This September, as the doors open to the Reno Tahoe International Art Show (RTIA), visitors will be greeted not just by art, but by movement, color, and a deep sense of place.
This is thanks to “Chasing the Truckee,” an incredible installation by Nevada-based encaustic artist Lonnie Zarem, whose bold, expressionist style will open the fair with a tribute to the region’s river.
Found Inspiration
For Zarem, the Truckee isn’t just a subject, it’s a feeling.
“I want to experience the special moments that arrive from being aware, when it’s most beautiful, most simple, most profound,” she says. “I’m always looking to capture nature’s announcements of change, of transition. I want to make those beautiful memories seeable and shareable.”
Zarem’s large-scale encaustic monotypes (ten of them, to be exact) form a vivid procession of color, inspired by the 120-mile Truckee River from the outflow of Lake Tahoe to the southern edge of Pyramid Lake. With titles like “Phantom Fisherman of the Truckee and Talking Stones of Pyramid Lake,” the pieces are rich with mood and mythology, mimicking the layered history that runs alongside the riverbanks.
“The Truckee holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Washoe and Paiute people,” Zarem says. “I wanted this work to speak to that timeless reverence.”
The Process
Zarem’s work involves applying pigmented beeswax to a heated plate, laying rice paper on top of the molten surface, and then pulling a single, one-time print. “It’s a dance,” she explains. “You can guide it to a point, but then the material takes over… and that’s the magic.”
This bold and intuitive process has guided Zarem’s work, known for her “expressive, abstract landscapes and use of innovative wax and drawing techniques,” for over 15 years. She has built a practice around “emotional and raw, natural beauty.”
“I’m always trying to see things wild, unbundled from the demands of daily life,” she says. “Art is my way of holding on to those fleeting moments that move me.”
Showing Off
It’s this emotional storytelling that made Zarem a natural fit for this year’s RTIA Show. “While diverse and international in scope, the RTIA Show is first and foremost a celebration of Reno Tahoe — its people, its natural beauty, and its unique, artful personality,” says Briana Dolan, RTIA’s co-founder and COO. “Lonnie’s dedication to creating this expansive ode to the Truckee River beautifully returns us to the foundation of the event and its mission.”
Dolan sees Zarem’s placement at the entrance of the fair as more than just a logistical decision. “It’s a regional greeting,” she says, “delivered through museum-quality presentation and thoughtful inclusion. It sets the tone for everything that follows.”
Zarem will also be sharing her process with attendees firsthand. She’s leading a special encaustic workshop on Friday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m., giving attendees a rare chance to explore the medium’s tactile possibilities.
“Encaustic is such a fascinating, historic, and deeply physical practice,” Dolan adds. “We’re incredibly lucky to have artists like Lonnie bringing that energy and innovation to the show.”
“Chasing the Truckee” invites visitors to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the natural and emotional connection that shapes us. “This river has always told stories,” says Zarem. “I’m just adding a few more to the flow.”
Reach Out:
Lonniezarem.com
@lonniezarem