Featured Properties

Categories

Archives


 
Add to Technorati Favorites   Real Estate Blogs - Blog Top Sites
Directory of Real Estate Blogs   Real Estate blogs
Real Estate blogs   Top Blogs
TopOfBlogs   Real Estate Blogs - Blog Catalog Blog Directory

Success Session Graduate

Arts District

A Major Change To First Friday In The Downtown Las Vegas Arts District

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Organizers of Las Vegas’ only ongoing monthly arts festival takes
necessary steps to preserve its future during tough economic times

(May 29, 2009) Whirlygig Inc., the nonprofit group that organizes the monthly arts festival now in its seventh year in the Las Vegas Arts District in Downtown Las Vegas, announced today that it will scale back First Friday’s offerings during the summer months in order to ensure the art festival’s future.

While neighborhood art galleries and artist studios, antique and clothing stores, and restaurants and bars will remain open from 6 to 10 p.m. on June 5, July 3 and August 7, welcoming the thousands of locals whose patronage of Downtown businesses is perhaps more important now than ever before, the outdoor portion of the event on Casino Center and Colorado Street with its artists booths, live music and street performances will be placed on a temporary hiatus due to lack of funding for the event. There will be visual and performing aritsts on the sidewalks and at surrounding venues.

Whirlygig Inc. relies heavily on generosity of sponsors and its annual fundraiser to provide the funding necessary to put on the event each month, especially the outdoor portion which costs upwards of $10,000 per month for such necessities as fencing, barricading and the presence of Metro officers to secure the safety of First Friday’s patrons. In recent months, sponsorship of the arts festival has gone down 40 percent, and the annual fundraiser (held in October 2008) raised 20 percent less than previous years’ events.

“It has always been the board’s goal to host First Friday every month, whether it’s an art walk and street festival or only an art walk,” says Whirlygig President Cindy Funkhouser. “It’s a challenging time for non-profits everywhere and we have chosen to be creative, to make a change that allows us to keep First Friday alive and to keep the Arts District the place to be on the First Friday of each month.”
Festival-goers will still find parking at the Clark County Government Center, where they can hop aboard a First Friday trolley and tour the Arts District or hop aboard the El Cortez trolley and visit the Farmer’s Market and neighborhood watering holes in the nearby Fremont East District.
For more information, please call 384-0092 or visit First Friday online at www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org, where you’ll find a complete listing of exhibition openings and special events.

ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY:
Since it began in October of 2002, FIRST FRIDAY has only continued to grow. It is now considered the premier arts event in Las Vegas. From the shops and galleries on Charleston (the Arts Factory, S2 and more) to the new galleries on Main Street (Atomic Todd and others) to the spaces on Commerce Street (Commerce Street Studios), down to the whimsical offerings of The Funk House antique store, and the art galleries and vintage shops in the cottages on Colorado Street. While many people love to walk the neighborhood particularly now with our new beautiful streetscape on Casino Center, we provide arts tour trolleys that make rounds throughout the area and make pick ups every 15 to 20 minutes throughout the evening. And no matter how you decide to get around, you can always expect a diverse crowd, cool local art and plenty of surprises.

Here’s a good idea! Become a “Friend of First Friday” or make a donation so that this scaling back DOESN’T BECOME PERMANENT!

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Mid Century Modern Inspires The Arts District

Atomic Passage

IMG_1794I attended the unveiling of some some of the street art that’s been incorporated into the design elements of the new Casino Center Streetscape in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District.

The 4 artists, Aaron Sheppard, Erin Stellmon, Danielle Kelly, Adam Morey all mentioned in their comments the timeless Mid Century Modern Heritage of Las Vegas, and it’s influence on their designs for the Streetscape.

 

 

 

IMG_1800

 

Atomic Passage is the first public art project in the history of the city of Las Vegas where artists’ concepts have been integrated into the engineering infrastructure of a Public Works Streetscape enhancement. Please join us for the dedication of this unique and original work of art that embraces and references the city of Las Vegas signage and nuclear history.

 

 

 

 

ACE Transit Shelters

Bonneville(shelter)Another major improvement to the downtown will be the ACE Transit System. Maps and details are here, but this month you can see the artists concepts in the Stop and Glo exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center which is located in the Arts Factory at Main and Charleston. All the shelters and the wind screens will me Mid Century Modern in their basic design.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, in conjunction with the City of Las Vegas and Clark County, worked with local artists to add artistic enhancements to the new ACE transit shelters at seven locations in the City of Las Vegas, and one in Clark County (a total of eight locations) for the Las Vegas Resort Corridor Downtown Connector project.

IMG_1807Each stop consists of two shelters, one on each side of the street, so that together they serve buses traveling in both directions. Eight artists created work: Catherine Borg, Evan Dent, Stephen Hendee, Danielle Kelly, Sean Russell, Eric Pawloski, Brian Porray, and Todd Von Bastiaans. Their imagery evokes ideas about Las Vegas history and iconography and is being implemented into the wind screens of each transit shelter and will be lit.

ACEscheme

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

“OFF The Strip” Video And Performance Art Series

Here’s the agenda for the next chapter in the “Off The Strip” Series that’s being produced by the Contemporary Arts Center

 Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 

  Onyx Theater*($5 with 50% support for CAC): 

8 PM - 10:00 PM
Video Screenings:
“Devour” (1:28 min), “Gutted” (2:18 min) and “Passage” by Cindy Rehm;
“Continuous Sneezing (artificially induced)” (5:24 min), ‘happily ever after” (3:49 min) and “Inadequate Reality Adaptation” (4:51 min) by Lynn Lu;
“Axis Mundi” (6:42) by Shana Robbins;


RIP in Pieces America” (62 min) by Dominic Gagnon.

*Onyx Theater is located at: 953 E. Sahara | Las Vegas, NV 89104 | phone: 702-732-7225

map: http://www.onyxtheatre.com/contact.htm

 

CAC Gallery (free):  

12 PM - 5 PM (Wednesday, April 8th - Friday, April 10th)

Video Installations: 
“For your viewing pleasure (GGW)” by Wendy Kveck;

Devour” (1:28 min), “Gutted” (2:18 min) and “Passage” by Cindy Rehm;
“Continuous Sneezing (artificially induced)” (5:24 min), ‘happily ever after” (3:49 min) and “Inadequate Reality Adaptation” (4:51 min) by Lynn Lu;

 

Off the Strip: Performance and Video Event

April 2nd 2009 - April 17th 2009 


HERE’S THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE AND RUNDOWN OF EVENTS AND ARTISTS

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 1 Comment »

Contemporary Art Center Juried Show

The Contemporary Arts Center’s Juried show is on display thru March 27. at the Art’s Factory on Charleston between Main Street and Casino Center.

Here’s their Spring Newsletter, and SincityArtGroup’s video just in case you don’t get a chance to visit the gallery in person.


Las Vegas CAC 20th Annual Juried Show from sincityartgroup on Vimeo.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

“Johnny Art” TONIGHT Only At Beauxarts Gallery

Johnny Art00018 year old gifted child artist, Johnny Swager is doing a demonstration and book signing TONIGHT ONLY during the First Friday Extravaganza.

He’ll be at the Beauxarts Gallery/Theatre in the upper level of the Arts Factory.

I found his work quite fun. I think you will also.

 

 

 

 

At his publisher’s website, I found the following blurb about his book, which is called “Johnny Art – the Art of Johnny Swager”

IMG_0661 cropped

Johnny Art is about the life and art-making of seven year old Johnny Swager. Johnny is an extremely gifted boy who is not intimidated by any subject. His work exhibits a confidence rarely seen in children and a freshness that only a child can bring to the canvas. Collectors, art teachers, and critics are captivated with Johnny’s ability to render subjects with such maturity and painterly skills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Olympic Garden 20th Anniversary Party And Lots Of Music, Art and Entertainment This Week

I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned strip clubs before, but Olympic Gardens, now known simply as OG on Las Vegas Blvd at Oakey is having an open bar and on Thursday night from 5–7 pm to celebrate their anniversary.

OG says they’re having His Honor, Mayor Oscar Goodman, as well as Actor James Caan and Comedian Vinnie Favorito as special guests.

I’ve never been to a stip club, but free drinks are free drinks.

Then, of course we’ll be headed to the First Thursday Preview from 6 to 9 at most of the venues that will ALL be open on First Friday.

Of Special note on Thursday will be the 7pm announcement of the winners of the Juried Show which is on display at the Contemporary Arts Center in the Arts Factory.

Saturday night is the PEDALPHILES bicycle bar crawl thru downtown. I heard a rumor that one of the stops this Saturday will be at the new “Don’t Tell Mama” piano bar at 517 Fremont. I was there last Saturday and had a hoot. Meet up at the back of the Arts Factory at 6:45pm. Bring your bike and spending money. LOTS OF FUN!

(I’ll plug in the links later, but I wanted to get some reminders up on the blog before I ran out to show some homes).

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Art and Music Are Two Of The Binding Forces Of Downtown Las Vegas

I frequently mention First Friday as part of the ever growing art scene in Downtown Las Vegas, but there’s a whole lot more than that. There’s a huge MUSIC and ART scene growing up right under our loft hi-rises.

I wanted to bring some future events, current showings music and the way we’re all being connected to your attention. I’d just love to plug everthing that’s going on, but that’s impossible. I do know that an urban lifestyle full of art and music and sense of community is just as important as big trees, big lots, and homes with charm and character and great design. They’re all reasons people are chosing to move back “downtown”. All of it is what’s happening in “Vintage” Vegas.

Of course there’s also Historic Preservation, Mid Century Modern Architecture, Hip Neighborhoods, Cocktail Parties, and lots of other forces that are in play, but we cover those pretty regularly, so today we’ll just deal with the art and music scene, and getting VeryVintageVegas onto the first page if you google for Downtown Las Vegas. 

Neon Reverb – The Downtown Las Vegas Music Festival

Neon reverbNeon Reverb the twice a year music festival. Coming to a  bunch of Downtown Las Vegas Bars and Nightclubs March 12–15, 2009 The rundown is on the NeonReverb Website. There’s a Facebook group for Neon Reverb as there is for much of the Downtown Las Vegas Scene. 

 

 

RELEASE at the Aruba

ReleaseThere’s also the whole world of techno/house DJ late night insanity. I’m a little old for this, but I hear there’s a  BI-Weekly party at the Aruba. The next  one is Saturday December 10th. More details at the Release Website

Paco and Derek swear they’re dragging me to it. 

 

Music Every Night

There’s live music almost every night of the week in Downtown Las Vegas. Some of it’s at the hotels, some at the bars, some at the Fremont East Entertainment District. Take a stroll almost any night on Fremont Street. Don’t forget Karaoke at Dino’s on Thursdays and Fridays at 10, and live bands on Fridays from 10 to midnite followed by Karaoke. There’s 2 or 3 bands every weekend night right there on the stages of Fremont Street Experience.

About.com has links to live music venues through out the valley, but you’d be surprised how much of it is centered on the strip and in downtown. The suburbanites need to do the driving.

Las Vegas Weekly and Las Vegas CityLife, are also the place to find out about all things music, as well as some of the best blogging about Las Vegas in general.

Light My Fire - Hedwig And the Angry Inch - An Evening With Billie Holiday

Hedwig2003 current productions from Colabo which is dedicated to “Unity of the Races Through the Arts” They perform at the Family Music Center way out west at 8125 W. Sahara. I guess I’ll just have to break the 3 mile rule since I missed the preview of Hedwig which was performed at First Friday last week.

 

 

Contemporary Art of Las Vegas

Contemporary Art of Nevada is a new facebook group that’s hoping to bring together the entire Downtown Las Vegas Art Scene.

Jacie Urquindi-Maynard started the group just a few days ago, and it’s growing quickly. I had once intended for VVV to act in that capacity, but it’s way too much for me to keep track of. A Facebook group like this is the perfect solution. The description of the group is:

Contemporary Art of Las Vegas has been created for all the artists of Las Vegas and surrounding areas to participate in uniting the local art community and facilitate in the dissemination of updates, events, thoughts and the passion of art…

Everyone, including those who support LV artists are welcomed to share in this on-line gallery experience. Please post your latest work, videos and photographic images for all to enjoy. Keep us informed of all events, exhibitions and happenings. As we grow, the featured profile photo will be chosen from the participating artists. So send in your work. Please limit your uploads to 20 pics per album.

Together we can make a difference. Here’s to “Art”!

 

SinCityArtGroup

SinCityArtGroup posted it’s monthly First Friday Video Compilation.


First Friday Las Vegas January 2009 Video from sincityartgroup on Vimeo.

SCAG has made several other videos, but I especially wanted to draw your attention to this one about the current show “Pressing the Limits” which shows until January 23 at the Contemporary Arts Center in the Arts Factory. It’s the hub of the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District and is located at Main And Charleston.


CAC Pressing the Limits from sincityartgroup on Vimeo.

Southern Nevada Center For The Arts – In Neonopolis

SNCOTAThe Southern Nevada Center for the Arts is having its Grand Opening January 23 - 25, 2009. This is a great time to come down and check out the facility if you haven’t already. There will be live music, art demonstrations, and 30 galleries and artist studios will be open. Upcoming class and workshop schedules will be available. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Saturday. Events run Friday and Saturday 10am - 8pm, Sunday 12pm - 5pm. 450 Fremont Street, Second Level of the Neonopolis. For more information visit http://www.artcenteronline.com/

Lots of our favorite artists, such as Leslie Roland, Frenchy, and Architect Stephen Jackson have made it their new home.

AND next door at the Neonopolis is the Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art. They’re also holding an opening night party for it’s new show on January 24th from 5:30 to 8:00 PM.

Naomi Arin Contemporary Art (formerly DUST GALLERY)

One of my personal favorite galleries in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts District is Naomi Arin Contemporary Art on the ground level of the Soho Lofts. Naomi is presenting a seminar on “Art Collecting for Investment” on January 21 and cordially invites you to register and attend. I’ll know I’ll be there.

Naomi Arin Contemporary Art (NACA) cordially invites you to attend a complimentary seminar on Art Collecting for Investment, Wednesday, January 21, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the gallery (900 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Suite 120-B).
NACA owner and art adviser Naomi Arin, recently interviewed about the art market for National Public Radio’s “Marketplace” program, will provide an overview of the art market and how both experienced and novice collectors can incorporate it into their investment strategies.
Arin introduced a program of contemporary fine art with global significance to downtown Las Vegas when Dust Gallery opened on Main Street in 2003. Previously, she served as a private-practice attorney, as well as Director of Corporate and Foundation Giving at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Arin’s understanding of the art market helps her clients make sound investment decisions.
“My objective is to help corporations and individuals understand how to meet their investment – and aesthetic – goals,” says Arin. “It’s exciting for me to watch clients’ desire to diversify their financial portfolios develop into a real passion for collecting art.
 ”There’s never been a better time than now to include contemporary fine art as part of your investment strategy.”
For more information about the free seminar and to register to attend, call 702.324.5868 or send an email to Naomi@NaomiArinContemporaryArt.com.


 


 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 2 Comments »

Downtown Las Vegas Art And Networking Events

The 2nd Annual Downtown Las Vegas Neighborhoods get-together is from 6–8 (no host) at PT’s Pub on Sahara at 6th Street. Everyone’s invited, whether you live downtown or merely want to. We’d love to see you. It’s a great opportunity to meet a lot of really interesting people.

Brett Wesley Gallery in the Newport Lofts

Free Fall by Andrew Douglas - Showing at the Brett Wesley Gallery - Las VegasThursday evening there will be an artist opening reception at the new Brett Wesley Gallery. It’s located in a penthouse suite at Newport Lofts. 200 E. Hoover Ave. 6:30 to 9 pm.

I haven’t been there yet, so…..

I’ll probably try to get everyone to go over there after the Downtown Neighbors get-together. at PT’s Pub on Sahara at 6th

There’s four artists showing there, including Andrew Douglas, Nathan Fischer, Matthew Hansel, and Heather Protz. Some of the Artists will be in attendance to discuss their work. Based on the photos from the website, it looks like a great exhibit, and I’m anxious to see it.

Santos Shelton – “Behind the Curtain” Opens Friday at Henri and Odette
Santos Shelton showing at Henri and Odette in Downtown Las VegasIn this exhibition, California native Santos Shelton takes the world behind the curtain of society’s “puppet show” to display the inner workings of government and explore human nature. With graffiti and comic book influences, Shelton brilliantly and colorfully mixes media to break the façade shielding society from reality, exposing the raw social issues that plague our government, world, and selves. His work offers a cultural and worldly perspective with symbols from his mixed Mexican and African American background, while still maintaining a Lowbrow aesthetic. His work reminds the viewer that what is out of sight should not be out of mind.
Henri & Odette Friday December 12, 2008 6–9 PM 124 S. 6th Street at Carson. Suite 130.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Klever - The Russian Non-Conformist Epoch

The most important thing that I saw at First Friday last week is still showing thru the end of the month in the upstairs gallery of the Arts Factory.

Klever is a Russian Artist who painted the story of the Soviet attempt to destroy the arts in all of it’s forms. I think they paintings need to be seen in person, but they’re also on line at his website.

The paintings were all created in secret as he risked certain death if he was discovered. He managed to smuggle all of them out of Russia in 1986 and has been showing them around the world ever since.

Please at least look at the website, but head down to the Arts Factory and see them in person!

IMG_8532I took the liberty of re-typing below the description of one of the paintings that I found to be the most moving.

 

 

 

Klever - The Russian Non-Conformist Epoch (photo by Jack LeVine)This is the artist, hanging on a cross which sybolizes the death of creativity, free will and art in general. The artist is still clutching onto the most powerful tool he will ever have – His paintbrush– In hopes that one day he’ll be able to use it again. Across his chest is a bull’s-ey. All non-conformists were rime targets for the KGB. This painting is a prime indicator of th fear all artists lived with. Only two years after this piece was painted, artists from Snkt Petersburg and Moscow participated in what is now called the “Bulldozer Exhhibit”, where all of the artist’s dispays were buldozed down into rubble. The destruction took place at Ismaelsky park in Moscow in 1975 and during peaceful dispay of work the KGB rolled across the park in bulldozers, destroying all of the work and hurting hundreds.  

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Samuel Beckett Festival Is In Full Swing Thru November 15

IMG_8053We attended last night’s performance of “Waiting For Godot”. It’s one of several plays being put on during the month-long Samuel Beckett Festival.

“Theatre of the Absurd” is just as strange as it was when I was in college. I read the play then, but had never seen it performed. I certainly understood the multitude of points better as an adult than I did as a 19 year old. This morning I spent a few minutes reading the Wiki on it, which helped me figure out some of what I was puzzled about. Even writing a few sentences about it has left me thankful that I don’t make a living as an art or theatre critic.

 

 

IMG_8052All of the 6 plays are rotating thru the festival, and there’s still plenty of time to see them all.  If all of the productions this year are as cleverly staged and well acted as what we saw last night, then the whole festival will be a huge success.

If you’re looking for something truly different in the downtown Las Vegas Arts District, then attend one or more of their performances. The whole schedule can be found at the festival’s website

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

First Friday Annual Gala Fundraiser Tickets Available Now

FF FUNDRAISER POST CARD FRONT0001The growing arts community is a vital piece of the puzzle in our efforts to save the historic neighborhoods and classic homes of Las Vegas. We’re very fortunate that geographically,  our downtown Arts District, as well as the neighborhoods we’re promoting are all in the center urban core of Las Vegas. The next wave of residents are all about urban living. Art, music, convenience, diversity, and culture are all important to us.  The architecture and design of the homes is as important as what they do outside of the house.

That’s why it’s important that we support First Friday, and the whole Arts District scene in general. First Friday however is a non-profit venture. It’s also a costly event every month. Once a year there’s a big cocktail party gala fundraiser. Last years was a blast, and this one promises to be even better.

Tickets are available online and at the various stores and galleries in the arts district.

Even if you can’t attend, you can still make a donation on line here. Please consider it.

  

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Love Will Bring Us Apart Again -

Soho openingI didn’t really know what to expect when I got an email of the postcard announcement on Thursday. I put it out on the blog, since my brain was still a little fuzzy and sitting down to type wasn’t working out so well.

We were really pleased with what we found when we got to Soho Lofts last night. We found out that this isn’t a permanant new gallery space, (though the space is for lease in whole or subdivided) but instead it’s a traveling exhibit that’s recently been in London, LA, and Berlin.

IMG_7980The curator is Adrian Palengat, who’s gallery in London is aptly called AP-ART. There’s about 25 artists being shown, and I got to meet several of them last night.

I’m no art critic by any means, but all of my friends, and the large crowd during the evening were all pretty impressed. Much of it needs to be examined close up, and I’m highly recommending you stop in between now and the end of the month.  

If you’d like to play art critic, you’re welcome to post your comments after you’ve seen the show.

 

 

IMG_7968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a few more pictures that I took below the fold, though photos never ever do justice.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Catching Up and Getting Back To Blogging.

Let’s start with my First Friday Pictures.

IMG_7901

Viva Hollywood was a huge hit. Things were sorted and displayed a whole lot better than when I first went to visit last week.

About 50 of  our readers came out to say hello during the very impromptu meet and greet.

12 of them were people who I didn’t know, and had never met or communicated with. There’s several thousand of you spread around and I want you to know that I appreciate each and every one of you.

IMG_7909

IMG_7912

I ended up taking lots of pictures of furniture, but none of people.

IMG_7913

IMG_7932

But I did hand off the camera to get a shot of me and 2 of the “angels”, Pam and MaryJoy.

Viva Hollywood was a huge hit. Things were sorted and displayed a whole lot better than when I first went to visit last week.

Tags: , ,

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

Breaking News - Exclusively On VeryVintageVegas

IMG_7803All that great furniture, lighting and accessories from the 30’s to the 60’s that you’ve seen in thousands of movies, tv shows, commercials and music videos has to come from somewhere.

In LA there are businesses called “prop houses”. The set designers go to huge warehouses to select their props for whatever project they’re working on.

But what happens when much of the filming that made Hollywood famous starts to happen in places like Canada? 

The set designers get their stuff in the new locations, and the owner of one of the biggest of the prop houses makes the decision to close the doors in LA and sell off the amazing collection right here in our Downtown Las Vegas Arts District.

 

 

 

IMG_7805The entire collection is being moved to Las Vegas, and will be sold in a retail setting.   The store will be called Viva Hollywood at 1126 S. Main Street.

I was invited to take a sneak peak today and was allowed to be the first to tell the story. I was simply blown away! I only got to see what’s being set out for Friday, and a very small part of the storage, and I’m told that what’s been moved here so far is only  about a third of the entire collection.

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_7808They’re not promising it will be completely set up and dressed for it’s debut this First Friday, but they’re opening anyway. They’re busy dusting and polishing and arranging all week, so don’t bother them yet. But don’t miss the fun when the doors open at 6pm on Friday.

I’m sure I won’t get to see much else of First Friday this month, as I won’t be able to drag Mary Joy or Pam or Meg or Erin or Rachel, or any of the rest of you out of there.

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_7819

 

I just took some random photos of some of the furnishings that caught my eye, but everywhere I turned there was amazing and fabulous stuff.

 

IMG_7806

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_7816

 

 

The best part is that they’re just in the next block and across the street from Retro Vegas. Both stores will just have to be on your First Friday to-do list.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently 12 Comments »

First Friday Adventures - A Huge Crowd Descends On Downtown Las Vegas Arts District

First Friday in the downtown Las Vegas Arts DistrictThe First Friday crowd was enormous this month, as the heat had finally broken. Evening temperatures were only in the low 90’s, which we consider perfect Las Vegas weather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_7457A steady stream of traffic, and rave reviews from the visitors at “Retro Vegas” on Main Street. The inventory of authentic retro furnishings and accessories for your vintage pad changes almost every day. It’s one of those places that people keep coming back to on a regular basis.

IMG_7459

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Painting Physical Presence at the Contemporary Arts Collective“Painting Physical Presence” is showing all month at the Contemporary Arts Collective.

 

Ayako Ono, a Japanese exchange student at UNLV paints only in blues. Her series on the trains and train stations deals with the loneliness in public places. Ms. Ono uses a multitude of blue hues, and only blue hues , to create the physical presence of loneliness and a feeling of isolation that leads to reconsidering one’s identity.

Eric Gecas, on the other hand uses no blue at all. His paintings are built out of a sculptural concern for physical presence. Mr. Gecas uses his wife and children as models. All of the figures in his paintings are life size or a little larger.

The Biscuit Street Preacher at Trifecta Gallery Robbie, who’s better known as the Biscuit Street Preacher is showing at Marty Walsh’s Trifecta Gallery in the Arts Factory.

Marty has impressed and enthralled me for years with her knack for finding great artists to showcase every single month. This month is no exception.

Check out the whole series at the Trifecta website, or even better, pay the gallery a visit! 

Leslie Roland turns furniture into art at her gallery in the Arts Factory in Downtown Las VegasOne of our favorite downtown resident artists, Leslie Rowland has a few new pieces of her decorated furniture on display this month. Her Gallery is also in the Arts Factory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Paco Alvarez at First Friday I was hanging with Brian Paco Alvarez, when we ran into a few of the grafitti artists that helped to create the “Beneath the Neon – The exhibition” that ran this summer at CAC.

They reminded us that we had promised to help them find “safe” walls to do their art. Paco and I are going to help get a space for them to do a live grafitti demonstration for next month’s First Friday. We’re going to have a meeting tonight to get it into motion.

 

 

Jack LeVine of Keller Williams Realty at First Friday in the Downtown Las Vegas Arts DistrictAnd the most interesting piece of art was a massive lump of clay that anyone could lend a hand at transforming. I spoke to the artists, and subsequently lost the brochure he gave me, so I don’t know his name.

That’s me and MaryJoy. Our little contribution was just our initials, but it was certainly something different.

 

 

First Friday should be on your list of must do things in Las Vegas. If you’ve never been to it….go put it on your calandar now.

Posted by Jack LeVine | Currently No Comments »

« Previous Entries