VEGASinsight Archives

Just one of the haunting works by Justin Crabtree and David Ward at Main Gallery

Amongst all the Election Day nonsense (oh, and topless shows, dance-punk concerts and Tiki bars), we almost forgot First Friday was coming up this week. I know, I know, “how could we?” Well, it’s not like the future of our country (and the free world?) is hanging in the balance today or anything, right?

With that in mind, assuming the world hasn’t shat itself by then, here’s a look forward to November’s worthy art openings in Las Vegas not only before and during First Friday, but maybe a little after, as well:

First up is the return of Brian and Jennifer Henry’s creation Lola in her newest show, “Lola vs. The Universe,” at Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd.). Opening with a preview reception on Thursday, Nov. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m., this new series catches up with the exploits of Lola, an “avid activist,” “steam train conductor” and Presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, at Main Gallery (1009 S. Main St.), Justin Crabtree and David Ward team up for “Method and Theory,” which opens Friday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. This installation juxtaposes the approaches, disciplines and styles of artist Crabtree and biologist Ward. You really need to see it to believe it.

Around the corner at MTZC (on the second floor of Commerce Street Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St.), we bid a sad farewell to the 4-year-old gallery with “20/20 Hindsight,” the final show featuring the art of owner Mark T. Zeilman. Do not miss the opening reception on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. for this closing show.

If you survive all that First Friday noise, then by the next week you’ll be ready for the opening of “Love and Water” by San Francisco-based Alexis Amann at Atomic Todd (1221 Main St.), showing Nov. 14 through Dec. 31. The exhibition, curated by Naomi Arin, features Amann’s acrylic gouache paintings, which explore the dual themes of love and water. The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14.

Other shows to keep on your calendar that we’ll revisit later: Tarissa Tiberti at The Fallout (1551 S. Commerce St.) from Nov. 21 to Jan. 3, 2009, and “Israeli Art NOW,” showing Nov. 26 through Jan. 4, 2009 at Naomi Arin Contemporary (formerly DUST, 900 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Suite 120-B).

Big Friendly Corporation plays at Beauty Bar Oct. 25.

This week’s just about halfway over, but there are some dope events we kinda figured you shouldn’t miss, so without further adieu, here’s what’s what in Las Vegas this week:

“Bottom For Queen,” a new exhibition by UNLV graduate Daniel Samaniego, debuts this Friday, Oct. 24 at Henri & Odette (124 S. Sixth St.). A reception for the artist will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., and the show will be ony display at the gallery through Dec. 6.

IndieKrush.com and Pulsar Presents brings another edition of Say What?! to Beauty Bar (517 Fremont St.) this Saturday, Oct. 25, joining forces with Los Angeles’ Bring the Ruckus to present “Blood Orgy.” Outside, live bands The Frail, Dream Sequence, Pic Vicious, Big Friendly Corporation and Neon Facade will rock the stage along with fire mistress Jenn-o-Cide and DJ Know Well, while inside, Bul!m!atron, Dskotek, Roccanova, Grimehaus, MDY and Remy the Restless will spin dirty electro, nu-rave and indie tunes all night long. Look for free candy, a photo booth, beer pong and much more. The madness gets underway at 9 p.m., and entry is free for the bar, and only $5 for the live music.

Just around the corner at Jillian’s (450 Fremont St.) that same night, the Second Annual Searchlight and Friends Halloween show kicks off at 6 p.m. This all-ages show features Lydia Vance, Almost Normal, Hang ‘Em High and Damnear Divine along with headliner Searchlight, all for $10. Plus, a $1 raffle will be held, with all proceeds going to the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Rock out for a good cause before you shake ya ass over at Beauty Bar!

We know it’s been a few weeks since October’s First Friday, but while there’s still a month left to check it out, we wanted to tell you about an exhibit worth seeing now on display at The Fallout Gallery (1551 S. Commerce St. in the Commerce Street Studios). Available for viewing through Nov. 14, the various works by Jeff Gillette adorning the walls of The Fallout are split between two approaches.

One wall is dedicated to dozens of Gillette’s framed works featuring images from various sources altered to sometimes-perverse ends, pieces that Gillette casts as nearly throwaway items (selling them for $10 per). The other three walls of the gallery, however, feature a series of paintings juxtaposing images of pleasure and excess – notably Las Vegas casinos and Disneyland – with visions of apocalyptic destruction and shantytowns.

Gillette said he uses photos of real slums from his own travels to India or found images on the internet for his paintings. In his eyes, these hastily-assembled shanties, composed of the discarded remains of signs, buildings, vehicles and other found items, could be coming to U.S. shores soon. Why?

“One word,” Gillette said. “Bailout. If it doesn’t work, then we’re screwed.”

If it seems like a bleak perspective, it helps to know a little more about the artist. In his artist statement, Gillette claims that he prefers the overwhelming “filth, degradation and poverty” of India to the “clean, orderly and happy” atmosphere he experienced when he was finally “dragged, kicking and screaming” to Disneyland at 38 years of age. But that disconcerting paradigm is something of which Gillette is fully aware.

“It is absurd. It is irreverent. It is horrifying,” he said of his art. “It is funny.”

Check out an exclusive gallery of photos from the sixth anniversary of First Friday by C. Moon Reed.

Works by Jill Magid, on display at Dust

Amidst all this fancy Las Vegas art news we almost forgot that there’s a new show opening at Dust Gallery tomorrow night. How could we? Well, that’s a whole other story, but regardless, you’ll want to be at Dust (900 Las Vegas Blvd. S., in SoHo Lofts) Saturday, Oct. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. for the opening reception of “Capital Jewelers.” Curated by Glen Helfand, the exhibit (running through Nov. 23) features the varied works of Luke Butler, Curtis Fairman, Jill Magid and Lacey Jane Roberts.

“Spectral Whispers” by Geoffrey Todd Smith, on display now at Main Gallery

For every pessimist (or recent transplant) out there who decries Las Vegas’ standing in the world of art, we have a little news for you: Get over it. Our still-young city has only one way to go in its quest for cultural credibility, and in the last week or two, a number of happenings have moved Vegas ahead quite a few steps.

By now, everyone’s been pummeled to near-death by the news that Art in America named Stephen Hendee’s Centennial Plaza sculpture “Monument to the Simulacrum” one of the Top 10 public art projects in the United States. So we’re not going to spend any more bandwidth on that.

However, the very same magazine, in its October 2008 issue, reviewed Erin Stellmon’s solo exhibition, “Shangri-La,” which held court in Main Gallery (1009 S. Main St.) last February. Main’s current exhibition is “Looking You Up to Look You Up & Down” by Geoffrey Todd Smith. This collection of rhythmic, patterned works on paper by the Chicago artist will be on display throughout October.

And our final note in today’s round-up of “see, we’ve got culture” news comes from the always-informative and sometimes-irreverent CityBlog, which reported Wednesday that the Las Vegas Art Museum will be receiving a donation of 50 works from the collection of Herbert and Dorothy Vogel, which includes such artists as Bettina Werner, F.L. Schroder and Larry Zox. You really need to read this story – it’s a pretty incredible tale of philanthropy and, of course, local art awesomeness.

Just one of many “Charming Patterns” on display at Trifecta Gallery.

Is it First Friday already? Well, it will be in two days. And furthermore, it’s October, which means it’s anniversary month for the monthly art walk and street fair — yes, it has been six years since Cindy Funkhouser and Julie Brewer (rest her soul) first brewed up Las Vegas’ longest-running cultural event. So get downtown on Friday and enjoy the nearly-cool autumn evening with a few thousand of your closest friends. Here’s our picks for must-dos the next few days:

Over at Trifecta Gallery, owner Marty Walsh unleashes her own visual works upon the walls of her Arts Factory space with the opening of “Charming Patterns” on Thursday, Oct. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Fallout Gallery also hosts a pre-First Friday opening on Oct. 2 with a reception for Jeff Gillette, whose new works grace the Commerce Street Studios mainstay this month.

Upstairs from the Fallout, MTZC proudly presents “To Hell With You and All Your Friends,” featuring the work of Cleveland, Ohio-based artist Derek Hess. The opening reception is Friday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. — yes, on First Friday.

And over at Henri & Odette, gallerist Jennifer Harrington offers up the sounds of acoustic guitarist Rustyn Vaughn Lee from 8 to 10 p.m. on Friday, which will surely be welcoming background music for enjoying the art of Amy Guidry.

Don’t forget, as well — the sixth annual First Friday Fundraiser is coming up Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. This year, it’s being held atop Newport Lofts downtown on the Skydeck. Enjoy cocktails, food, entertainment, schmoozing and a silent auction to benefit Whirlygig, Inc. — the non-profit arts organization behind First Friday. Tickets are only $60 in advance (or $75 at the door) — and the view of the city alone is worth the price, we think. See you downtown.

Laco$te will get you naked. For real.

Yes, I know we’ve been absent here for a bit. But there has been movement on the back end of this site that you may not have noticed. We’re working to expand our Neighborhoods section to include venue guides, photo galleries and more, as well as hiring new talent to bring you even more news, interviews and reviews. Oh, but onto the matter at hand: Here’s some cool stuff coming up in the next few weeks you may want to check out should you be kicking it in Las Vegas. And of course, you should be.

Obamania returns to Las Vegas as Sen. Barack Obama comes to Cashman Field (650 Las Vegas Blvd. N.) at 5 p.m. tomorrow, Sept. 17. If you want to get more insight into this Presidential candidate’s campaign, click here to RSVP for the event, which is free to the public.

Artexpo Las Vegas returns to the Mandalay Bay Resort from Sept. 19 to 21. This three-day art industry tradeshow features more than 30 seminars, networking events, pavilions for photographers and emerging artists, and much more. Visit vegas.artexpos.com for more information or registration.

IndieKrush.com busts out another mind-blowing hipster soiree with “F**K PARIS?!” at Beauty Bar (517 Fremont St.) on Saturday, Sept. 27. Inside the bar, DJs Mr_Peaches, Dmndays, Grimehaus, DJess and VaJayJay rock the dirty electro, nu-rave and indie, while outside on the patio, A.I., Laco$te, The Day After…, Alta Revere, Close to Modern and Kobra Ghodsi perform live. Seriously, the $5 cover for the live music will be worth it just to see Laco$te. Trust us. The nonsense starts at 9 p.m.

The work of glass sculptor Dale Chihuly has become a Las Vegas fixture thanks to his permanent installation in the Bellagio, Fiori di Como. But is it art, or is it mere decoration? That’s the topic of discussion this week over at ArtsÉtoile, sparked by reactions to Chihuly’s current show at San Francisco’s de Young museum. Join in the discussion at ArtsÉtoile. We don’t like to declare what is or is not art, only what is or isn’t pretty. And Fiori di Como sure is pretty.

As seen in the Las Vegas Sun and Las Vegas Weekly last week, Joan Lolmaugh has formed the nonprofit Metro Arts Council to reinforce a strong arts community here in Sin City. MAC is off to a good start, thanks to a $30,000 grant from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to develop a website, experiencelasvegas.com, the prototype of which will be unveiled on Oct. 6.

Wait — $30K to develop just the prototype of a Vegas arts website?! Um, perhaps Rossi Ralenkotter would like to take notice of a certain other Vegas-based website that has been promoting the arts since 2005? Starts with a “V” and rhymes with “Ray Gas Pin Fight?” We could do a lot with $30K … or even $10K … how about just a Bennie?

Nothing says “punk rock” like an artistic Photoshop filter.

We’re feeling a little bit electro, a little bit punk rock. If you are too, then you’ll love the hell out of the events dropping tonight, Friday, Aug. 8 in Las Vegas:

“Ink Fridays” at Ice House Lounge (650 S. Main St.) at 9 p.m. Dirk Vermin and Pussykat Tattoo Parlor present the 7th annual Tattoos and Trash art show upstairs, featuring the works of your favorite tattoo artists. Meanwhile, Agent Orange, Manic Hispanic and The Vermin will rock your balls into a sweaty fury. It’s a 21-over affair with no cover before 11 p.m. for those of you with tattoos — which, last time we checked, was all of you. $5 Jager bombs and $3 SKYY vodka drinks round out the offerings.

“Oh Snap!” at Gipsy Nightclub (4633 Paradise Road) at 11 p.m. What more do you need than Bobbi Le Pin, Know Well and other DJs spinning indie, Nu-rave, electro, disco-punk and ’80s tracks at the longest-standing gay club in Sin City? How about no cover? Giveaways? Drink specials? If you’re over 21 and like your ass to shake, you will be there.

One of the freshest new art outlets to open downtown last year was the Jennifer Marie Gallery, located upstairs in the Arts Factory across from Damned Ink Studios. Owned and curated by Jennifer Harrington, the tiny space brought new names and faces from both Las Vegas and across the country to the forefront of the Vegas art scene in a variety of media, from sculpture to photography. But a few months ago, Harrington’s gallery disappeared from the space, and we can only imagine a number of others were left to wonder, as we did, “What happened?”

Henri & Odette is what happened. Harrington is not only opening a new gallery in a larger location, but she is stepping it up a few notches, expanding the focus of the new space on Sixth Street near Carson Avenue (just south of the Fremont Entertainment District) to encompass “art, style, design and life.”

“I really want this space to be more of a conceptual location, more than just a gallery, a metropolitan meeting place,” Harrington wrote via e-mail. “It is my hope that artists, writers [and] creative curious people will come down to the gallery, have a look at an international magazine or paper, see a cool show and converge somewhere other than a manufactured town setting.”

Plans for the space include a water bar, a varied selection of international magazines and, of course, cutting-edge art from up-and-coming creators. The gallery will launch with a show by the incomparable Caesar Garcia, “Language,” opening on Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. Garcia says the show “is themed with a play on words and language and what we as people use to communicate visually.”

For more information, visit www.henri-odette.com or call 702-686-3164.