Fine guns and fine art go hand-in-hand with the sporting lifestyle that many SCI members enjoy.
During the Safari Club International convention to be held in Reno Feb. 5 – 8, 2020, the Nevada Museum of Art will have two priceless exhibitions for hunters to experience while in town.
The Art of the Gun: Modern Sporting Firearms from The Robert M. Lee Collection will be featured. Bob Lee was a member of SCI and a passionate collector and outdoorsman until his passing in January 2016.
During his lifetime he became one of the world’s greatest collectors of some of the finest firearms ever created. Of the 120 guns on loan to the exhibition, some have never before been seen by the public. They have been hand selected by Anne Brockinton Lee, Bob’s wife, and represent arguably the finest of the finest, in the world.
Accompanying this one-of-a-kind show are artworks by John Banovich, in an exhibition titled King of Beasts. Banovich is well known in SCI circles, and a contemporary oil painter known internationally for his large, dramatic portrayals of iconic wildlife.
Today, Banovich’s work is admired and collected by prominent politicians, entertainers, business leaders and art collectors. His work can be found in private collections, corporate offices and museums throughout the world. King of Beasts is a unique collection honoring one of Banovich’s favorite animals, the African Lion.
The Nevada Museum of Art, designed by architect Will Bruder, opened in 2003 in the heart of Reno’s Liberty District. The four level, 70,000-square-foot museum is the only art museum in Nevada accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and is easily found at 160 West Liberty street, near downtown. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. On the ground floor, French inspired restaurant Chez Louie is a local favorite for lunch.–Phil DeLone
