Editor’s Note: This is the fourth part in a series on public art in the Tahoe Sierra. Read the first three parts at TheTahoeWeekly.com.
It wasn’t until I spent an afternoon skateboarding the 3-mile stretch from Tahoe Art League’s Art Center to the Hard Rock Lake Tahoe that I realized the abundance of public art on the South Shore. Along the bike path, I noticed at least 25 painted lightboxes and at least 21 murals, statues and sculptures in the distance between South Lake Tahoe and Stateline, Nev. Several local entities have worked together over the years to enliven the area with incredible street art; here are some of ones that stood out to me.
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Tahoe Art League to El Dorado County Library
3062 Lake Tahoe Blvd.-1000 Rufus Allen Blvd.
Tahoe Art League’s Art Gallery has wide glass windows that share a glimpse of what’s inside even when the place isn’t open. Peer at sculptures created by living legend David Foster through the glass. Or make a trip to Lake Tahoe Community College to view “Ascending,” his life-size bronze sculpture outside the library.
Next to the gallery, a chain-sawed wooden sculpture of a bear with an eagle on its shoulder and a raccoon peeking out from under it is perched on a nicely manicured lawn (artist Gerald Toste created many of these bears). On the other side of the art gallery, the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum sports a mural on its side depicting Kit Carson and John Freemont standing atop a snowy ridge admiring the lake.
Around the corner on the side of Tahoe Daily Tribune’s building, another colorful mural shares the history of the Tahoe Hotel. Across the street from the gallery, Malcolm Tibbetts’ “Orderly Tangles” sculpture consists of three rotating redwood freestanding balls that rotate on steel pipes.
On the bike path in front of the gallery, a big, can’t-miss-it green metal bicycle faces the bike path. There are at least four other oversized painted bikes that line Lake Tahoe Boulevard all the way to Nevada that pop in white, blue, yellow and red.
A block away heading east, a double-sided tiled mural was built on a stone platform. It was dedicated by former Vice President Al Gore in 1997 in honor of the first Lake Tahoe Summit. One side of it shows the view of the lake, fish in the lake and mountains around the lake. The other side of the tiles shows the names of the individuals who made the artwork, such as South Lake high-school students and local celebrities.
On the corner of Harrison Avenue and Merced, “The Spirit of Competition” statue created by Gareth Curtiss and the imprinted paved stones around it pays homage to local Olympic athletes, as well as national and world athletes.
About 600 yards east of Lakeview Commons, look up at the mural on the El Dorado County building; the view of the woman waving goodbye to the steam-powered “S.S. Tahoe” is hard to miss.
Read Part I, II & III
Use our Public Art map to create your own art tour
Ski Run Marina
900 Ski Run Blvd.
The next cluster of outdoor artwork is at Ski Run Marina. Off the bike path on Ski Run Boulevard that ends in Lake Tahoe, a large metal cutout of a bear sitting in a moon is in the grassy median. Although there’s nothing around the sculpture that states who created it, the metal cutout was likely commissioned by Bear Moon Bar & Grill, the restaurant inside the adjacent Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort.
A little closer to the lake, the Victory Eagle sculpture is in front of Artemis Lakefront Café. Toste carved it out of wood with the American flag and the words “United We Stand” scripted under it.
Stay on the bike path running lakeside to find the “Washoe Woman” sculpture peacefully placed on a stone platform next to a picnic table. The plaque states that it honors the Washoe Tribe of California and Nevada, the original inhabitants of the area.
Across the street in the grassy forested area between Wildwood Avenue and Pinewood Inn, the City of South Lake Tahoe maintains Childrens Memorial Park. The Hrbacek family facilitated the making of the memorial after the tragic death of their son and his two friends. This spot was created to honor and remember other young residents who’ve died.
Heavenly Village
1001 Heavenly Village Way
Skateboard, walk or bike that same side of the street and 500 yards down from Childrens Memorial Park, Marcus Ashley Fine Art Gallery has dozens of wind sculptures around its entrance. The tall spinning art pieces are Malcolm Tibbetts’ installation titled “Protector of the Garden.” Pass the Raley’s shopping center and turn right onto Park Avenue; look to your left to admire weather-protected photos of Lake Tahoe created by Chris Talbot on the side of the Heavenly Village.
Venture into the Village and enjoy more chainsaw wooden-bear sculptures strategically placed throughout the shopping center and a big, stone wishing fountain with its cascading waters flowing from it under the gondola line. Go around to the front of the ticket building and climb into the gigantic ski chair made almost entirely of retired snow skis. Meander through the Village and keep heading east. Next to California Burger Co. look down and you’ll see a green and blue mosaic pathway adding a splash of color in front of the Explore Tahoe Visitor Center.
If you’re staying at one of the hotels across the street from Heavenly Village, be sure to check out the beautiful wildflowers and water fountain sphere in front of Stardust Lodge.
Also, across the street from Marcus Ashley Gallery is Benko Art Gallery. It is an experience in itself. A plethora of outside sculptures made by local artists adorn the front of the building; be sure to check out the detail in Steve Southerland’s metal fire-pit sculptures and the gigantic metal trout next to the front door. If you have time, go into the gallery to find more unique creations — you won’t be disappointed.
Stateline
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe-Hard Rock Lake Tahoe
The line of casinos may mark the divide between California and Nevada, but the public art doesn’t stop. “The Pony Express” bronze sculpture in front of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe was erected in April 1963 under the direction of Harrah’s president William F. Harrah. The original Tahoe Pony Express stop was near Edgewood. In the base of the sculpture is a time capsule that will be opened in 2037. Keep heading east to notice more painted metal bikes reminding one of the imprint that cycling has on the community. End your tour at the oversized metal guitar in the aptly-named Guitar Plaza in front of Hard Rock Lake Tahoe.
There’s Art Everywhere
South Lake’s public art doesn’t just end here. Organizations such as Tahoe Arts Alliance, the City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Arts Project and The Sphere of Influence have been instrumental in painting more lightboxes and dumpsters and commissioning fresh-looking new public art — even yarn bombing boring-looking metal posts.
Meeks Lumber & Hardware, at 2763 Lake Tahoe Blvd., sports a smile-inducing mural on its side, created by Tahoe Arts Project. Skatehouse Skate Park has enlisted the help of a local artist to paint the walls in its open-air second-story facility. Even just driving along Lake Tahoe Boulevard, you’re bound to see at least one — if not 10 — public works of art.
