Unconventional media used by UNR artists

Two students from the University of Nevada, Reno's fine-arts program will exhibit their work at the Carson City Courthouse Gallery beginning with an artists' reception from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The exhibit begins the Capital City Arts Initiative's 2004-05 season.

Jeanne Jo and Diana Snyder will present new work created specifically for the Courthouse gallery space. They use unconventional materials traditionally associated with the domestic arts. Snyder uses melted hard candy to sculpt floral wall arrangements. Jo uses wool yarn and crocheting techniques to produce patterned, figurative work.

Jeanne Jo was born in Stoneham, Mass. She is an instructor at the E.L. Cord Museum School at the Nevada Museum of Art. Her work has been exhibited in Reno at the Nevada Museum of Art and the Chapterhouse Gallery. While at UNR, she received the 2004 Sheppard Gallery Permanent Collection Purchase Prize.

Diana Snyder was born and raised in Reno. Her work has been shown at UNR's Front Door and Sheppard Galleries and at Sierra Arts. She won a UNR Best In Show award in the 2002 Student Art Exhibition and a Juror's Award in 2003.

In conjunction with the exhibition, UNR English Department student Ray Hardin will contribute an essay exploring Jo's and Snyder's work.

The Capital City Arts Initiative is an artist-centered organization committed to the encouragement and support of artists and the arts and culture of Carson City and the surrounding region through community building and public programs. Activities include contemporary art exhibitions, live events and arts education programs for adults and youths.

Capital City Arts Initiative is funded by the Carson City Redevelopment Authority, the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, the James W. Calhoun Foundation, Carson High School, Carson City Library and Nevada Hispanic Services Carson City.

Supporters also include Joe McCarthy, Carson City Public Safety Complex/Carson City Courthouse, Comma Coffee, Capital City Entertainment, Millard Realty and Construction and UNR Art Department.

Admission is free. The Courthouse is at 885 E. Musser St.

For information, go to www.arts-initiative.org