Photo exhibit opens tonight at museum

The new exhibit "Nevada: The Photography of Cliff Segerblom," opens tonight at Nevada State Museum, with a free reception and short program at 4:30-7:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be furnished at by Firkin & Fox.

The exhibit is organized by the Springs Preserve of Las Vegas and will be on display through Aug. 2.

Segerblom was chief photographer for the Bureau of Reclamation Hoover Dam Project. His work has been published in "Life," "Time" and "National Geographic" magazines and is displayed in a permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

The exhibit invites visitors to explore the immense changes that have occurred in Nevada from 1938 through 1980.

"Segerblom's photos capture the stark beauty, grace and power of the Nevada landscape," said Curator of Education Deborah Steven-

son. "He uses art to make meaning from our human experience and interaction with the environment."

For more than a half-century, painter and photographer Cliff Segerblom devoted his life to capturing the ever-changing landscape of Nevada. His themes, as well as his artistry in exposing the depth and infinite textures of desert landscapes, earned him national acclaim. Through the years his work has come to provide an opportunity to witness Nevada's vanished frontier, with each image serving as part of the visual history of the Silver State.

Museum Advocacy Day

It also happens that today is Museum Advocacy Day.

Hosted by the Nevada Museum Association, a non-profit created to highlight the many contributions the state's 100 museums makes to the economic, tourism and educational advancement of the Silver State, association members and museum volunteers will set up exhibits in the legislature to illustrate why museums matter, to enlighten and inform the public and the policymakers.

That Museum Advocacy Day and the new exhibit opening takes place on the same day is coincidental, but does provide an active illustration of the message as the day moves from one event and venue to another, explained Jim Barmore, Neva-da State Museum director.

"It actually gives everyone an opportunity to see first-hand what we're doing here and to enjoy these amazing, large-format black and white photos depicting natural sceneries, ghost towns and industries of Nevada," he said. "Nevada State Museum alone is responsible for the preservation and care of two and a quarter-million artifacts, objects and images, many stored offsite."

Museums play a positive role in both the state and local economy and tourism, explained Barmore, noting that 75 percent of visitors to Nevada State Museum are from out-of-state and of the total visitors who come to Carson City, 35 percent visit the museum.

"Museums rank among the top three family destinations, behind sporting events and amusement parks," he said. "Having a museum gives another point of interest for folks to visit and extends their stay, which helps the economy - and much of this is often overlooked; it's also very affordable for families."

The museum is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Regular admission is $8 for adults and free for children 17 and younger, and museum members. The Segerblom reception is free.

For more information, visit nevadaculture.org or call 775-687-4810.