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"Passages" the theme for Trails and Vistas IV this Sunday |
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Written by Paul Raymore
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Tuesday, 04 September 2007 |
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“Everybody has a different experience. Some people connect to the land, some people connect to the act of walking or being together in a small group, and some people connect to the art. And it becomes, for some, a spiritual experience, even though it’s not supposed to be that way for everybody. It’s open for everyone to have their own experience.”
— Nancy Tieken Lopez, Trails and Vistas artistic director
The theme, “passages,” of this Sunday’s Trails and Vistas art walk seems especially fitting this year. Not only do spectators pass through many different installation art and performance sites along the two and a half mile hike on Donner Summit, but the event itself has grown to the point where artists, performers, spectators and even sponsors are fully committed to bringing something special to the area in this, Trails and Vistas’ fourth season.
“Each year the theme is open for each artist to make it their own, so each site is very different with the theme of passages,” said Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez.
A collaborative effort of the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Arts for the Schools and InnerRhythms Dance Theatre, the Trails and Vistas art walk will take place this Sunday, Sept. 9 along the Donner Rim Trail/Pacific Crest Trail near Donner Summit, overlooking Billy Mack Canyon and a number of beautiful alpine lakes.
 This year participants will pause at eight performance sites and two storytelling sites along the way, witnessing performance art, song, dance, music, poetry and more from 16 different artists and groups, including the renowned ensemble of Balinese musicians and dances, Gamelan Sekar Jaya.
“It’s still important to me to feature local and regional artists from California and Nevada, but also to bring in different guest artists is very exciting too,” Tieken Lopez said.
Gamelan Sekar Jaya, which headlines this year’s Trails and Vistas, will bring an orchestra of bronze percussion instruments to the Sierra. The complex rhythms and bell-like tones of this music, which evolved in open courtyard settings in Bali, will be heard in one of California’s most beautiful outdoor spaces.
In addition, because of the moving performances given by Chief Red Hawk at last year’s Trails and Vistas hike, he was invited back this year to once again share his music and storytelling magic.
Other performers include local dancers of InnerRhythms Dance Theatre, the Tsurunokai Taiko Drummers from Nevada and musicians from the Reno Philharmonic. As for the rest of the art venues, prepare to be surprised, moved and taken on a journey you will not soon forget.
Another difference from last year’s art hike will be a change in the way the trail leaders interact with the hikers:
 “The trail leaders who usually talk about each piece [along the trail]... will give a short introduction and then they will be silent,” Tieken Lopez said. “And the reason they’re silent is to allow people to have their own experience with the land — to be walking and to listen to the land more, to hear more, to feel more and to see more. And really to try to slow down time by increasing your awareness of what is around you... An important element of this year’s walk is being out and trying to make that connection with nature and the art.”
More on Trails and Vistas — Passages:
Co-Director/Choreographer Elizabeth Archer talks about what this year's art hike means to her.
Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez shares excerpts from the introduction to this year's Trails and Vistas hike.
Tickets:
Advance tickets for Trails and Vistas are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets will be $5 more at the gate. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Truckee Chamber of Commerce in downtown Truckee at the Train Depot (530-587-2439), Between the Notes in Truckee, Vista Gallery in Tahoe Vista, and Frames by Ryrie in Tahoe City. For credit card purchase call the Cedar House Sport Hotel at 530-582-5655. Visit www.trailsandvistas.com for more ticket purchase and event information.
Location:
The approximate 2 1/2 mile round trip hike is on the Donner Lake Trail/Pacific Crest Trail starting at the Trailhead near Boreal Ski Resort. Parking will be at the trailhead and Boreal Resort just off Interstate 80. The hike takes place at about 7,200 feet and traverses some rocky areas. Participants should be prepared for a single-track hike and due to the nature of this event, dogs are not allowed. Lunch will be available for purchase courtesy of Big Wave Burritos and Wraps.
 Times:
Morning groups leave every 15 minutes starting at 10 a.m. until noon. Afternoon groups leave every 15 minutes between 4 and 5 p.m. Please arrive in time to depart with your assigned group.
About the promoters:
Trails and Vistas is a collaborative effort of the Truckee Donner Land Trust, Arts for the Schools and InnerRhythms Dance Theatre. These three non-profit organizations work closely with founder and Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez, and Co-Director/Choreographer, Elizabeth Archer, to strengthen ties between art and the environment while increasing awareness of an economic and emotional commitment to conservation.
“I think the collaboration between the three nonprofits has gotten a lot stronger through the years. The Truckee Donner Land Trust has just found a whole wonderful group of volunteers... And it’s really been a joy working with Elizabeth [Archer of InnerRhythms] through the years, building our collaboration and our friendship, and working together as artists,” said Tieken Lopez.
About the setting:
Each year Trails and Vistas selects a venue that will showcase a recent acquisition of wilderness land. This year’s event will take place along the Donner Rim Trail/Pacific Crest Trail near Donner Summit. Participants will have a birds-eye view of Billy Mack Canyon and reflections of beautiful alpine lakes.
The Billy Mack Canyon parcels are incredibly rich in recreational, mammal habitat, water quality, and open space resources. The wetland meadow, Billy Mack Flat, is home to beavers, which have recently dammed Frog Creek for their reservoir habitat. Other mammals observed in the canyon include fox, pine martens, and a black bear cub.
 Along with presenting interesting and engaging performances, organizers hope to instill in each hiker the importance of environmental stewardship and inspire people to get involved in saving the wilderness.
Community support:
Several local foundations thought this to be a worthy cause including the Lahontan Community Foundation which awarded Trails and Vistas with a $4,000 Environmental Stewardship grant. Other participating foundations include the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation as well as the Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce and additional sponsors from the North Lake Tahoe region.
More on Trails and Vistas — Passages:
Co-Director/Choreographer Elizabeth Archer talks about what this year's art hike means to her.
Artistic Director Nancy Tieken Lopez shares excerpts from the introduction to this year's Trails and Vistas hike.
Photos (top to bottom): An example of the dance that will be performed by Gamelan Sekar Jaya musicians and dancer at Trails and Vistas; taiko drummers at last year's Trails and Vistas art hike (photo by Jeff Engerbretson); a performer at last year's Trails and Vistas (photo by Jeff Engerbretson); Laura Deering performs the dance Satrieng Lumaku with Gamelan Sekar Jaya (Photo by Natalie Newman).
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 September 2007 )
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