Artrail - Gerlach Trailhead
Washoe County in partnership with Burning Man and multiple community partners has been working to develop a public participatory experience through the Washoe ArTrail that celebrates cultural, historic, and artistic landmarks.
The Gerlach Trailhead site is being developed in partnership with the Gerlach General Improvement District (GGID) at a site owned by the GGID. Washoe County through the Sierra Arts Foundation, conducted a Call for Artists to gather proposals for the Gerlach Trailhead public art.
A committee of Gerlach residents has chosen THREE FINALISTS for the art installation to be constructed on Gerlach General Improvement District property at the entrance to Gerlach just past the railroad tracks and before the Shell service station. At this “Meet the Artists” meeting, each of the finalists will present their proposed artwork with a question-and-answer period.
Gerlach Community Voting will take place October 9th – 16th. A technical review of the artist’s proposals will be conducted by the GGID and Washoe County between October 22-27th. The artwork that best fulfills the vision for the Gerlach Trailhead Gateway Project will be selected through this process, with the notice of finalist announced on or about October 28th. Design finalization and fabrication should be completed by February 2027, with installation is expected in 2027, dependent on the site construction project.
Meet the Artists” Gerlach Community Meeting,
3:30 – 5:30 pm, Thursday, October 8, 2026
(before the GECAB meeting)
An abridged representation of each finalist is below, with a link to the artists’ full proposal.
Lahontan by Marianela Fuentes
Project description: Lahontan by Marianela Fuentes is a proposed sculptural gateway at the Gerlach Trailhead. Named for the prehistoric lake that once covered the Black Rock Desert, it would mark a meeting point between the trail, the community, and the landscape. Fuentes envisions it as a place of welcome and reflection, honoring the region’s history and the people and wildlife connected to it.
Physical description: Two asymmetrical forms of weathering steel would lean toward one another, framing the sky and creating an opening for visitors to pass through. The proposed gateway would measure approximately 18 feet high and 18 feet wide, with each form about 4 feet 7 inches deep. Perforated patterns depicting constellations, animal tracks, spirals of water and wind, and ancestral motifs would cast shadows by day. At night, lighting from the ground would illuminate the patterns and make the sculpture visible from a distance.
Full proposal: Lahontan by Marianela Fuentes
Dust Storm: Broken Track Vane by Stanislav and Irina Shminke
Project description: Dust Storm: Broken Track Vane by Reno-based artists Stanislav Shminke and Irina Shminke is a proposed landmark for the Gerlach Trailhead. Inspired by Gerlach’s railroad history and the winds of the Black Rock Desert, the sculpture begins as a recognizable section of railroad track that rises and transforms into an abstract dust storm. The artists intend the work to show how the landscape’s natural forces can reshape familiar forms.
Physical description: Fabricated steel rails and heavy timber ties would form the base. Above them, layered panels of weathering steel would separate and spiral into a faceted vortex. The proposed sculpture would stand approximately 18 to 22 feet high, with an upper width of about 14 to 16 feet. Mounted on an industrial bearing, its upper form would turn slowly with the wind, changing its appearance as visitors move around it. The artists also propose the option of restrained, shielded lighting at the base. Final dimensions, movement controls, and lighting would be determined during engineering and design.
Full proposal: Dust Storm: Broken Track Vane by Stanislav and Irina Shminke
Gerlach Sky Point by Jonny Rigby
Project description: Gerlach SkyPoint by Gerlach-based artist Jonny Rigby is a proposed gathering place and landmark at the Gerlach Trailhead. Designed to draw attention to the Black Rock Desert’s horizon, changing sunlight, and night sky, it would give residents and visitors a place to pause, observe, and gather. The arrangement of its steel forms would frame views of the playa and mountains, while selected markings would help visitors connect their position with the seasons and sky.
Physical description: The proposal features 19 slender weathering-steel blades arranged in a semicircle around an accessible viewing area. The overall installation is estimated at approximately 40 feet wide, 24 feet deep, and 20 feet high. A brass line would run across the ground and continue up the central blade; additional brass markings may identify Gerlach’s coordinates and selected astronomical events. Sunlight would cast changing shadows between the blades. The artwork proposes no decorative upward lighting so visitors can experience the night sky. Dimensions, markings, and orientation remain subject to final survey and design.
Full proposal: Gerlach SkyPoint by Jonny Rigby
Gerlach Trailhead -Selected Site Design Option – Preliminary Drawing
