Dome Painting

An Expression of Creativity

Tania Dangtran came upon the River School a couple months ago and was enticed by the abundant opportunities for creativity that this place offers. After checking out the Dome she had the perfect idea to transform it into a neolithic cave replete with paintings.

She, her husband, Chris, and four young people took on the task. What follows is a glimpse into her creative process.

First, can you tell a bit about yourself and where you’re from?

I was born in France and my mum is from the south of Spain. I moved with my family and my two teenagers to Reno 3 months ago from the Netherlands, for my husband to open a brand design consulting company. We actually lived in Reno for a couple of years 20 years ago then moved to New York City, and Venice, Italy. After moving around the world, we decided that Reno is a beautiful place to settle down with the people here so warm and friendly.

It is a good way to put roots down by leaving my mark on the Dome! The River School has been so welcoming to us and it really feels like home. Thanks for making it happen!

What inspired you to paint the dome?

As an Art Masterpiece Guide in Europe, we studied a project once with children on the Cave of Lascaux that has impressive drawings of animals from Magdalenian artists in Prehistoric time.

I actually built a "cave of Lascaux 2" out of butcher paper that we first painted hoping to recreate that magical atmosphere and to have kids understand what it was like for the boys who discovered the painted cave some 60 years ago.

After crawling into a "tunnel" to get inside, we crushed pigments and mixed them with oil and used twigs and straws as brushes , by replicating the techniques of the 1st cave artists .

The Dome at the River School has so much character that I instantly longed to transform it into "Lascaux 3"! It’s shape and layout just fit so well with the environment that it seemed so natural to have it embellished with primitive art.

Museums need not to be only for elites, arts need to go down to the streets and be brought outside museums, so anybody can develop an appreciation for what they observe and exercise their power of visual discrimination.

The River School

7777 White Fir Street

Reno, NV 89523

775.747.3910

Fax: 775.747.1227

contact@riverschool.info

A Home for Creativity

The Dome (with red door) is made of foam with an earth plaster coating on the outside.

What is your background in art?

I have no formal professional training. I attended some drawing classes at les Beaux-Arts in Bretagne, sculpting classes in Dallas, acrylic and oil painting classes in The Hague. I was trained to be an Art Guide with art historians from the Art Universities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

I taught children for 3 years at the International School of the Hague following the Art Masterpiece Program. I just love the stimulation you get with art when going to the numerous museums in Venice and Amsterdam and from the endless opportunities to get inspired by strolling around the beautiful cities in Italy where art is everywhere you turn your head!

What did you hope to accomplish with the young people who helped you?

It can be difficult to go visit art masterpieces so we need to think of ways to bring the art to them and available to everybody!

Childhood is the best time to open the mind to creativity and to experience the emotion of creating or enjoying works of art.

The best way for the kids to understand what they can learn is to have them do hands-on activities, and have tons of fun. That's what art is about!

It was a real team exercise for this group of 4 children deciding how to approach the project of transforming the Dome and to brainstorm for solutions to the different challenges and to experiment with mixing colors. They are so proud of the results and are amazed of the transformation of the Dome!

Later on we have plans to invite groups to the 'cave' to learn about what motivated prehistoric people to paint in dark caves and about the technique they invented to achieve their art.

The discovery of Lascaux cave in itself and it’s destiny is fascinating!

Tania & Chris putting finishing touches on the animals