VEGASinsight Archives

Mayor Goodman — making Las Vegas safe for lowbrow art yet again! 

Remember that news about First Friday losing half its annual funding from the City of Las Vegas and the subsequent donation stands now set up at the entrance to the street festival? Well, apparently Mayor Oscar Goodman — who hasn’t been up to much lately, near as we can tell — has ponied up $10,000 for Whirlygig, Inc., the non-profit that runs the annual art walk. It came from his own political action committee, as reported in today’s Las Vegas Sun.

Though it won’t make up for the $80,000 or so the organization lost annually, it will do more than the returns on the optional $2 donation requested each month by First Friday visitors.

“While it’s helpful, it certainly is not enough to support the event at this time,” Cindy Funkhouser, founder of First Friday, told the Sun of the trickling-in walk-up donations.

Teresa M. Williams’ “Enigmatic Flow”

Usually, the Arts Factory (101 E. Charleston Blvd.) gets all the attention when it comes to exhibit openings, especially on that magical Thursday before First Friday each month. That’s when it seems every gallery inside the Arts District’s hub building holds a reception for its forthcoming show. So it’s little wonder that Commerce Street Studios (1551 S. Commerce St.) does something a little different: A night of closing receptions, two weeks removed from the hustle of First Friday week.

This Saturday, March 22, MTZC holds a closing reception for Teresa M. Williams’ exhibit of drawings, “Enigmatic Flow,” from 6 to 9 p.m. Meanwhile, at the same time downstairs at The Fallout, Rick Dominguez and Cindy Funkhouser celebrate not only the one-year anniversary of their gallery, but also their marriage, which took place in that very space one year ago! While there, check out “Play This” before it packs up for the month.

But that’s not all! A few feet north, Circadian Studios celebrates the first show by Stephanie Ford and Amber Varde, appropriately titled “Poppin’ Our Cherries!” Can you handle this much art all at once? Or that much free wine and beer? We know you can. See you there.

Artwork from the show, by Ayako Ono.

One of Las Vegas’ oldest non-profit art organizations, the Contemporary Arts Collective, is holding its 19th annual juried show, on display now through April 26. Exhibiting artists this year represent a diversity of established and upcoming talent, including Marty Walsh, Jorge Catoni, Justin Favela, Mary Beth Heishman, Brent Sommerhauser and many others.
 
“We had a huge response from artists interested in participating in our juried show,” said CAC Executive Director Beate Kirmse. “It was a tough decision, but ultimately we feel the artists chosen represent the wide variety of talent in Las Vegas.”

A reception for the show, at which prizes will be awarded, will be held on Thursday, April 3. The work in the show – which includes paintings, mixed media, photography and video – was juried by Majorie Vecchio, director of UNLV’s Sheppard Fine Arts Gallery.
 
The CAC gallery is located on the first floor of the Arts Factory at 101 E. Charleston Blvd. For more information, call 702-382-3886 or visit www.lasvegascac.org.

It seems most Las Vegas residents and regulars fall into two mutually exclusive categories when it comes to their appreciation of the city: Those who think the “real” Vegas died when the Rat Pack and the Mob left town, and those who gleefully watch old casinos implode while they eagerly await the opening of the next hi-rise condo, ultra lounge or high-end retail store.

I guess I stand among a small number of people whose appreciation for all things Vegas falls somewhere in between those two perspectives. When dying, smoky casinos such as the New Frontier go down, I welcome their end (someone please implode Circus Circus … soon), but when the Huntridge Theatre is being threatened, I take the side of preservation. I welcome — hell, eagerly encourage — New Urban development, but I feel it should be done by renovating older buildings (specifically, downtown) and not by just razing them and starting over. I find the “vintage” Vegas era especially charming, but I also can appreciate the allure of ultramodern surroundings, music and fashions.

However, most of my life is spent living in and pursuing the “new,” modern version of Las Vegas. So it was refreshing to head to Glitter Gulch (the area, not the strip club) for a little old-school night on the town at a classic-style Vegas joint, the Golden Nugget. Though the Nugget has been renovated and upgraded in the last few years thanks to a few changes of ownership, it retains that vintage Vegas charm, while offering enough fresh amenities to draw in a younger, hipper crowd. But this weekend, I went old school and had dinner at the property’s steak-and-seafood eatery, Vic & Anthony’s. (more…)

Stills from “A Walk Into The Sea,” courtesy of The Danny Williams Estate and The Andy Warhol Museum.

Need another excuse to hang out in downtown Las Vegas? Of course you don’t. But in between your drinking and gambling, how about you swing by Galaxy Neonopolis to check out some exclusive screenings of acclaimed films in CineVegas’ Art House Screening Series?

April brings two new showings to the only other business aside from Jillian’s still breathing in that monumental failure that is Neonopolis, starting with The Witnesses, running from April 4 to 10. This official selection from the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival focuses on four friends confronting the end of the sexual revolution in 1984 Paris. Sounds sexy. Sort of.

The other Art House feature is A Walk Into The Sea, screening from April 11 to 17. Director Esther Robinson uses the medium of film to uncover the true story behind the mysterious 1966 disappearance of Danny Williams, Andy Warhol’s lover and Robinson’s uncle. A Walk Into The Sea combines unreleased footage shot by Williams during the heyday of Warhol’s Factory with intimate interviews of surviving Factory regulars. (more…)

(Photo by Liz Fuentes | Courtesy UNLV Architecture Studies Library)

Though the Huntridge Theatre, architectural centerpiece of the neighborhood southeast of downtown Las Vegas that informally bears its name, has been a part of Las Vegas since 1944, for locals considered amongst Generations X and Y, the historic venue holds a special place as a sort-of cultural touchstone in our shared experiences. It’s remained dormant for four years now, but somewhere in the back of our collective mind, we figured — more like idly hoped — that someone, somehow, would bring back to life the former movie house and live music venue. Now that faint glimmer of hope is quickly fading to black.

As reported multiple times in the Las Vegas Sun, Eli Mizrachi, the owner of the building at the corner of Charleston Boulevard and Maryland Parkway, is attempting to buy his way out of an agreement signed before he bought the property that restricts the iconic structure from being torn down. Mizrachi bears no ill will toward the theatre; it’s just that he needs to find a viable, profitable use for that property, and thus far, no one has come forth with a solution that would keep the decades-old building in its classic state.

Josh Geidel of the grassroots organization Save the Huntridge met Saturday night at the Downtown Cocktail Room to discuss ideas for saving the S. Charles Lee-designed building, which exemplifies the Moderne style popularized in the 1930s and ’40s. Mizrachi attended the meeting, reiterating his position that he’d like to see the theatre saved but must look out for his business interests as well. Until recently, Mizrachi’s family also ran a branch of their Cima Furniture chain on that corner, adjacent to the Huntridge. (more…)

“Trainyard,” by Nicole Yoder

Since opening the Jennifer Marie Gallery inside the Arts Factory (101 E. Charleston Blvd.) last fall, Jennifer Harrington has followed her passion, providing a home for fresh art and upcoming artists. Her gallery was featured in Racket magazine’s art issue in December and has been warmly received by the local art scene. But up until now, the gallery has featured mostly paintings, sculpture and mixed media, but not much by way of photography.

That’s about to change, with the opening of “Kiss” on Thursday March 6. This group show will feature the work of a diverse range of Las Vegas-based photographers, including some unsung heroes and UNLV students and graduates.

“I’m doing a mix of fine artists and some young photographers,” Harrington says. “I really want a show that says something about Las Vegas and the people who live and work here.”

Nightlife photographer Melissa Reese, VURB magazine art director Christopher Smith, UNLV MFA graduate Sam Davis and photographer Nicole Yoder, whose work was featured at the gallery previously in the “Pretty Little Things” exhibit, are among the artists featured in “Kiss.” Harrington said she specifically wanted to feature fine artists alongside working photographers, who typically only get a chance to shoot on assignment. The “Kiss” theme was created just to encourage creativity.

“I called this show ‘Kiss’ so that everyone could have a bit of fun, and make a pretty show to look at,” Harrington says.

The March 6 reception starts at 6 p.m. and the show runs throughout the month. For more information on the exhibit or the gallery, visit the Jennifer Marie Gallery website or call 702-686-3164.

It’s almost March, and that means another month of live music at downtown Las Vegas’ Jillian’s (450 Fremont St.) is about to start. The cream of the crop of March’s bands has to be New York Dolls on Saturday, March 8 at 8 p.m. This 21-over show features the reunited pioneers of New York punk reminding you why, even after 30 years, the Dolls are still unparalleled in rock ‘n’ roll history. We Are the Fury and The Skooners open the show.

Also on tap at Jillian’s in March (all shows are all-ages unless otherwise noted):

The AP Tour, presented by Rockstar, featuring All Time Low, The Rocket Summer, Sonny and Forever the Sickest Kids on Thursday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Every paid ticket receives a free one-year subscription to AP.

Hey Mister, Water Street, Summit Grove, Are The Arsenal, Away We Go! and Anarbor on Saturday, March 1 at 10 p.m.

XPOZ’s Battle Of The Fans with Entro Sickened, As Faith Brings Blood, This Romantic Tragedy, Think and Take Me To Montauk on Wednesday, March 5 at 6 p.m.

Vannacutt, Solid Substance, Avalon Dies and Dantes Inferno on Friday, March 7 at 6 p.m.

XPOZ’s Battle Of The Fans continues with Burning Season, South For The Summer, Hitting On Hannah, Within A moment, Hallow, Emu Lovefest and As He Defeats on Wednesday, March 12 at 6 p.m.

Twiztid, Boondox, Project Born, DJ Clay and Age Ov Reason rock on Friday, March 14 at 6 p.m.

Get happy feet with Guilty By Association, Happy Campers, GFI, Battle Born and Infernal Racket on Saturday, March 15 at 6 p.m.

And on Wednesday, March 19, it’s another installment of XPOZ’s Battle Of The Fans at 6 p.m., featuring Amarionette, Love It or Leave It, Away We Go!, Fist of Troy, Second Chariot, Valhalla and Sixteen Hours Remain.

Call 702-898-5500 or visit Ticketmaster to purchase tickets.

City of the World gallery, located in that quaint blue house on the corner of Colorado Street and Casino Center Boulevard, is calling all artists to submit their works for a series of six juried art exhibits the gallery will host in 2008.

The first theme, for debut at a reception during the March 7 First Friday, is “A Self Portrait” or “One’s Self Visualized.” The submissions for this show should then be works of and from artists about themselves. Any form or medium is welcome. Jury fee is $10 for the first piece and $5 for any additional; deadline for the March show is March 1.

For questions or more information about the juried shows, contact Gina Quaranto at GmachineQ@aol.com or call 702-260-9757. City of the World is located at 1229 S. Casino Center Blvd.

Music. Art. The two concepts are nearly inseparable, to the point that one might argue one is simply a subset of the other. Well, you can have that philosophical debate with other art and music lovers at The Fallout on Friday, Feb. 22, when the gallery presents “Play This,” a musically inspired group show.

The opening reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m. that evening, and the show runs through April 4. Featured artists include Mark T. Zeilman, Casey Weldon, Marty Walsh, Tom Pfannerstil, KD Matheson, Jennifer and Brian Henry, Roxy Bisquera, Albert Montoya, Keri Schroeder, Brent Becker, Cristina Paulos, Shan Michael Evans, Jennifer Devereaux and Thirry.

For more information, visit www.thefallout.net or call the gallery at 702-269-3111. The Fallout is located at 1551 S. Commerce St.