Reliable X is an extension of Reliable Street, a collective space in Ames that works to strengthen the connection between the Ames community and place-making. They work to involve the public in the creation of the project.

The open house for Reliable X, hosted on Thursday night, had a high turnout with many community members. Lockwood Café served lemonade and promoted Reliable Street, while attendees could look at the art displayed and talk to the artists of Reliable X.  

Lyndsay Nissen, the co-owner of Reliable Street with her husband, focuses on engaging the community in all art mediums. An Iowa State University alumna, Nissen graduated with her master’s degree in integrated visual arts.

“All I wanted was to have artists here working and have events that engage the community,” Nissen said. “It’s a place where people who don’t think they are creative can come and be creative and appreciate art.” 

Nissen put a call out to artists earlier this year and received over 20 applicants. She then chose five artists to work in the space: Reed Siems, Matt Hansen, Mya Hummel, Bob Anders and Bekka Rueter.

“They all expressed a real desire to work with other people in the community” Nissen said.

The artists, all coming from different backgrounds, work together to exchange ideas.

“Its electrifying how we all come from different places” said Hummel, a biological illustration graduate from Iowa State. “It’s like a mom and pop store, we bring people off the street and it’s a big family.” 

Reliable X is located on Main Street in downtown Ames. The space opened on May 1 and is already being supported by the community.

“Ames is usually known for its local music, but visual art tends to fall to the wayside,” said Siems, a fine arts and printmaking graduate from Iowa State.

Nissen works with Sharon Stewart, owner of the Lockwood Café at Reliable Street. Stewart seeks to provide an inclusive space that encourages connection and fosters creativity.   

The Main Street building is owned by Blackbird Investments, a real estate company located in Des Moines. The space is up for rent, but until someone rents it out, the vacant space is donated to Nissen and Reliable X to “fill the walls and bring people in.”  

The five artists and Nissen are planning big events to host in the future. Starting in June, they will offer workshops for different mediums. They plan to give presentations of their work, including demonstrations of different styles.

“We are committed to giving weekly public presentations about our work that is collaborative, including styles of artistic endeavors,” Anders said.

Currently the artists are out at the Main Street Farmers Market on Saturdays. They paint on windows, draw people (and sometimes dogs) and interact with the community. 

“A portrait is not a photograph,” Anders said. “It’s the artist’s interpretation of the person, it’s rendered differently.”  

Nissen’s primary project, Reliable Street, is located on the historic site of the Doboy feed mill and warehouse. The site houses many purposes, including music, food, a garden, yoga classes, a repair shop and even a thrift store.

“Anything creative that you want, Reliable Street has it,” Hansen said.

Keep an eye out for the workshops that will start in June, as well as the Reliable X artists at the Main Street Farmers Market on Saturdays. You can also find the artists of Reliable X on the Main Street Art Walk on June 1.

“We are here to paint the town,” Siems said.