Reno's Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) completed a widening rehabilitation project along Sky Vista Parkway in the North Valleys in mid-2023. Improvements include street lighting, eight-foot sidewalks, and five-foot bike lanes on both sides of the roadway. A roundabout has been constructed as part of the project at the entrance to North Valleys Regional Park. The City of Reno, in partnership with the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County, NV and Washoe County, will develop a large-scale public art project that will be placed in the roundabout at Sky Vista Parkway and Silver Lake Road.   

Artist James Dinh was selected by the Public Art Committee (PAC) and Reno Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) as one of three finalists from a pool of 60 artists applications for this public art project. After being selected as the finalist for the project, Dinh led multiple community engagement sessions in Reno in October 2024 followed by a community survey to reach his initial design.

On the design concept, Dinh shares that the sculpture is inspired by the results of the community engagement, where themes related to nature (such as birds) predominated. Nature as a theme is also appropriate considering the roundabout’s location at the entrance to the North Valleys Regional Park, where beautiful mountains serve as the backdrop.

The sculpture has two components: “branches” and “birds”. Fabricated from steel pipes, the “branches” allude to the area’s sagebrush and grasses. Their dynamic curving forms express movement, transformation, and flight.

At the tip of the “branches” are bird-like forms made from “folded” steel plates. The shape of the “birds” was inspired by the Mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides), which is the state bird of Nevada. The Mountain bluebird is a small migratory songbird that can be found in the Reno area, living in mountain meadows and sagebrush. The birds make a “chur chur” sound, which is the tentative title for the sculpture.

The “birds” also allude to the racing planes that once flew from Stead Airport. The sculpture is intended to express a sense of aspiration, freedom, nature, and community.

Artists Selection and Community Engagement  

On June 12, 2024, City of Reno Council members approved the recommendations from the Reno Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and the Public Art Committee (PAC) to select James Dinh to create public art for the roundabout located at Sky Vista Boulevard and Silver Lake Road, at the entrance to North Valleys Regional Park. Dinh has expansive experience creating public art including projects in Santa Clarita, St. Paul Minnesota, University of Nebraska and more.    

August 2023 - Initial Community Input Survey to gather feedback to assist finalist in developing their final artwork proposals.    

December 2023 – Call for Qualifications from artists for the Sky Vista North Valleys Roundabout Opens 

February 2024 – Call for Qualifications applications close on Submittable, PAC begin review 

March 2024 – PAC and RACC select three finalists: James Dinh, Tylur French, and Virginia Kistler 

April 2024 - The three finalists present to the PAC and RACC on their artistic process and approaches to community engaged public art projects. 

May 2024 – James Dinh is selected by the PAC and RACC to recommend to City Council for the project, a second community input survey is launched 

June 2024 – Reno City Council approves the recommendation 

October 2024 – In collaboration with art teacher Josue Valadez, students began lessons in oral history and public art prior to the artist’s visit. Once on-site, James and Josue led students through a 2-day workshop using basic materials such as wires, popsicle sticks, and paper, students create a small sculpture that expresses themes derived from their family history. The goal of the workshop was to foster communication and connection between youth and older generations and have students interpret oral history themes into an abstract 3D form. According to James, “Students are often taught 2-D art but rarely 3-D sculpture”. His lesson plan connected students with the project and showed them the usefulness of oral history and sculpture in public art while also providing a mode for James to gain insights into the local community to inform his concepts and designs. 

November 2024 – James Dinh released a survey soliciting specific feedback on the elements of art and design to further inform the final design based on input given during site visits with the North Valleys community.  

November 2025 - Expected installation of sculpture. 

Additional updates on project progress will be announced in the near future. Sign up for our newsletter to receive updates.

If you have questions or would like more information, please  email publicart@reno.gov.