Nada Dada Motel

(Credit: David B. Parker)

Now in its third year, the unique and evolving Nada Dada Motel is just getting bigger. The central conceit is this: Rent a room, show your art — in whatever medium it might be. And things often take a turn for the sublime and the absurd because, well, they can. (Find a list of artists below.)

This is grassroots organization, with artists keeping control over their art and vision. More than 100 artists (many from out of town and all along the West Coast) will come together to show paintings, photos, dance, eco-science, design, music, sculpture, light and interactive experience in spaces throughout the home base of the El Cortez Hotel, but also at the nearby Town House Motor Lodge (across the street) and Palladio Residential Tower (couple blocks southeast).

Here are some of the more specific special events:

Local artist Jill Marlene presents a psychedelic cabaret performance called “Becoming the Intrinsic Beloved.” The show features psychedelic lighting and atmosphere, dance, Acro yoga, belly-dancers and live music from top local musicians including Tom Gordon and Charlene Adzima and local singer-songwriters.

“It’s a beautiful journey through innocence, experience, alienation and illumination,” Marlene said. “There’s so much going on.”
Show times are 7-9 p.m. June 18-19. Tickets are $15 and available at the Melting Pot Emporium at 322-9445 or at the door. Tickets for the June 19 performance are going quickly, Marlene said.

Trocadero Lounge

Once host to stars such as Frank Sinatra and Marilyn, the Trocadero Lounge inside the El Cortez Hotel will host a variety of other activities, as well.

June 18: 5 p.m.: Classical happy hour

• 7-9 p.m. “Becoming the Intrinsic Beloved’

June 19:

• 5 p.m. Marlene hosts Torch Song Karaoke. Attendees are asked to dress in ‘40s-style garb and sing velvety love songs. Free.
• 7 p.m.: “Becoming the Intrinsic Beloved.”
• 10 p.m.: Live music by Army of Urchins and Hop Scotch Whiskey). Free.

June 20

• Noon: Brown-bag recital-performance with Dixie Dahl, a singer with Velvet Voices Underground. An open-mic follows. Free.
• 5 p.m.: Come witness “The Wedding of Jill and Diana,” a marriage of live and visual art. Free.
• 6 p.m. Chris Nelson entertains during happy hour.
• 8:30 p.m.: Open floor burlesque. Come dance in your skivvies (no total nudity allowed). $10 cover.
• 10 p.m.: DJ David Bobzien spins dance music.
  

Plus, there are random displays of belly dancing, acro-yoga and, well, other stuff. Anything goes, and anything is good.

The show will hopefully get the artists exposure and maybe even help some of them sell a piece or two, but there's also the philanthropic "Masks of Cancer" exhibit, with proceeds from room 306 benefiting the Reno Cancer Foundation.

Here are other rooms that artists have currently booked at the El Cortez as of June 5:

• 201:  Dianna Sion (photo/illustration/mixed) and Becca Johnston
  
• 202:  Trelaine Lewis 
• 203:  Dave Cherry (digital) and Jeff Carver
  
• 206:  skjames (photo/illustration) and Peter Walker
  
• 208:  Margie Enlow 
• 209:  Rex Norman “Killbuck”
  
• 211:  Christopher Robin Blum (photo) and Mark Hammon
  
• 212:  Ann Tracy (photo/theater)
• 215:  Craig Smyres 
• 217:  Jennifer Garza-Cuen (photo)
• 218:  Andrea Juillerat (photo/body painting)
• 220:  Adrian Kershaw
• 221:  Patty Melton (painting)
• 302:  Ann O’Lear
• 303:  Elaine Parks
• 304:  Mike Mollet
• 306:  Masks of Cancer
  
• 308:  Cindy Gunn (illustration/mixed)
• 310:  Stephanie Hogen (photo) and Elaine Jason (neon!)
• 311:  Erik Holland (cartoons/illustration ) — the official NadaDada Motel “Mayor De’Esprawlius”
  
• 314:  Christopher Umana (painting)
• 316:  Dean Burton (photo)
• 321:  Kai Prescher (sculpture) and Ned Peterson
• 322:  Neal Taylor
• 403:  saverio cine (digital) and John Molezzo
  
• 404:  Oliver X
• 406:  Carter King
• 407:  Marian Studer and Rossitza Todorova
  
• 408:  Jamie Kingham/Rachel Milon
• 411:  Ivy Antonowitsch (photo)
• 414:  Joe Rees
• 418:  Joy Wong (photo) and Jack Peck
• Trocadero Lounge:  Jill Marlene (Snyder), Entertainment Director
• Wandering Video Blogger:  Chad Sorg

Across the street in the Town House Motor Lodge:

• Sculpture garden: Jeff Johnson and Jeff Carver
• Outdoor tent: John Werner (incarcerated but represented by wife Theresa) and Woody Barletanni
• 130: Sue Lee and Dan Sorensen
• 203: Michael Enns
• 119: Mike Brisbin
• 138: Dominique Palladion
• 202: Rebecca Kerlin / Nicole Bommarito
• 205: Liv Moe
• 128: Paula Povilaitis
• 204: Michael Quinn
• ???: Mike Crain