INCLINE VILLAGE, Nevada – Raley’s supermarket chain completed its remodeling Thursday after unveiling the final pieces of an installation by world-renowned photographer Keoki Flagg.
A man stood on a chair and took the cloth from the photograph “Nine Dog Sunrise”.
The crowd gathered for the unveiling responded with “Ohhhh” and clapping.
“I’m guessing many of you have seen this picture before,” Flagg said. “I don’t know if it’s good or bad. But I have no doubt that long after I’m gone, I’ll be remembered by this picture. And I love it because I think it represents unconditional love.”
Flagg gathered the patrol dogs at the top of Alpine Meadows Ski Resort in California. He filmed a movie while the dogs watched him. Then he went to the back and suddenly there was silence.
“And I turned around as I was loading the film into the camera, and all the dogs and all the people (trainers) were staring at the lake and giving thanks for the magical day,” Flagg said.
“And when I look at that and think, ‘Oh my God,’ even these dogs become beautiful. This one dog turns around and says, ‘take the picture,'” Flagg said.
The group burst into laughter.
“That was my first magical moment,” Flagg said. “I could never repeat it. It just happened on its own.”
Flagg said most of the paintings that define his art are those where “I went beyond my own path and they came about on their own.”
In addition to “Nine Dog Sunrise,” Raley’s will feature six other films by Flagg, including “East Shore Discovery,” which was also unveiled on Thursday.
Flagg called it “one of the most challenging projects I have ever undertaken.”
“East Shore Discovery” is a 40 gigabyte pentimental stitching sequence of 49 individual images, 40 of which were taken over 8 minutes in the summer of 2015 and 9 of which were taken over 2 minutes in the spring of 2024.
The installation shows the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe.
“From year to year, from season to season, this land changes dramatically,” says the text alongside. “Today, the crystal clear water flows freely over the edge. What was once a beach is now underwater, with rocky outcrops lying 4.2 metres deep. The change is constant.”
It adorns the walls of the new common room, which can be rented by the 1.8 million members of the “Raley’s Something Extra” loyalty program.
Flagg takes about 500,000 pictures a year and publishes one or two of them.
“Those are the rare moments when it worked,” Flagg said. “And I would like to think that the overall message of all the artwork in this room is a testament to this incredible world that we are privileged to call home.”
“There are no two days that feel the same,” Flagg continued. “I just think we’re really blessed to have this as a stage. Because of my world travels, I always compare it to all the other places. And I choose this as my home.”
“I’ve wanted to make a statement in Incline Village for nearly 25 years,” Flagg said. “And this has far exceeded my wildest dreams, so thank you.”
Flagg then asked people to look around.
The installation of Flagg’s work was the brainchild of Julie Teel. She and her husband Michael own Raley’s and live in Incline Village.
“As you know, community is very important to Michael and me because that’s how we were both raised by our families,” said Julie Teel. “It was incredibly important to his mother that every community was represented and that we gave back to every community we served and beyond.”
Her passion for art was passed on to her from her mother-in-law.
When the store was remodeled to add a community room, wine bar, coffee bar, salad bar and juice bar, it needed something that would make it a home for the community, Julie Teel explained.
“You need something that’s part of where you are, what’s important to you,” Julie Teel said. “With all the artwork, there was no question it had to be Keoki.”
“Flagg is so grounded and committed to the area,” Julie Teel said. “And his passion obviously comes through in his art. There is no art without passion, and he clearly shows that and his love for it. And the way he expresses that is really phenomenal.”
“We couldn’t be happier with this facility,” said Julie Teel. “We feel like today is a very special day as this store truly becomes a home for each of our customers.”
Michael Teel thanked Julie, the Raley team and Flagg’s team.
“It doesn’t happen unless a lot of people come together and make it happen,” Michael Teel said. “So it started first with my wife, who is passionate not only about the company and the community, but also about our family. And making sure the family legacy lives on in this company. That’s how she expresses it, by bringing a part of the community into the store.”
For more information about Flagg, visit https://www.gallerykeoki.com.
