The Local Lens: Local Artists & Sustainable Tourism

For a mountain, outdoor-oriented community, Incline Village has a surprisingly large number of local artists. Most restaurants display local art, particularly photography and there are a few galleries around too. The Holman Art Center, part of Sierra Nevada University is one. Another is the Incline Library, currently displaying art from Incline High School students. The Visitor Center has a display from our historical society. Other places to see and purchase art are Handmade at the Lake (Centerpointe Building), the Potlatch, Village Interiors, and Sierra Verde in Village Center. The HIVE is an artist’s co-op in Harland Plaza, next to the big Wash Laundromat.

IVCBA promotes local artists by running the Mountain Workspace Gallery at 885 Tahoe Blvd. The artist reception on Thursday, May 12 welcomes Lisa Jefferson, Franny Ramirez, and Barbara Trifletti from 4:30-6 pm. The gallery is open daily and the art on display can be purchased. We are looking for the next set of artists for July/August. We are thinking it should be Burning Man artists…. Email Linda if you are interested. 

Piper Johnson, long-time Incline resident and Plein Air artist, recently moved to Truckee. She exhibits other artists as well, including Incline artists Mary Nagel Klein, Molly O’Mara, Liz Paganelli and Lisa Jefferson. Her grand opening for the new location of the Piper J Gallery is this Saturday, May 14. The address is 10153 W River Street in Truckee.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM         

What’s one of the biggest complaints we hear in Incline? The tourists who leave trash on our beaches and trails! (News flash…it’s not just tourists who leave trash). Education is key and the Visitor Bureau works hard to be sure everyone, whether they live here or are just visiting, understand how to “Take Care Tahoe” and what responsible tourism means. TRPA and the tourism industry have migrated to a “destination management” philosophy that is focused on sustainable tourism. 

By the way, Incline resident (and IVCBA member!)  Jacquie Chandler has spent her years at the Lake dedicated to her nonprofit Sustainable Tahoe. Visit her website for inspiration and to take her Earth Walk around the Visitor Center.

PLEASE JOIN the public workshop on Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan on Tuesday, May 17 from 5:30-7:30 at Parasol. The goal is to balance the needs of Lake Tahoe’s environment, businesses, visitors, and local communities. TRPA, the Visitor Bureau, and the Tahoe Fund are among the organizers. The workshops are being held around the Lake. Register to attend here. 

TAHOE BLUE CREWS

If you want to be proactive about picking up trash, consider joining or starting a Tahoe Blue Crew, part of the League to Save Lake Tahoe’s “Keep Tahoe Blue”. The next big clean-up is July 5 on the beaches. More information and sign up.

SIERRA NEVADA UNIVERSITY GRADUATION on Saturday, May 14 at 10 am.

Why am I mentioning this? 2022 marks the last graduation of the college that was taken over by Ben and Margaret Solomon 52 years ago. It has been an integral part of Incline ever since the first campus was built on College Way. The campus is now located on Country Club and Tahoe Blvd. As of July 1, Sierra Nevada University is slated to become part of UNR, an effort that has taken a year to accomplish. Ben Solomon passed away at the end of February. A monument is dedicated to the work of Ben and Margaret who so committed their lives to Sierra Nevada College and making it an integral part of Incline Village. Make a date to walk through the campus to see the monument and the Demonstration Garden founded by Margaret and now run by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Margaret still resides in Incline Village.

BUSINESS UPDATE

Have you driven by the old Wildflower Café on Tahoe Blvd lately? Those buildings came down fast! The site will become the home of Natural Grocers. You can preview it by shopping at the one in Reno, off Kietzke Lane.