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The Ely Renaissance Society is proud to have financed over twenty outdoor murals and sculptures which tell the story of our rich heritage in our 11 block downtown area. |
The Murals...
| The Ely Renaissance Society was formed in August of 1999, a month after the sudden closure of our largest mining operation which employed over 400 people. Ely had always been the center of White Pine County’s mining and ranching families and the downtown area had faced years of “boom and bust” economy. During the good times, businesses opened and some were renovated; during the bad times, businesses closed and deteriorated. The closure of the mine and the loss of 400 jobs underscored the need for an economy that was not based on only one or two natural resources but was broader and more solidly diversified. Attracting any business would depend upon a more welcoming area, especially in the downtown area. Thus the Ely Renaissance Society was formed and undertook the task of creating an outdoor cultural art gallery winding through the historic downtown. Recognizing the richness of Ely’s history, the Society chose the theme “Where the World Met and Became One” which tells the story of the various ethnic groups who came to Eastern Nevada to work in the mines, ranches, and businesses. The groups brought a rich diversity to this community. Using White Pine’s unique historical theme to create giant canvases of art on outside walls, the project sparked a sense of pride and revitalization to the community. By the end of summer 2003, four years, after the idea of outdoor art was generated, over ten murals had been commissioned by the Society as well as two sculptures. Currently the Ely Renaissance Society is proud to have financed over twenty outdoor murals and sculptures which tell the story of our rich heritage in our 11 block downtown area. The Society believes that the outdoor art gallery should be as diverse as the history that it depicts. The artists have been chosen not only for their outstanding talent, but also for a variety of artistic styles ranging from abstract impressionism to trompel’oiel to abstract expressionism. As you enjoy this visual recording of Ely’s outdoor art, we hope you will have a lasting keepsake and will be enticed to visit. By combining history with art and placing it in the outdoor domain, accessible to all, art becomes an everyday part of life. The history lessons expressed on the walls ensure that our mining and ranching heritage is forever enshrined. The lessons that formed a united community from a variety of ethnic backgrounds become an ever-visible story of accomplishment, pride, and hope. |
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| Prints of these murals are available in our web store, and also at the Renaissance Village. |
| Our Murals and Sculptures |
