Tucked between the laundromat and the San Miguel grocery store in Incline Village, Nev., Ryan (aka RYNo) Bahlman’s shiny Triumph motorcycle is parked out in front of a sign with a giant bee and the words “Hive Collective.” RYNo, a longtime Incline Village resident and well-known artist, opened the space in February 2020 just weeks before COVID-19 caused a global lockdown.
“I was stretching canvas and making prints, constantly moving my couches and tables over to create enough space. I was doing everything out of my two-bedroom condo and it became a real struggle.”
–Ryan (aka RYNo) Bahlman
However, the timing worked out in RYNo’s favor as it allowed him to have more time to work on his art outside of his home and provide a space for other local artists.
“I was sitting on the couch in my condo doing a painting and thought, ‘This is not enough room.’ I was stretching canvas and making prints, constantly moving my couches and tables over to create enough space. I was doing everything out of my two-bedroom condo and it became a real struggle,” he says.
After RYNo moved into the 1,500-square-foot space, he turned it into a co-op by inviting local artists a place in which to hang out and pursue their creative interests. He posted a call to artists on the Facebook Incline Village group page and immediately received 20 messages from people wanting to join.
“It blew up,” RYNo says. Then two weeks later Covid hit and everything became in flux.
“The whole project changed due to Covid; interest waned,” he says.
Fortunately, as word got out about the Hive Collective, he heard of a couple of friends also looking to expand.
“Chris Rozzo makes stickers and Zach [Reed] does screen printing for Soul Rider Productions and they were working out of a 10-foot-by-10-foot space that was way too small for them,” RYNo says.
“We could barely turn around in there, so when RYNo reached out to us and said it he had room for us less than half a mile from where we were it felt like it was a calling. I put my press on a skateboard right there and rolled it down the street,” says Reed. “We all brought something to the table: RYNo with his painting, Chris with his stickers and my screen printing. [The Hive Collective] being strongly connected to the snowboard and skateboard scene definitely helps us grow. We have a good crew.”
It’s common for their friends, an eclectic group of local artists who range from bass players to DJs to a sketch artist, to come in and out of the space at all hours of the day and night.
“Tiffany’s been great, but I think she’s a vampire,” RYNo says with a laugh.
Now a year after its opening, RYNo believes that the Hive Collective will turn into more of a production studio and he looks forward to going to work.
RYNo specializes in creating vivid and colorful images that he prints on clothing, accessories and canvas. He also recently launched a new line of work called Furry Friends; he takes photos of people’s pets and turns them into paintings.
Occasionally, the Hive Collective will host special events and FUN-raisers like the recent Yoga Bees, Beats & Brews event with a community yoga class, a DJ and a keg of Alibi Ale Works beer.
As far as his goals for the Hive Collective, Ryno says that it’s going exactly as he wants it to but he’s always open to finding a couple more people who fit into the vibe of the space.
“I’m very interested in building a space for local artists, anyone who is going to SNC [Sierra Nevada University] and working out of a closet somewhere, come find me,” he says.
He envisions a “hive of artist bees” and promotes the Hive Collective as a place where people can come and “bee creative.” | @hive_collective_incline
