This week, we celebrate the final episode of our first season with silversmith and master jewelry maker Mandi Wirtanen. Mandi talks about how she discovered her love of jewelry making at a young age and her determination to hone her skills.

Take a listen and enjoy the conversation with Mandi.

mandalynnjewelrydesigns.com

The Creatives Talks Podcast will take a short break and return in early July 2024 with more artists, actors, writers, and others in the Reno Arts Community.  

The music is Chi Town Funk by Mr Smith.

This week, we sat down with Holly Galbo Bopp, the owner of Habitat Inspired.

We discussed the importance of creating personal space to reflect who you are and much more. 

Take a listen and enjoy the conversation with Holly.

https://www.habitatmodern.co/

The music is Chi Town Funk by Mr Smith.

This week, we sat down with Rosine Bena, the Founder and Artistic Director of Sierra Nevada Ballet.

We talked about her career in ballet and the new facilities for the Sierra Nevada Ballet.

Take a listen and enjoy the conversation with Rosine.

sierranevadaballet.org

This week, we talked to Janet Lazarus about theatre, the Sierra School of Performing Arts' new facility, and much more. So take a moment and join us for this week's Creatives Talk Podcast.

Janet Lazarus is one of the founders of the Sierra School of Performing Arts. She has been guiding SSPA and creating great theater for us since 2005.

Joseph Galata is an award-winning professional and Executive Director of the Sierra Association of Foster Families. He advocates for children and youth by creating and facilitating various support programs. He is also an author, actor, dancer, and world traveler.

Here are the links mentioned in the podcast.

Here is the Link to the podcast for teens funded by Heritage Bank and Kids-Centric, LLC: https://youtu.be/nJ3YyJa39y4

More of our kids podcasts:

www.kidscentricarts.com

nevadascolorfulchildren.com

educatingfosteryouth.org

This week, we talked to Mandy Medlin, the new owner of Nevada Fine Arts. Mandy expressed her excitement about the opportunity to take the store forward into the future for the Reno Arts Community.

Take a listen to the podcast to find out more.

https://nvfinearts.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NevadaFineArts

https://www.instagram.com/nvfinearts/

About Mandy 

Mandy Medlin is an Arkansas native, Nevada-born Creative who, despite never living in Nevada growing up, was realigned with her Nevadan stars when she met her husband, Ian, of Reno. They share 3 beautiful sons together, along with a love story that has moved them across the country (several times), seen them through big career shifts, and now, into the leap of faith as business owners. Staying open and fully invested in each other's

Mandy recently became the fourth female owner of the beloved Nevada Fine Arts in Midtown, Reno. The store specializes in Art Supplies, Framing, Printing, Classes, and Gallery Exhibitions. With Mandy's background in Sales, Management, and Marketing, coupled with an immense

Moving forward, in addition to carrying on the many

EXCERPT FROM CANDACE'S BODY/BODY ARTIST STATEMENT!

There is a beauty—a vulnerability—within each of us.  Finding that beauty beneath the suffering of living with chronic illness is the focus of this particular body of work. Susan Sontag, Illness as a Metaphor wrote “Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship in the kingdom of the well and the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.” I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2011, after many years of unexplained symptoms like dizziness, brain fog, memory loss, spasms and tightness in limbs, trouble walking….

As an artist, Candace Nicol Garlock uses an array of mediums in her work. The coalescence of printmaking techniques, painting, photography (and sculpture, too!) overlap and converge with color, texture and line in a collaboration of mixed, experimental beauty. With her appreciation of the interconnectedness of everything, she explores relationships: human and environment, human and animal, human and human.

After you listen to the podcast, check out Candace's website: https://candacenicolgarlock.com/

This week, we are joined by Debbie McCarthy, also known as About Town Deb. Take a listen as we discuss community, family, and the future.

“Debbie McCarthy, widely known as About Town Deb, is a spirited community advocate, passionate volunteer, and the engaging host of City Talk. Renowned for her dynamic presence both online and in the heart of Reno, Debbie embodies the spirit of connection and positive change. Her journey, enriched by diverse experiences in media, philanthropy, and community engagement, highlights her resilience and dedication to making a difference.

Starting her career in the church as a parish life director, Debbie transitioned to full-time caregiving for her father, igniting her path toward media and community service. As a photographer, radio host, magazine co-founder, and now hosting City Talk, she amplifies local businesses, charitable causes, and the stories of extraordinary individuals in Northern Nevada.

Debbie’s deep commitment to volunteerism and nonprofit advocacy shines through her work with organizations like the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation and Volunteers of America. Her longstanding involvement showcases her impact and dedication to her community.

Debbie told us that she is honored and touched to have been invited to join my two good friends, Tina Mokuau and Dana Nöllsch, on their newest venture, the “Creatives Talk Podcast.” Over 12 years ago, when I first met Tina, she was the first to do my makeup for a photo shoot, marking the beginning of a journey filled with growth, creativity, and mutual support. I’m very proud of both Tina and Dana for their incredible artistry and contributions to our community. Joining them on this podcast is a testament to our shared journey and Reno's vibrant creative spirit.”

This week, we talked to Megan Berner, the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Reno.

The conversation ranged from current and future Arts Projects for Reno and Berner's personal art practice.

Here is her Bio.

'Megan Berner is a visual artist and arts professional living and working in Reno, NV. Coming from a multi-disciplinary and non-traditional art background, Megan is interested in innovative ways to activate public space and create opportunities for citizens and artists to engage with the community and connect people to their environment. Her personal practice is centered around place and the psychological experience of the environment. Megan holds an MFA from the University of Iowa in Intermedia. She is currently the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Reno.'

We had the extreme pleasure of sitting down with Sam Sprague, who owns Micano Home.

Sam was one of the founders of the Midtown District and has quite the story of how he became a successful store owner and artist in Midtown.

"My real name is Calvin Sprague.

Born in Fernley NV 1963

Education- no formal education

For 15 years, I was a manager at Custom Truck, designing buildings and logos. One day a woman walked in and asked who designed the store . When I told her I did, she said I was a linear genius and that I was wasting my time there. After meeting with her, she said I was wasting my time and should do something with my talent. I opened Micano Home in the months after that in 2003. Micano is an abbreviation for Americana. I got the idea after living in Egypt, where people would say to go get the Americano. Micano Home.

In 2004, Chis from Sushi Pier, Tammy from Chocolate Walrus, and myself starting having meetings, we wanted to have a wine walk. But we needed a name. Chris mentioned the bar behind my store named Midtown Bar. We borrowed the name - Midtown and added District. We started having meetings at Sushi Pier 2. Raul, from El Adobe, and The Jessica from

Junkees were some of the first faces there. By 2005, we had a name and the vibe. In 2007 -2008, I took a job at Costco working from 5am to 11, then I'd ride my vintage moped to Midtown. I also saw Troy - from Junkees riding his motorized bike, and we became friends. I didn't know it at the time, but this was the movement that started the biggest Reno neighborhood shopping corridor in Reno. We had given the city a place to call ours. Ace Hardware moved to Midtown. Most of us became the original board members and we started having functions.

My store changed , in 2008 from a store to a maker store. My sister had walked on Dec 2007 and said, "the coolest things in here is the art you made," That was the biggest moment of my stores life. The next day, I threw away 30 grand worth of inventory, mostly dark African art and Mexican art, both too cultural for Reno.

The biggest contributors to my store have been all the unsung friends who have unselfishly given their time to help me. Three of my best friends died during the period of helping me, sometimes helping me through the toughest times of my life. Just to see me make it. If I owe anyone it's my friends for being so unselfish, if I have one skill that stands out. It might not be my optimism, my crazy work ethic, or my ability to dream things into reality. It might be my ability to make friends, that are willing to help someone with a dream - to out blue collar artist on Main street .

Love my friends."