ArtFest 2025

TMCCreates ⟐ TMCCrearte

ArtFest Student Art

The TMCC Liberal Arts Division is hosting its third annual ArtFest on April 14–17, 2025—a collaboration among faculty, staff, and students to celebrate the Arts, learn about course offerings and career options and have fun as a TMCC community. This year, we are proud to focus our celebration on Hispanic/Latinx artists and will welcome four distinguished guest speakers with generous funding from the Nevada Arts Council.  

Along with these special guest speakers, ArtFest will feature various activities, art exhibits, a poetry open mic, dance performances, a career panel, and much more. Come celebrate and create with us!

See Schedule of Events

ArtFest and Sustainability

On Thursday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to Noon, TMCC will be celebrating Earth Day. This day will feature events and activities specially designed to honor and celebrate our earth with a focus on equity and ecological stewardship of the environment, economy, and cultures. 

Frequently Asked Questions

We created ArtFest so that the TMCC community can, together, celebrate student and faculty talent and work, learn more about Liberal Arts course offerings, programs, and career pathways, and collaborate across disciplines in a holistic, inclusive educational experience. We want to build a sustainable community around the beauty, diversity, and rewards of art in all of its various forms. 

All students, faculty, staff, and community members should join us for ArtFest! Anyone who is interested in or curious about these events is welcome to attend.

No, events are free unless there is something for sale, like the student-created ceramics pieces.

The daily activities are listed on our schedule of events as well as the college calendar. In both places, you will find a description of each event along with its time and location. 

No, everyone is welcome! Bring your mom, cousin, boyfriend/girlfriend, or whoever you want! 

TMCC student Jocelyn Bautista is the creative mind behind the main ArtFest images featured on the webpage, posters, and stickers. Proud of her Hispanic heritage, Jocelyn’s family roots trace back to Central Mexico, though she was born and raised in Reno.

"I was born to be an artist. Growing up, I was always painting and drawing, with my family encouraging me to follow this path. After high school, I knew my college degree had to blend traditional art with the latest in digital graphics and animation technology. My long-term goal is to build my own business and develop my own brand."

For ArtFest, Jocelyn drew inspiration from her family, childhood trips to Mexico, and the rich traditions, style, and music of Latin American culture. Her design reflects the vibrancy of her heritage through bold colors, floral patterns, and musical elements, celebrating the enduring spirit of Hispanic traditions in modern American culture.

Yes! We will have fun stickers, commemorative posters, and other items to help remember ArtFest. 

That is our plan! We want to make this an annual TMCC event and look forward to hearing your thoughts about what you enjoyed this year and what you hope to see in the future!

ArtFest Student 1 Image
ArtFest Student 2 Image
ArtFest Student 3 Image

ArtFest Schedule of Events

Monday, April 14, 2025

Time Location Event
10:30–11 a.m. Student Center

ArtFest Kickoff Event: Celebrate the start of ArtFest Week with our opening ceremony! Get a preview of the exciting lineup, including guest speakers, performances, and more. Don't miss this chance to kick off a week of creativity and inspiration!
11–11:45 a.m. Plaza (outside of the Red Mountain Building) TMCC Dance Performance: After the ArtFest Kickoff, join us in the plaza for a unique, site-specific dance performance! Experience dance in unexpected spaces as performers guide the audience through campus with captivating movement and storytelling.
Noon–1:15 p.m. SIER 108 Guest Speaker, Jovani Lugo: A performance artist, director, writer, and DiaspoRican deviant, Jovani Lugo (they/elle/she/ella) creates ethereal work that both haunts and heals, exploring queer Latinidad and gender. Her storytelling is rooted in embodied experiences, antiracism, decolonization, and pleasure activism.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Time Location Event
9:15–10:45 a.m. SIER 108 Journaling About the Self: The ArtFest Journaling About the Self workshop is an introspective journey. In this creative space, attendees will learn techniques for self-reflection and mindfulness. Join us for a fun, transformative experience in the art of journaling.
10:45 a.m.–2 p.m. SIER 108 Poetry Open Mic: Celebrate creativity at the ArtFest Poetry Open Mic, where poets of all experience levels can share their work in a welcoming, supportive space. Enjoy an afternoon of diverse voices, original pieces, and inspiring performances. Sessions will be held from 11–12:15 p.m. and 12:30–1:45 p.m., so come listen, perform, and embrace the power of poetic expression!
2–3:15 p.m. SIER 108 Guest Speaker, Conseulo Flores: An LA-based artist and writer, Consuelo G. Flores holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Antioch University and is a renowned expert on Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). Her altars and ofrendas have been featured on Good Morning America, ABC News, AP News, Medium, and the Los Angeles Times. She has created site-specific altars for prestigious venues like Craft Contemporary Museum, Irvine Fine Arts Center, and Self-Help Graphics. Consuelo has also curated exhibits, led Día de los Muertos tours for LA Metro, and was interviewed for the upcoming book Day of the Dead in the USA by Regina Marchi (Rutgers University).

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Time Location Event
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. SIER 108

Liberal Arts Career Panel: Join us for an engaging discussion with professionals from various Liberal Arts fields as they share their career journeys and insights. Panelists include Amy Heald (Reno Chamber Orchestra), Jovani Lugo (Freelance Artist), Melissa Taylor (Executive Director, Reno Little Theatre), Joelle Fraser (Author), and Yvette Cantu Schneider (Author). Don’t miss the chance to participate in a Q&A session and connect with industry experts!
12:30–1:45 p.m. SIER 108 Guest Speaker, Ruby Barrientos: A first-generation Salvadoran American artist from Reno, NV, Ruby is a self-taught visual artist known for their distinctive Nuwave Mayan style, which blends Salvadoran Mayan heritage with socially relevant themes. Through exhibits, talks, performances, and public art, Ruby fosters meaningful discussions on creating more inclusive futures.
5–7 p.m. Student Center Art Show Awards and Reception: The annual TMCC Gallery Art Show Awards and Reception celebrates the creative talent of students, faculty, and local artists. This event features a formal reception with awards recognizing outstanding achievements in visual arts across various categories. Attendees can explore a diverse collection of artwork, including paintings, sculptures, and photography, while connecting with the artists and fostering a sense of artistic collaboration within the community.

Thursday, April 17, 2025 (also TMCC’s Earth Day Celebration)

Time Location Event
10 a.m.–2 p.m. Student Center The Honeycomb Project: Celebrate the connection between art and belonging with artist and exhibit organizer Candace Garlock. Join a hands-on workshop where nature meets creativity—create unique prints using leaves, flowers, and animal shapes. These artworks will be collaged onto hexagonal forms as part of the Honeycomb Project. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the beauty of nature through art!
11 a.m.–1 p.m. Student Center Screen Printing Event: Join Visual Arts Professor Ron Marston for a hands-on screen printing experience in the student center! Students can print unique designs onto tote bags, shirts, and more. Supplies are limited, so don’t miss out!
Noon–12:30 p.m. Vista Outdoor Amphitheater TMCC Theatre Performance: TMCC Theatre students present a special children’s play based on Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson, with illustrations by Meilo So. This performance was created as part of the Children’s Theatre Course and brings the book’s inspiring story to life on stage!
12:30–1:45 p.m. VSTA 205 Guest Speaker, Leire Urbeltz:  A doctoral candidate at the Center for Basque Studies at UNR, Leire Urbeltz explores community engagement through contemporary Basque-American mural art. She holds a master’s degree in research and creation in art and a fine arts degree from the University of the Basque Country.
7:30–9:30 p.m. Performance Lab (RDMT 240)

TMCC Theatre Presents Ismene by Sam Crabtree (Opening Night): Focusing on the aftermath of Oedipus’ inescapable fate and Antigone’s attempt to set her family right, Ismene: A New Greek Classic follows its titular character, the last member of the family, as she attempts to move on from the various tragedies that have defined her past. However, her attempts at normalcy (an office job and a mediocre apartment) are constantly interrupted by the chorus of family ghosts ruining her life in small, inconsiderate ways. And she keeps getting a phone call from an unknown number that definitely isn’t Antigone. When the ghosts get frustrated and steal her phone, she must go on a quest to retrieve it that will put her through such horrors as seeking closure with her mother, and finally telling her dad what a jerk he is.