledge. 

This is part of an Art Bite series featuring local conservation and sustainability organizations, which complements Into the Time Horizon.  

Artist Talk: Myth, Mycology, and Symbiosis with Xiaojing Yan

Debra and Dennis Scholl Distinguished Speaker Series

Enjoy an evening exploring the open-ended experimentation of artist Xiaojing Yan. A Chinese immigrant living in Canada, Yan investigates how nature, an inherent force within traditional Chinese art, transcends sculpture. Yan’s sculpture Lingzhi Girl is featured in Into the Time Horizon, and part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

This program is free to UNR, TMCC, and WNC students.

Fly Fishing, Water Protectors, and River Justice with Autumn Harry

Autumn Harry (Paiute), an artist and a leader of River Justice, discusses how the Indigenous-led project advocates for the just stewardship and riparian health of the Truckee River. River Justice prioritizes river stewardship in consideration of Numu (Northern Paiute) communities downstream who are impacted by policy decisions, planning, and developmental threats to surface water. 
 
Harry is from Kooyooe Pa’a Panunadu, also known as Pyramid Lake, and is the first Numu woman fly-fishing guide at Pyramid Lake’s famed Lahontan Cutthroat Trout fishery.

NV STEAM Conference: Pre-Conference Opening Reception at Desert Research Institute

2026 NV STEAM Conference attendees are invited to a celebratory opening reception at DRI, Nevada’s scientific research institute. Experience lighting talks from research scientists, participate in hands-on STEAM activations, and explore research labs in action.

This free event includes light hors d’oeuvres, complimentary beverages, take-home educational resources, and more! Join us for a fun evening celebrating STEAM in action!

Space is limited, reserve your spot by registering today.

Contact stemeducation@dri.edu with questions or for additional information!

*Doors open at 5:30

SOLD OUT: Opening Talk with Artist and Writer Jonathon Keats

Traverse the expanse of time and consider the environmental complexities that led to the concept and creation of Centuries of the Bristlecone with Jonathon Keats, artist, writer, and experimental philosopher. Keats’ conceptually driven transdisciplinary projects explore all aspects of society, adapting methods from the sciences and the humanities. Following the talk, enjoy a ceremonial etching on the clock.
 
Centuries of the Bristlecone is now on-view and was created in collaboration with Phil Abernethy, Brittany Cox, Jason Iceman, and The Long Now Foundation.
 
This public talk is a complementary program to the 2026 NV STEAM Conference.