VEGASinsight Archives

Art by John Fanok from his new show, “It’s All Going Down,” running this month at Trifecta Gallery.

I just paid my rent, so that must mean it’s almost First Friday again. Let’s take a look at some exhibits, parties and events related to July’s art festival held on July 4 from roughly 6 to 10 p.m. And remember, kids – access to Casino Center Boulevard requires a $2 admission fee. Not an optional donation. But a cover charge. OK, with that in mind, let’s roll on …

At the Fallout (Commerce Street Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St.), Joe DeCamillis features new works inspired by the structure, style and mechanics of poetry. The art will show at the Fallout through Aug. 15, and the gallery will hold an opening reception on Thursday, July 3 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd.) will hold a preview reception this Thursday as well, from 5 to 8 p.m., for John Fanok’s “manifesto of new paintings,” “It’s All Going Down,” an exploration of the current polarized political atmosphere. (more…)

Based on a series of articles that originally ran in Las Vegas CityLife, Matthew O’Brien‘s 2007 book Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas (Huntington Press) chronicles the hidden world of those living in the flood channels beneath Sin City. Local artist and cultural purveyor Brian “Paco” Alvarez has recreated the world captured by O’Brien with the installation of “Beneath the Neon: The Exhibition” at the Contemporary Arts Collective gallery inside the Arts Factory (101 E. Charleston Blvd.).

The exhibit is designed to recreate the aesthetics and environment of the storm drains, surrounding visitors with claustrophobic realism via graffiti, garbage, water, gravel and other discarded items composing the makeshift living spaces O’Brien discovered below the Entertainment Capital of the World. Left with only a narrow path between all the desolation around them, patrons are left feeling somewhat jarred and discomforted.

The exhibit also includes a side gallery curated by Alvarez featuring artifacts and photos from the tunnel explorations, as well as a video capturing some of O’Brien’s adventures. “Beneath the Neon: The Exhibition” runs through July 24. If you missed the preview reception on June 26, a pre-First Friday reception will be held Thursday, July 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. as well as a panel discussion and book signing on Thursday, July 17 at the same time.

Guess what we cropped out of this picture?

Oh, man, is it TDBFF (the day before First Friday) already??! Sweet baby Jesus, where has the month gone? We have to warn you, there are so many awesome art and music happenings tied into the June edition of everyone’s favorite monthly arts festival / emo kid gathering / heavy boozing shindig that we aren’t even sure if you can handle this much awesomeness. So be sure to check with a medical professional before reading any further.

First up, tonight, June 5, we have the official opening reception for “Breast Defense: Glamour Girls for Early Detection” at The Fallout (at the Commerce Street Studios, 1551 S. Commerce St.). It’s a collaboration between the gallery, the Burlesque Hall of Fame and the Keep A Breast Foundation to build awareness of and eliminate breast cancer. We went by the soft opening of the exhibit a few weeks ago, and it’s pretty cool – dozens of molds cast from the busts of numerous burlesque performers, painted by artists such as Amy Sol, Casey Weldon and Tim Biskup, as well as some musical boob-lovers: Kim Gordon, Iggy Pop and Mark Mothersbaugh. The reception, from 6 to 9 p.m. tonight, features live performances from some of the busts behind those casts, so stop by if you, too, love boobs. I mean, who doesn’t?

Also opening tonight is “What Is It?,” a new show by Southern California illustrator Thomas Lee Bakofsky, at Marty Walsh’s Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd. #108). It’s from 5 to 8 p.m., and as always, Tinoco’s Bistro will be providing the refreshments. (more…)

You know what we love about Dust Gallery (900 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Suite 120-B)? The gallery hosts its opening receptions in the middle of the month, realizing that there’s no point in competing with dozens of other galleries for attention on First Friday or, as has become popular of late in the Las Vegas art scene, receptions the Thursday prior.

We also love Dust’s new location on the ground floor of SoHo Lofts, which almost redeems the otherwise offensively mediocre architecture of this condo building. The airy, echoing space is perfect for Dust’s typically minimalist contemporary art offerings. As well, the gallery will have some worthy neighbors soon, in the form of Globe Salon, which is moving from its age-old Charleston and Decatur location to the retail level of SoHo this summer, further moving downtown toward livability.

The new exhibit worth checking out at Dust is “Make It Rain,” a show featuring new works by Curtis Fairman and Jeffrey Gibson. Fairman is a UNLV MFA recipient who lives right here in Sin City, while Brooklyn, N.Y.-residing Gibson received his MFA in London at the Royal College of Art. Fancy, huh? “Make It Rain” debuts next Friday, May 16, at 6 p.m. Surely there will be refreshments and art scenesters aplenty. You know you love it.

It’s a month not worth living, that’s what. So you’d better hope your little $2 contribution at the Casino Center gate keeps this thing alive. I say, screw that, slip those volunteers a 10-spot and ixnay the extra Guinness at the Griffin later that night.

So what’s on tap for First Friday in May? How about checking out what the students, teachers and alums of the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts are turning out these days, art-wise? You can do just that at MTZC (1551 S. Commerce St.) as the renegade contemporary arts gallery presents “Generation Gap,” showing throughout the month of May but debuting during First Friday, of course.

Or maybe your style is more robots and rocket pods? If so, check out Sam Davis’ latest work in “For the Love of Pod,” showing at Trifecta Gallery (inside the Arts Factory, 103 E. Charleston Blvd.). His work is about the void between here and there, back and forth strangeness. He makes us believe in the make-believe keeping us playfully aware. But more importantly, his robots are really cool. Robots, people, art featuring robots! You can never go wrong. (more…)

Wow. Men are from Mars!

You know, you have to love a gallery that is all about kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll. A few months ago, Symbolic Gallery (4631 S. Dean Martin Dr., Suite 100) unveiled its collection of rock photography by Robert M Knight. And on Friday, May 2, legendary photographer Mick Rock brings his visual documents of glam and punk rock to owner Bernie Chase’s veritable shrine to pop culture.

Rock got his start as the official photographer for a then-unknown David Bowie in the early 1970s, moving on to shoot some of that decade’s greats — Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Queen, The Sex Pistols, Blondie and more. In recent years, Rock’s lens has captured modern faces such as Michael Stipe, The Strokes and Foo Fighters.

After kicking off with the invite-only reception on May 2, the exhibit will be open to the public Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. until June 15. All of Rock’s work — as well as Symbolic’s vast memorabilia collection — will be available for purchase. Talk to your loan officer now.

Option 1: Picture of skinny white guys with shaggy hair. Option 2: Hot chick in band T-shirt. Yeah, that was a tough choice.

How popular are these “Say What?!” parties that Indiekrush.com and Mojorepublik.com put on? Well, let’s just say we’re really glad it appeared most attendees showered before crowding into Beauty Bar for the last installment a few weeks ago. The electro-rocking party series returns to ye olde Salon of Beauty at 517 Fremont St. on Saturday, April 19. On the outdoor stage behind the bar, check out Los Angeles disco-rockers Funeral Party, along with One Pin Short, Novelty Act and Slow Children, while inside, providing a soundtrack for your 10-minute bar wait, Nitecells, Grimehaus, ABOM, Noel and VaJayJay will rock the dirty electro, nu-rave and indie tunes.

As usual, expect live painting, both on canvas and on hot, naked bodies, a photo booth from DML photography and in a twist we fully support, a free keg on the dance floor. It all starts at 10 p.m., with $3 well drinks from 10 to 11 p.m. There’s no cover at the door, but it’ll cost you $5 to see the bands out back – unless there’s some last minute lineup change as there was with the Black Angels show, in which case, the price is subject to change.

Art by Timothy Anderson, debuting at The Fallout this Friday.

If you didn’t get enough art at last week’s First Friday event downtown – and maybe you did, but you just don’t remember through your wine-induced haze – then you may want to swing by The Fallout (1551 S. Commerce St.) this Friday, April 11. New works in graphite and ink on paper by Timothy Anderson are being unveiled at the opening reception for this exhibit from 6 to 9 p.m. Anderson’s surreal drawings will be on display at The Fallout through May 16.

Of course, maybe looking at art isn’t your style. Maybe you need some pointy-haired, emo-tastic rock ‘n’ roll. If that’s the case, then $10 gets you Verbatym, Love It Or Leave It, Away We Go!, Hitting On Hannah and This Romantic Tragedy at Jillian’s Las Vegas (450 Fremont St.) that night at 6 p.m. as well.

If there seems to be a mysterious increase in the number of hot rods, beehives and pomade use next weekend in Las Vegas, that must mean it’s time for yet another edition of Viva Las Vegas, the big rockabilly weekender that essentially takes over the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino from April 10 to 13. It’s year 11 for this annual fete, which features a car show, burlesque competition, art show and dozens of rockabilly, R&B and roots rock bands from across the globe performing live at the property’s showrooms and lounges.

As with any convention, sometimes the peripheral events are just as – if not more – interesting as the main show. Such is the case with the second Cocktails & Cheesecake Party being thrown by Java’s Bachelor Pad at the newly-whitewashed Art Bar (1511 S. Main St.). Happening on Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m., the Cocktails & Cheesecake Party will feature burlesque performers including Kalani Kokonuts, Ava Garter, Betsey Bosen, Bunny Bravo and Ravenna Black, music spun by DJ GooGoo Muck, and all sorts of other swinging action.

Cover for the event is only $5 and hosts include Gigi Valiant, Kay O’Hara and Java himself. If you miss this, you are one cat with low hep quotient. Check out the 2006 event photos and more by clicking here.

Hey, remember we told you about the opening of Chris Waters’ “Waiting” at the Jennifer Marie Gallery next Thursday, April 3? Well, as long as you’re going to be at the under-renovation Arts Factory (101 E. Charleston Blvd.), you may as well swing by Trifecta Gallery as well, where the opening reception of JW Caldwell’s new show will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.

Entitled “Dismounting Your High Horse With Style and Grace,” this series of paintings are about fear and failure, resulting in hope and strength. It’s the merger of pop and populist with a frontier twist. If you don’t come for the art, well, at least you can taste the featured wine of the month from Tinocos Bistro.