Creatives Talk Podcast

This week, we are joined by Debbie McCarthy, also known as About Town Deb. Take a listen as we discuss community, family, and the future.

“Debbie McCarthy, widely known as About Town Deb, is a spirited community advocate, passionate volunteer, and the engaging host of City Talk. Renowned for her dynamic presence both online and in the heart of Reno, Debbie embodies the spirit of connection and positive change. Her journey, enriched by diverse experiences in media, philanthropy, and community engagement, highlights her resilience and dedication to making a difference.

Starting her career in the church as a parish life director, Debbie transitioned to full-time caregiving for her father, igniting her path toward media and community service. As a photographer, radio host, magazine co-founder, and now hosting City Talk, she amplifies local businesses, charitable causes, and the stories of extraordinary individuals in Northern Nevada.

Debbie’s deep commitment to volunteerism and nonprofit advocacy shines through her work with organizations like the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation and Volunteers of America. Her longstanding involvement showcases her impact and dedication to her community.

Debbie told us that she is honored and touched to have been invited to join my two good friends, Tina Mokuau and Dana Nöllsch, on their newest venture, the “Creatives Talk Podcast.” Over 12 years ago, when I first met Tina, she was the first to do my makeup for a photo shoot, marking the beginning of a journey filled with growth, creativity, and mutual support. I’m very proud of both Tina and Dana for their incredible artistry and contributions to our community. Joining them on this podcast is a testament to our shared journey and Reno's vibrant creative spirit.”

We had a wonderful conversation with Eileen Fuller about local arts clubs and organizations. Eileen's art is always inspirational, and I am sure you will find inspiration in our conversation.

Eileen Fuller is continuing her 7th year as club show chair with the Latimer Art Club. She is pleased to have many volunteers, new and old for this committee. She has served two 2-year terms as club president, and enjoys promoting the club in outside speaking engagements, and did so with the 100th anniversary of the club at Nevada Museum of Art, Artown, PBS Art Effects and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in 2021. The club had four excellent exhibits celebrating the milestone year.

Starting her second career as a professional artist in 2003, Eileen first worked in the banking industry while raising two wonderful children. Now she is a proud grandmother to 3 boys and one great grandson and just this month a new great granddaughter.

Her first and foremost paintings are in watercolor, but she also is a pastelist, graphic artist, and sometimes paints in acrylics and mixed media. Eileen’s subject matter varies from landscapes to florals and botanicals, people and portraits, in a mostly realistic interpretation. She has taught private and group lessons. Eileen believes that everybody is an “artist” but some just have that ability buried under years of disuse and little confidence. She enjoys helping people of all ages to uncover their skills!

Eileen Fuller is also serving a 4th continuous year as president of the Artist Co-operative Gallery of Reno, where she became a member in 2010. The gallery is located at 627 Mill Street in Reno, operating successfully since 1966. It is open daily from 11-4, and she has a wall of art there. The Artists Co-op has just completed an exciting project that Eileen would like to share with the art community, called “Emerging Artists”, where 5 of our co-op members were mentors for several months with selected new artists. This process was mutually rewarding for both the members and the new artists, who were showcased for the month of January at the gallery.

Today, we celebrate International Women's Day with Marilyn Newton.

For more than half a century, Marilyn Newton was a photojournalist for the Reno Gazette Journal. Covering the news, she made friends along the way, and Newton's stories reflect a life lived with a passion that few can even imagine. We sat down with Marilyn Newton as she reflected on her life and shared her enthusiasm for the photos of Nevada she now creates and displays at the Artists Co-op.

We sat down with Nettie Oliverio to talk about her involvement with the Reno Arts Community and some of the current art projects she is involved in. This was a fascinating conversation that you will want to listen to.

Here is Nettie's bio.

"Nettie Oliverio has been working to balance right and left brains all her life. She moved to Reno in 1975 fresh out of the University of Kansas with a degree in chemistry and two previous summers of touring Italy with Alabama State Ballet.

Fascinated by computer technology, she acquired another degree in IT and began teaching at the local university and community college while developing a computer curriculum for the local Montessori schools. Parents of students sought her help with computers in their professions and her IT consulting business was born in 1994.

To continue to balance her brain, Nettie has volunteered for a variety of Arts & Culture organizations over the last 40 years, assisting in successfully raising the funds to build a new home for Reno’s 85-year-old Reno Little Theater, serving on the City of Reno’s Arts & Culture Commission for 10 years, chairing the City’s Public Art and Arts & Culture Grants Committees, co-chairing the regional Reno Arts Consortium and serving on the board of the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts, Reno’s Broadway house.

Those experiences over the decades of change and growth for Reno allowed Nettie a birds-eye view of how culture builds community, and in 2013 the Reno City Council appointed her to the Reno Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board to help guide the rebuilding of downtown Reno after a devastating economic downturn.

Recognizing the historic strength of the integration of arts and culture with commerce, in 2017 the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) awarded Nettie their Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the growth of arts and culture in Nevada.

In early 2019 Nettie joined Doug Wiele and Rick Casazza in the creation of the Reno Public Market in the position of Arts and Culture Director for the project, which led to an offer to join Foothill Partners Urban Development as a Development Partner.

She continues the collaboration of culture and commerce with Foothill Partners in the creation of the Oddie District, home to the Generator maker space, and has her eye set on a few fun projects to come."