RENO, NEV.- The Nevada Museum of Art Center for Art + Environment recently welcomed photographer Deon Reynolds Harnessing the Wind portfolio to its permanent archive collection. Comprising of various materials such as photographic portfolios, maps and grand opening ephemera, Harnessing the Wind catalogs Reynolds documentation of the installation of three wind turbine facilities located in Nevada, California and Texas.
Reynolds is a commercial and fine art photographer based in the remote community of Eureka, Nevada, where he moved in 2005. He has been recognized by the Annenberg Space for Photography, International Photography Awards, Blur Magazine and Lenscratch, Reynolds is also a B&W Spider Awards Fellow.
Its a great honor to be a part of the Archive Collection at the CA+E, says Reynolds. Not only was I thrilled to be in the collection, but to make this environmental statement. I want to open viewers eyes to the importance of renewable energy, how beautiful it can be and make a positive difference in how people respond to new sources of energy generation.
Pattern Energy hired Reynolds in 2011 to document the construction of their Spring Valley Wind facility, situated on 7,680 acres of BLM-administered land thirty miles east of Ely, Nevada. Spring Valley Wind consists of 66 2.3-megawatt Siemens wind turbine generators. Following the success of that project, Pattern Energy invited Reynolds to photograph the operation of their Ocotillo Wind facility located on 12,500 acres of BLM land, northwest of Ocotillo, California. This site consists of 112 2.3-megawatt Siemens turbines. The third site Reynolds photographed, Panhandle Wind, is divided into two separate facilities: Panhandle 1 and Panhandle 2. The final photographic portfolios consist of a selection of images from the three sites.
Deon Reynolds photographs reveal the intricate engineering behind wind turbines while capturing the character of the places in which they stand, says Center for Art + Environment Director William Fox. Its a delicate and rare balance for a photographer, and a unique addition to the Archive Collections at the Center for Art + Environment.