ELKO – Clearly Nevada Gallery is hosting the work of Dave Patton, a lifelong artist.
“My dad was a photographer,” Patton said. “He mostly did food photography before World War II. He was hired to become the head of the photography department for Ampex Corporation, a big company that first invented videotape.”
“There were five kids in the family and from an early age he taught us photography. He would pay me a nickel a print in the darkroom.”
“Ultimately, that helped me get into the career that I was in, which was television.”
After serving in the military, Patton was looking desperately for a job. A “buddy” from the Marine Corps told him to come to the town where he was sheriff in California.
“I got a job at the local TV station, KCOY, in Santa Maria, California. They hired me because all of their news footage was done on film.”
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Patton developed still images. He was also good at illustration and architecture, so he started helping with graphics and building sets.
He then got a job at KRON TV in San Francisco. Later he became an art director at KPIX.
His career moved forward in computer graphics and Patton worked for Pittard Sulivan, a company that was a broadcast advertising and design agency. He had the opportunity to work in Eastern Europe, Turkey and Israel. He worked out of Munich for about seven years.
“I loved Israel because every extra minute I had, I would go to Jerusalem,” Patton said.
He shot a large amount of film each time he was there, occasionally having it taken or exposed by security officers.
In retirement, Patton moved to Elko where he helped a local photographer shoot rodeo. He eventually got involved with Shooting the West and Stuart Scofield, who was then overseeing the popular photography symposium. Patton took local classes in photography at Great Basin College.
All along Patton has been working on his own imagery. A few years back he did an exhibition at Northeastern Nevada Museum centered on the concept of Wabi Sabi, a Japanese philosophy of accepting the imperfection or transience of life. Patton’s imagery tied into Nevada’s history of rust, weathering and patterns of change.
“I like old stuff that’s been buried in the ground forever or used so much that it’s all cracked and worn. Or, really old people that are all wrinkled. There is a beauty to them.”
His exhibit focuses mostly on panoramic work. He uses a Linhof technorama camera that shoots three frames as one image. Patton also uses a Nikon 7000 for other imagery. There are desert scenes and a vertical of a very old, deceased tree trunk in Yosemite National Park.
He said the tree looked like that when he was a child and it is still there today.
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Elko murals:
Elko murals: The full collection and where to find them
Basque Bastion

Bryce Chisolm works with every color of the rainbow. This partial section of a mural painted on Living Stones Church at 172 Fifth St. portrays Nevada's Basque culture.
Blue Jay Blues

Justin Johnson created two permanent art installations in the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets. He painted this one on the back side of Cowboys bar.
Boxing Bunnies

Emily Montoya is a local artist who loves bright colors. Her interacting jackrabbits can be found on Roy's Market.
Community Project

Jennifer Charboneau led a community-oriented project in the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets. Passersby dabbed their thumbs in paint to form this mountain landscape.
Bing Crosby Mural

The Elko Mural Expo was my all time favorite event of the year. With so much color and activity it was a photographer's dream. All of the murals made great subjects, but I liked this one best because of the colors and its graphic look. Mallori Renee painted the lifelike image of Bing Crosby, honorary mayor of Elko, on a wall at Roy's Market.
Dagger and Rose

Phil Nichols created this "sketch" on Roy's Market.
Bright Blossoms

These fanciful flowers cheer Idaho Street drivers and pedestrians. Kela Downs created this "punchy palette."
Abstract Attraction

Simon Vibart, an Argentinian artist, composed a colorful, abstract panel on the Thunderbird Motel located at 345 Idaho St.
Elko Art Festival paints the town

A.R.T. Richmond painted this caterpillar two years ago in the alleyway between Idaho and railroad streets. This year he will paint a couple of butterflies a couple of blocks down in the alleyway behind the Warren Building (Ruby Mountain Chiropractic.)
Feather Fun

Feathers on a red background are a bright surprise on the north side of Roy's Market.
Cacaphony of Color

This was a spontaneous mural that appeared on the Idaho Street side of the Thunderbird Motel located at 345 Idaho St.
Basque Buddies

Muralist Sebas Velasco, from the Basque region in Spain, created this life-like painting on Vogue Services. The image portrays a number of Basque locals that Velasco met during his visit to Elko.
Fanciful Face

Bryce Chisolm is responsible for many colorful murals in Nevada. This one is on Roy's Market.
Giddiup!

"Handsome Hernan" painted this desert scene on Blach Distributing Co. at 131 W. Main St.
Desert Diva

Angie Terrell traveled from Reno to paint this mural on the side of Roy's Market.
Be Yourself

Leslie King and Danielle Murphy painted "phases of the moon" accompanied by sage advice. This mural is on the east side of the Thunderbird Motel at 345 Idaho St.
Fish Facade

Rachel Pittario is an Elko artist who paints life-like wildlife images. This one resides on Roy's Market.
Ganesh Charturthi

Thunderbird Motel employees painted this Hindu symbol on the side of the building during the Elko Mural Expo. The motel is located at 345 Idaho St.
Blue Buckaroo

Jake and Dale Slingland are the masters of this image located on the south side of Roy's Market.
Local Inspiration

Erik Burke painted a likeness of Catherine Wines, who is the chair of the Elko Arts and Culture Advisory Board. The board worked with Art Spot Reno to bring about the Elko Mural Expo.
Elko Roundup

This mural by Stefane Cellier is ensconced on one wall of Vogue Services.
Grouse Greeter

A giant grouse greets visitors in the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets.
Hope

Edgar Garcia summed it up in one word, "hope." Garcia painted the mural in the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets.
Indian Relay

Local artist Gina Holmberg depicted an Indian relay scene on Roy's Market.
PBS films ‘Outdoor Nevada’ in Elko

Elkoan Brent Johnson created this mural at Ruby Mountain Pawn. DeFranco's team highlighted the murals for the PBS episode.
Native Detail

Colene Paradise and her Owyhee students worked on this piece with Native pride. This mural is on the back of the former Diana's building in the alley between Idaho and railroad streets.
Geometric Gem

Art Spot Reno co-owner Eric Brooks began this mural on Jet Coin Laundry during the festival. The mural will be completed in November.
Orb and Tentacles

Jamie Darragh drew this whimsical picture of squid-like tentacles surrounding a "sun." The mural is located at 410 Idaho St.
Nevada

Artist Angie Terrell depicted our state boldly in black and white on Roy's market.
Bucking Bronc

Jennifer Charboneau describes herself as a "visual philosopher." Charboneau is also a live events painter in the Reno area.
Polynesian Pride

Bill Louis enjoys making art that represents his Polynesian heritage. This one is located on the north side of Roy's Market.
Mexican Doll

Vaka portrayed a Hispanic doll holding a bouquet of flowers on Blach Distributing Co. The building is located at 131 W. Main St..
Raining Color

Locals Asia and Colton May painted a rainy day scene on the side of Roy's Market.
Mexican Mysteries

Anthony Ortega relies on imagery connected to his Latin American heritage. He dreamed about this mural before coming to Elko. It is located on the corner lot between Idaho and Fifth streets.
Primary Prism

Artist Nathaniel Benjamin created an extensive mural on the Carlin Trend Building in the alley between Idaho and railroad streets. Benjamin's use of primary colors make the fantasy scene "pop."
Mighty Mural

Artist Erik Burke created the largest mural during the Elko Mural Expo. This painting takes up the entire south wall of the Stockmen's Casino.
Ogi Deli

Erik Burke created the first mural for the Elko Mural Expo over a year ago on the side of Ogi Deli at 460 Commercial St. It served as a pleasant reminder of what was soon to come.
Railroad Renegade

Joe C. Rock is known for his railroad-related murals. He completed this on the north wall of Roy's Market.
Moose on the Loose

The bull moose wades through an imaginary lake. Justin Johnson brought the creature to life on a brick wall in the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets.
Pretty Lady

This painted Polynesian woman wears a hibiscus in her hair. Bill Louis provided the imagination and elbow grease. Stroll down the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets to see this beauty.
Photo Montage

Dr. Chip Thomas applied large, black and white photographs to the side of the old Diana's building on the Fourth Street side.
Purple Turtle

Dale Slingland painted this tortoise on Roy's Market at 560 Idaho St.
The Law

Ernie Upton painted the "new sheriff in town." His vision of "the West' can be found on Blach Distributing Co. at 131 W. Main St.
Starry Night

Katy Ann Fox painted this night landscape on the south side of Roy's Market.
Railway Right of Way

Joe C. Rock is well known for his artistic depictions of railroad subjects. He painted this image on the Ormaza Building at 225 Silver St.
Rockin' Reptile

Mike Lucido, from Reno, painted this humorous T-Rex on the side of Blach Distributing Co. at 131 W. Main St.
Rodeo Roper

Spring Creek painter and art teacher Gina Holmberg left her mark on Roy's Market.
Simple Synchrony

Turquoise, ochre and white present a softened look. Jamie Darragh makes a full-time living using her artistic skills. This mural can be seen on the old Diana's building on the Idaho Street side.
The Western Frontier

Reno artist Matt McDowell painted a memory form a cartoon he saw about the West when he was younger. Look for this work of art on the Thunderbird Motel at 345 Idaho St.
Western Wildlife

In this mural an antelope and a magpie fill the canvas. Elkoan Rachel Pittario was selected to paint on Roy's Market.
Sunny Sunflowers

Painted by Spring Creek artist, Simone Marie Turner, these flowers are an ode to both Vincent Van Gogh and the late Sarah Sweetwater. Sweetwater was an artist, art teacher and local inspiration for many creative endeavors. You can find this mural on the south wall of Roy's Market.
Sunset

Kristen Nichols painted this interpretive sunset on Roy's Market.
Words of Wisdom

Teacher Heather Wines and her pupils from Sage Elementary came up with this selection of one-word inspirations. Take a walk down the alley between Idaho and Railroad streets to view this rainbow rendition.