CARSON CITY, Nev. —Northern Nevada artists will present workshops as part of The Work of Artists, a free lecture series offered throughout May  in Room 3100 of the Nevada State Legislature, 401 S. Carson St. in Carson City.
Designed to connect artists with community members, the presentations are at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 24, March 19 and 30, April 17 and May 7. Each artist will offer insight into the work he or she does and what it takes to produce the work.
The schedule is as follows:
The Magic of Masks with Michelle Lassaline
3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 24
Carson City native Michelle Lassaline’s exhibits of landscapes and performances in her hand-made papier-mache animal masks draw audiences of all ages. Lassaline invites the public to meet and interact with some of her fanciful characters, including the Highland Cow, Pashmina Goat, Mountain Bluebird and Wild Burro.
Chinese Calligraphy with Sonia Carlson, also known as Xian Na
3:30 to 5 p.m. March 19
Sonia Carlson, also known as Xian Na, learned folk dances as a child growing up in Zhangzhou, China. From her aunt, she learned the Tuan Shan, or fan dance; the Xin Jiang regional dance; and Tai Ji forms. In 1987, Carlson moved to the Gardnerville area, where she teaches traditional Chinese dances. Carlson’s presentation intertwines cultural notes about China and Chinese New Year traditions, and will encourage people to try calligraphy, origami, crafts and games.
Natural Dye Introduction with Sarah Lillegard
3:30 to 5 p.m. March 30
Reno-based artist Sarah Lillegard is a mixed-media artist whose work draws on the traditions of handcrafts and Western icons. Hailing from a family of quilters and craftsmen, her artistic process relies heavily on touch and the physicality of working with such materials as wool, denim, leather and thread. In her workshop, Lillegard will demonstrate simple and safe processes she uses to dye fibers with natural materials harvested in Nevada backyards.
Lillegard’s work also can be seen through April 17 at the OXS Gallery inside the Nevada Arts Council office, 716 N. Carson St., Suite A in Carson City. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Tule Duck Decoys with Mike Williams
3:30 to 5 p.m. April 17
Born and raised in Carson City, Mike Williams is a member of the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, and is dedicated to creating accurate replicas of duck hunting tools in the Numu or Northern Paiute tradition. Williams will demonstrate how he creates tule duck decoys and share the Tule Duck Decoy story — the role of the tule plant in the lives of the Numu and the symbolic significance of the duck decoy.
RenoScapes with Paula Saponaro
3:30 to 5 p.m. May 7
Paula M. Saponaro, familiar to those who work and visit the Legislative Building and a longtime Nevada resident, will close the workshop series. Saponaro’s paintings investigate the inherent design of the high desert landscape as well as characteristics of urban constructions. Saponaro uses a wide combination of media to achieve her signature painting style, including watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil, pastel and collage. She will discuss her latest series, NV150 RenoScapes, a portfolio that honors some of the Biggest Little City’s most iconic images.
The Work of Artists is presented by the Nevada Arts Council, SENarts and Capital City Arts Initiative. SENarts is a partnership between the Nevada Senate, Nevada Arts Council, Nevada Division of Museums and History and the Brewery Arts Center.
The Nevada Arts Council, a division of the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, was created as a state agency in 1967. With offices in Carson City and Las Vegas, the NAC’s mission is to enrich the cultural life of the state through leadership that preserves, supports, strengthens and makes accessible excellence in the arts for all Nevadans. NAC programs serve as a catalyst to stimulate artistic, cultural and economic activity across the state, ensure lifelong learning in the arts for all Nevadans and increase public and private support for the arts. For more, visit the website nac.nevadaculture.org or call 775-687-6680.
