Noted Nevada wilderness and wildlife artist Erik Holland's Road to Art Dome will be among the works of art celebrating Nevada's wild places in the Wild Nevada Art Exhibit, running July 9-14 as part of Artown events in July.

Nature lovers looking for a shot of inspiration for their summer adventures will find it in abundance at the Wild Nevada Art Exhibit, designed to evoke the best of  Nevada’s unique wild places through striking works of art.  The exhibit, part of the Artown 2012 events taking place in Reno throughout the month of July, will run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 9-13 and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Saturday, July 14.  An open house will feature the opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and live music, 4-7 p.m., Thursday, July 12.  Admission to all events is free, sponsored by the Nevada Wilderness Project at its headquarters, 333 Flint Street in Reno. 

“We invite all outdoor enthusiasts as well as art lovers to this week-long exhibit of artwork and photographs that capture Nevada’s unparalleled wildlife and scenic wonders,” said Jeneane Harter, Nevada Wilderness Project executive director.

Among the featured professional and amateur artists and photographers are well-known local painter, Erik Holland; landscape artist, Emma Auriemma-McKay; and wildlife wood sculptor, Craig Mortimore.  Nature and outdoor photographers including noted northern Nevada wildlife photographer Larry Neel are showcased in works depicting some of Nevada’s most cherished as well as remote and amazing wildlife and wilderness areas. 

Most of the works will be available for sale at the end of the exhibit, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Nevada Wilderness Project’s work in wildlife habitat conservation, wilderness preservation and smart development of renewable energy.

For more information regarding the Wild Nevada Art Exhibit, the Nevada Wilderness Project or to volunteer, visit www.wildnevada.org or call 775-657-8430.  For Artown details, visit www.renoisartown.com.

*****

About Artown: The Nevada Wilderness Project’s Wild Nevada Art Exhibit, presented during the month of July, is part of the 17^th annual Artown festival, July, 2012.  The month-long summer arts festival features more than 400 events produced by more than 100 cultural organizations and businesses in locations citywide. Artown receives major funding from the City of Reno, and is sponsored by Grand Sierra Resort, U.S. Bank, NV Energy, JLH Inc., Waste Management, Basin Street Properties, Reno Gazette-Journal, KOLO 8 News Now, KTHX-FM and KNPB with additional support from the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

SaferMoto.com CEO Alan Cunningham, shown in a SaferMoto lightweight airbag-equipped motorcycle safety vest, started the company after seeing the vests' effectiveness in protecting motorcycle racers from crashes.

As motorcycling popularity continues to grow, so do accidents involving motorcyclists. Protective gear has evolved with new technology, as well. SaferMoto.com, distributor of one of the most innovative safety products for riders, will be demonstrating its line of lightweight inflatable vests and jackets using protective airbag technology at the Virginia City Grand Prix, April 28-29 in Virginia City, NV. The annual motorcycle racing event is presented by the Virginia City Motorcycle Club. It attracts 3,000 spectators and close to 1,000 competitors from 13 western states racing in 23 different classes over the two-day event.

SaferMoto.com owner Alan Cunningham, a competitive motorcycle racer himself, said the Grand Prix is an ideal venue for showing the SaferMoto vests and jackets. “These products offer a level of protection that can’t be matched by conventional safety gear and armor,” said Cunningham. A cord connects the vest or jacket to the motorcycle, and inflation from a compact replaceable CO₂ cartridge is triggered instantly when the rider falls.

SaferMoto’s vests and jackets have received glowing testimonials from recreational and racing riders alike. After tumbling down a 100-foot embankment, Curtis Zeeb of Tracy, CA, said, “Besides the fact that I was OK from such a spill, I looked my helmet over and found no scratches at all. The vest had totally protected my head and kept it from hitting the ground. I believe the expanded front and back panels kept my head high enough and the protective part around the neck kept my head stable the entire time.”

Professional motorcycle racer Justin Mastalka of Fernley, NV, was quoted in a 2011 USA Today article as saying, “Not only did it deploy like it was supposed to, but my helmet never touched the asphalt.” He credits the SaferMoto.com airbag with preventing him from suffering his eleventh concussion. Bill Skadsen crashed while racing at Thunderhill Raceway, CA, and said, “I was able to push my bike to the pits and go to work Monday morning. This technology is the real deal.”

Airbag-equipped apparel now is used in more than 30 countries worldwide and has been standard equipment for law enforcement departments including the Tokyo Police. SaferMoto.com airbag-equipped jackets and vests for all ages are available online and at select west coast retailers including Big Valley Honda in Reno and Honda Suzuki of Salt Lake.

SaferMoto.com will hold demonstrations of its inflatable vests and jackets in action at the Virginia City Grand Prix exhibitor area at C and Union Streets. The event is free and open to the public. Details are available at www.vcgp.com. More information on SaferMoto is available at www.SaferMoto.com or by contacting 877-250-6686 or sales@SaferMoto.com.

Gourmet Rooster's savory and fruit spreads include Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic, Carmelized Onions and Chardonnay, Country Fair Peach, Whiskey Apple and Ginger Pear, as well as barbecue sauces: Whiskey Apple, Smoky Chipotle, Carolina Style and Smokehouse Bacon.

January 31 – Super Bowl appetizers

• Cheesy beer dip with pretzels
• Irish nachos with chipotle cheese sauce

February 2 – Super Bowl dinner and dessert

• Barbecued short rib sliders
• Bacon and blue cheese coleslaw
• Loaded brownies

February 7 – Family Valentine’s celebration dinner

• Heart-shaped individual meat loafs
• Cupid’s mashed potatoes
• X’s and O’s veggies

February 9 – Family Valentine’s dessert

• Individual lemon and raspberry layer cakes

February 14 – Mardi Gras appetizers

• Fried pickles with homemade ranch dip
• Muffuletta slider

 February 16 – Mardi Gras dinner and dessert

• Chicken and shrimp étouffée 
• Bananas Foster with vanilla ice cream

For more information regarding Gourmet Rooster’s barbecue sauces, fruit spreads and savory spreads, visit the Gourmet Rooster website or call 877-735-1049.

The CenterPoint Community website redesign was part of its strategy to be a leading resource for small business growth.

Natalie and Alan Tiras created CenterPointCommunity.com in 2010 as an innovative extension of their core business, Incline Village, Nevada-based CenterPoint Corporate Services. Through their years of work in forming entities for hundreds of corporations and non-profits, they were struck by an additional unmet need: that of small business owners and entrepreneurs to connect – not only with one another, but with ideas and resources for collaboration and growth. 

That’s how CenterPointCommunity.com was born.  Launching in 2010, CenterPointCommunity.com underwent a 2011 website redesign through a collaborative effort including CenterPoint owners and staff, Susan Hill Public Relations~Marketing and Marian Samuelson with Ion Design.  The collaboration retained the CenterPoint brand blue and grey colors and iconic target design, added the “Where small businesses connect, learn, grow” swirl tagline and the subheading: “At CenterPoint Community, social networking means business.  Join a community specifically designed for your small business!” 

Through Natalie and Alan Tiras’ tireless networking efforts and focus on outstanding customer service, along with a website with enhanced appeal and functionality, CenterPoint Community exploded from 300 members to more than 10,000 in just the first six months of 2011.  The Community scored big wins with business group affiliations including the Independent Association of Businesses and Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA).   The site now offers members a bounty of visibility-boosting features including hosted profiles, blogging and discussion forums.  An array of business services, free business forms, seminars, events listings and advice topics make CenterPointCommunity.com a vibrant online destination where small businesses easily, effectively – and profitably –can connect, learn and grow.

“Social media has become a sea in which a small boat can get lost,” said Rob Hooper, NNDA executive director.  “With CenterPoint, we have a very well thought-out and functioning platform to create an in-state networking vehicle.  We are limited only by our own creativity in how we can use this site.  We plan to utilize this in every way possible.”

The Barrel Rack refurbishes old wine barrels to create wine storage that adds to any decor.

Chet Bassetti was a wine-loving inventor with an inspiration when he dreamed up the idea of creating a wine rack from a wine barrel. The retired engineer also was a perfectionist, working tirelessly on a design that would be beautiful as well as ideal for the barrel’s round shape. Chet Bassetti and his wife, Diane Bassetti, two years ago formed The Barrel Rack to create and market their racks manufactured from barrels for home builders, designers, remodelers and wine shops. Now, in perfect step with the times, Chet Bassetti not only has built a better rack but has been awarded a patent for his eco-friendly barrel rack that uses recycled, rather than new barrels.

See the coverage from KRNV- News 4 Reno and view the news releases regarding the Barrel Rack’s 2011 patent award and Barrel Rack company background.