Las Vegas Nevada News Feed

Come down this month to enjoy both visual and performance art! See the Shaolin Kung Fu Academy performance in front of the Land Rover stage, live improv on the street, artist, vendors and more!

We will be hosting more than 100 artists on the sidewalks and in the gallery spaces within the outdoor festival area on Casino Center Blvd and Colorado. Check out Holsum Lofts, Commerce Street Studios and the Arts Factory in the surrounding area.

Donate to support First Friday: http://www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org/fundraise.html

El Cortez/First Friday Express Trolley

The El Cortez Hotel & Casino joined with First Friday and is sponsoring an Express Trolley. The trolley will take patrons from the El Cortez, 600 East Fremont Street at the Cortez Garden Gateway (with 1,200 free parking spaces in the garage and also valet) to The Funk House Trolley Stop at First Friday (and back again). The bus will run from 6:00 p.m.(starting at the El Cortez) until 10:00 p.m. with the last First Friday stop at approximately 9:30 p.m. Take advantage of the convenient parking and avoid traffic after the event. You can also enjoy the Entertainment District’s after parties when you arrive back at the El Cortez.

OUTDOOR FESTIVAL INFO

Buy a Best Friend of First Friday card and help support your favorite Las Vegas arts event for just $25 per year. (go to this link for benefits: http://www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org/foff.html) We also have special “I ‘heart’ First Friday” t-shirts available for just $7 (for 7 years) at the First Friday Las Vegas Information Table (located in front of The Funk House). Make a $2 donation at the info table and receive a coupon for a 10% discount at Naked City Sandwich Shop (www.nakedcitylv.com ).

City ordinance requires no glass bottles or cans!

ARTISTS SHOWING OUTDOORS:

Below is a partial listing of our Outdoor Artist Exhibits:

Leslieann Farrell–painting/mixed media

Patti Backer–painting/mixed media

Jesse Heinreich–acrylic on canvas

Christoper Reese–pen and ink

LAND ROVER STAGE
6pm-Miss Marilyn B–Soul jazz

7pm-The Inhalers-Classic rock

8pm-Dj Noel-indiekrush.com

9pm-Fiero pop

NEW EXHIBITS:

3rd St. Revolution Art Gallery 224 Imperial Av. Lv. Nv. 89104. Artist Ezequiel Lee Orona.Pop Dada Art. Metal and Wood Sculpture.
Paintings ,Drawings and Prints.Artist Juan Ybarra ,Bronze Sculpture and Steel Mobiles. Paintings and Drawings.Tues-Sat .702-764-7647.
The Art Revolution.Declaration of Independence.

The Bridge Gallery is located on the second floor of City Hall, near the information desk. Las Vegas Perspective: Reflections of the African-American Artist. Visitors may enter through the breezeway from the second floor of the parking garage, which is on the southwest corner of Fourth Street and Stewart Avenue. Parking is by paid meter only. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Call (702) 229-1012 for more information.

Circadian Galleries 1551 S.Commerce Street inside the Commerce Street Studios presents, Spirits and Ghosts a completely new and exciting show by Daniel Pearson consisting of all new abstracts. Show times are from 6pm to10pm a great stop on the trolley route! For more information call 525-2850

City of the World Gallery:Now retired, Patty Clark, featured artist for March, was selected Art Educator of the Year in 2003. She loves the sensation of spreading paint and the challenge of creating art with any object she encounters. Come see Patty Clark’s “Taking Flight” artworks.

Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery – “Teetering on the Brink…” February 1 – March 12, 2010 Solo exhibit by artist John Bissonette whose new sculptures flaunt and deconstruct myths of stability, wealth, and excess. Hours: 8am-5pm M-F, 8am -10pm First Fridays

THE FALLOUT GALLERY– Exhibit from March 3-April 10, 2010 “Character Matters” featuring 3 artists: Cristina Paulos, Kelly Shon, Maranda Espinosa.The show features new work from these artists. All have Animation & Illustration backgrounds. Celebrate Girls Day (a Japanese holiday) by checking out these unique Character driven pieces in the heart of Vegas at The Fallout. 1551 S. Commerce St. Las Vegas, NV 89102 702.678.6278 www.thefallout.net Open First Friday 6-10pm. Regular hours: Thursday, Friday and Sat Noon-4pm.

Gaia Flowers, Gifts and Art–In March, “Ancient Art of the Mojave,” continues at Gaia. The show is a collection of Hamilton Moore photographs of ancient rock art, evocative landscapes and modern development of the Mojave. On hand will be members of the Southern Nevada Rock Art Association, who can answer all your burning questions about petro glyphs, pictographs and geoglyphs. Also returning to Gaia for an encore performance is jewelry maker Heidi Haydon, who will be demonstrating her unique technique for turning recycled leather, natural stones and other items into gorgeous rings, necklaces and bracelets.

The Joseph Watson Collection features Spencer Davis, creator of the world famous Booty Babe figures. Also new urban paintings from Joseph. The Arts Factory Suite 115 (downstairs) www.josephwatsoncollection.com First Friday & Preview Thursday 6:30-9:30pm March 4 & 5, 2010.

On Friday, March 4th, 2010 at the Arts Factory (107 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 103) Laura Henkel Fine Art presents “NO PICASSOS IN VEGAS”. A retrospective solo exhibition by artist Dray. The exhibition will showcase a comprehensive examination of the artist’s more significant works throughout the last decade. It will be a synopsis of illustration & interpretation in form of paintings and drawings. www.myspace.com/draysplace

PEG LOZIER is exhibiting her new original art nouveau watercolors, along with still lifes, painted furniture, and portraits in The Ortego Gallery, Suite 115 in the Arts Factory. For more info. call 702-281-6714.

Retro Vegas’ featured artist is Bill Murr Johnson (1924 – 2005). Bill completed his art school training in the late 1940s and established himself as a commercial artist. He practiced his hand at fine art throughout his life with an emphasis on water colors, acrylics and paper (specifically origami). Keeping with Retro Vegas’s theme, this exhibit will focus on several of his works from the 1950s and 1960s.

TRIFECTA Gallery- Introducing Leonardo Aguirre di Matteo ‘En Escena’, Educated in Montevideo Uruguay as an architect Leo changed his tune to painting. Architectural references are made and one would think the artist also studied theatrics. The well drawn paintings take on a surreal stage presence but with an extremely compressed depth of field. The fun begins when you start following lines that lead to trap doors, wrap around pinball bumpers and dangle heavy objects from what appears to be simply a line- not a cable, and sometimes a dotted line. You begin to doubt your sense of weight, space and even time by the clever choice of totally unrelated objects drawn into his scenes. Trifecta Gallery www.trifectagallery.com 702.366.7001 Through March 26

NEW RETAIL:

“Hillary” is a referral-based, by appointment only hair salon which celebrates ART, creates BEAUTY, demonstrates MUSIC and produces FASHION accessories. The home of MY FIRST RODEO. All events are smoke-free, free of charge and all ages and take place between 5-9PM. 1104 s 3rd St, Las Vegas, NV 89104

Cottages Castles and Closets–”Feed Your Soul with Wonderful Treasures for You and Your Home” We are a neighborhood Antique, Vintage, Shabby Chic, Home Decor Shoppe located in our Las Vegas Arts District at 220 E. Charleston Blvd and 3rd Street. 281-8887

NEW MUSIC:

Every First Friday
DJ BEELZEBOZO
spins from 10 pm – 2 am at
FRANKIE’S TIKI ROOM
1712 West Charleston
frankiestikiroom.com

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Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) broadens its role as one of Las Vegas’ premier cultural destinations with the debut of docent tours. Designed to appeal to art lovers of all ages, participation requires only an enthusiasm for fine art and a willingness to learn.

Derived from the Latin word “docere” meaning “to teach,” a docent is a trained guide who leads visitors through a museum and delivers an educated commentary on the works in an exhibition. BGFA’s Docent Tours are offered five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Limited to the first 20 attendees, each tour begins promptly at 3:30 p.m. and lasts approximately 45 minutes. Docent tours are complimentary with the purchase of any BGFA admission.

“Docent tours at BGFA are designed to enlighten and enrich the gallery experience for our guests,” said BGFA Director Tarissa Tiberti. “Our program provides participants with the ideal setting in which to expand their awareness of art, artists and art techniques.”

BGFA is currently showcasing 12 + 7: Artists and Architects of CityCenter through April 4. The exhibit features sculpture, drawings, paintings and models by 12 of the contemporary art stars and seven of the master architects whose work revolutionized the Las Vegas landscape when CityCenter debuted December 2009.

BGFA is open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Last admissions are sold 30 minutes prior to closing.

Admittance is $15 for general admission, $12 for Nevada residents and seniors 65 and older, $10 for students, teachers and military with valid ID. Children 12 and younger are free. Tickets and information are available by calling (702) 693-7871 or (877) 957-9777

Related Links:

Bellagio Resort and Casino

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The public is invited to attend the “Las Vegas Perspective: Reflections of the African-American Artist” exhibit, which opens tomorrow, Feb. 12, at the Bridge Gallery in Las Vegas City Hall, located at 400 Stewart Ave. This exhibit is free and open to the public.

The exhibit features artwork from the following local artists: Abraham Abebe, Dayo Adelaja, Harold Bradford, Sylvester Collier, Lolita Develay, Vicki Richardson, Lance Smith, Mario Smith and Joseph Watson.

The exhibit runs through April 23, 2010, and is presented by the city of Las Vegas. The Bridge Gallery is located on the second floor of City Hall, near the information desk. Visitors may enter through the breezeway from the second floor of the parking garage, which is on the southwest corner of Fourth Street and Stewart Avenue. Parking is by paid meter only. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Call (702) 229-1012 for more information.

Abebe was born and raised in Ethiopia. He came to the United States at the end of 2003. He received an Associate of Art degree at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nev., in 2007. In 2010, he will receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV.

Adelaja received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from West Virginia University in Morgantown, W. Va. He received his Master of Arts degree, also in Graphic Design, at California State University in Los Angeles. He presently works as an art specialist with the Clark County School District.

Bradford was born and raised in New Orleans. He began his interest in art at age 3. He earned both Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees. He has worked both as a commercial designer and fine artist and has spent more than 28 years as a designer in the sign industry, including seven years as an art director.

Collier was born in 1931 in Dallas, Texas, and is now a resident of Las Vegas. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in painting and printmaking from UNLV and his master’s in education from Lesley College in Cambridge, Mass. He taught secondary art with the Clark County School District for many years. He has been in numerous exhibits over the past 35 years.

Develay was born in the small California town of Pearblossom, the daughter of a Tuskeegee airman and a homemaker. She spent 20 years in the advertising industry before committing to her true passion of painting. She currently resides in Las Vegas and will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV in December 2010.

Richardson received her undergraduate degree from Fisk University in Nashville and her master’s degree from the University of Chicago. She is owner and director of the Left of Center Art Gallery. Richardson has been a resident of Las Vegas for 28 years and a teacher in the Clark County School District for 18 years.

Lance Smith was born in 1988 in Dayton, Ohio. Presently he is working toward his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at UNLV. Since 2007, he has exhibited his work in approximately 24 group/invitational exhibits.

Mario Smith is a native Bahamian and was raised in the Bahamas and Holland. As an artist, he is primarily self-taught. His art is based on his experiences living in different cultures and his imagination.

Watson grew up in Gardena, Calif., a small city south of Los Angeles, but now resides in Las Vegas. In 1994, he received a degree in commercial art at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Since then, has earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.

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Chihuly at CityCenter debuts a dynamic exhibition space located within Crystals at CityCenter in Las Vegas. Spanning 4,350 square feet, the compelling presentation features a diverse representation of world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly’s sculptures, drawings, editions and prints.

Recognized for his masterful use of color, fluid forms and large-scale glass installations, Chihuly’s CityCenter exhibition will highlight a number of his important works including turquoise reeds and birch logs in the Nuutajarvi Installation, the dramatic Lime Green Icicle Tower and an indigo-blue neon sculpture. Chihuly’s new Silvered Venetian series, marking the artist’s first application of silver as a base color, also will be on view. Additionally, visitors will see Chihuly’s popular series works, drawings – created on both paper and acrylic – as well as Studio Editions, limited-edition prints, books and videos.

Chihuly’s work has been exhibited in many major museums throughout the world. One of his most extraordinary and iconic pieces can be found in the lobby of Bellagio Resort & Casino. Among the luxury hotel’s most-photographed features, Fiori di Como is a dazzling three-dimensional sculptural representation of flowers in bloom.

Located within the heart of CityCenter and just steps from the famed Las Vegas Strip, the GALLERY is among an unparalleled collection of unique luxury retailers and restaurateurs that will be found within Crystals – a 500,000-square-foot retail, dining and entertainment district certain to become Las Vegas’ premier shopping experience. Hours of operation for the GALLERY will be from 10 a.m. to midnight, daily. For sales information, the GALLERY can be reached at (702) 590-8741 beginning December 4.

Related Links:

Crystals at CityCenter Information

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Fremont Street Experience is proud to announce John Van Hamersveld as the Official Artist of “Summer of 69: Vegas or Bust.” Van Hamersveld is most known for his prominent 1960s iconic image of the Pinnacle Indian, The Beatles cover for the “Magical Mystery Tour” album and poster for the 1966 surf-genre movie, Endless Summer.

Van Hamersveld’s Official Artist of Summer of ‘69 participation will include the creation of a debut Viva Vision show titled, “Signs of Life,” two custom-painted vintage school buses to be used during the summer-long event series and working alongside Fremont Street Experience in design aspects for Summer of ‘69. Van Hamersveld will also open Hippie Nation™ Gallery & Records, an art gallery located at Fremont Street Experience that will sell custom John Van Hamersveld posters, digital prints, original drawings and hand pulled silk screens, in addition to record albums.

“I feel very grateful and excited to work with Fremont Street Experience on the ‘Summer of ‘69′ event series,” said the world-renowned pop-culture artist. “My inspiration comes from a new time introduced to us by President Obama, feeling we need to readjust our needs and values to a time of change. I’ve custom-created four symbols that represent Summer of ‘69: a flower, symbolizing growth; a peace sign, instilling safety within; a heart representing love; and a globe for balance. I feel these emblems truly symbolize the great year of 1969 and bring a fresh, modern approach to these events.”

No stranger to the 1969 time period, Van Hamersveld’s impressive repertoire of art includes album covers of famed musicians Blondie, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead and KISS, and custom portraits of Eric Clapton and Bono of U2. Van Hamersveld is also known as the official artist of Jimi Hendrix and celebrates his 50-year anniversary as an artist in 2009.

“In 1967-68, I did the Pinnacle dance concerts at Shrine Exhibition Hall with a team of artists and community people,” said Van Hamersveld. “It was like artists doing a music event and it turned into a happening. What I am doing with Fremont Street Experience is similar. I have brought all of these pieces of my drawings and my symbols to the party and we have created a multi-media event here.”

The custom-painted John Van Hamersveld buses, Hippie Nation™ Gallery & Records and “Signs of Life” Viva Vision show can be seen at Fremont Street Experience’s “Summer of ‘69: Vegas or Bust” event and concert series Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. For more information visit www.vegasexperience.com.

About John Van Hamersveld
John Van Hamersveld began his rise to fame in the 1960s. He designed many album covers having personal experiences with groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane – including such well-known covers as “Exile on Main Street” and “Magical Mystery Tour.” As an innovator and cultural designer, Van Hamersveld is best known for his Day-Glo poster for the 1964 film “Endless Summer” and the legendary Jimmy Hendrix drawing and poster for the 1968 Pinnacle concert at L.A.’s Shrine Auditorium, still widely considered to be one of the greatest rock posters ever made. Van Hamersveld’s visual stamp on L.A. includes the 1984 Summer Olympic Games 360-foot mural and poster, painting for the Absolut Van Hamersveld, the signage for The Broadway Deli and Kate Mantilini’s and the redesign of Fatburger from 1990 to 1995.

In 1997 he started his own line of products revisiting his work from 1964-1974, which he calls “Post-Future.” With the printmaking of a fine art edition of the “Endless Summer” Poster as one of his most famous works, he moved his design work into his Coolhous studio in Santa Monica and between analog and digital environments has managed to create new works like the spectacular Cream posters for their Royal Albert Hall Reunion in 2005, and a hit line today of tees for Worn Free, his 60s and 70s symbolic designs distributed around the world.

About Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is a five-block entertainment complex located in historic downtown Las Vegas. Fremont Street Experience features Viva Vision, the world’s largest video screen which is 1,500 feet long, 90 feet wide and suspended 90 feet above the urban pedestrian mall. Viva Vision features nightly spectacular light and sounds shows with 12.5 million LED lights and a 550,000-watt sound system. Fremont Street Experience is a one-of-a-kind venue which includes free nightly concerts and entertainment on two stages. With direct pedestrian access to 10 casinos, more than 60 restaurants and specialty retail kiosks, Fremont Street Experience attracts over 17 million annual visitors. Fremont Street Experience can be found online at www.vegasexperience.com.

Related Links:

Fremont Street Experience

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Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (BGFA) is extending a welcome invitation to patrons of the Las Vegas Art Museum (LVAM), closing February 28. Now through September 7, valid LVAM memberships can be redeemed for unlimited entry to BGFA’s popular new exhibition, “Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends.”

“The Board of Trustees is so pleased and flattered at the generosity of BGFA,” said LVAM Board of Trustees President Patrick Duffy. “It proves once again the ‘oneness and unity’ that makes Las Vegas home to more than two million residents. One may be dark, but the partners light the way for the community.”

BGFA Curator Michele C. Quinn said, “Now more than ever, those of us working in the arts need to support one another. Until the Las Vegas Art Museum is ready to re-open its doors to the public, BGFA will proudly serve as a cultural outlet for its membership.”

BGFA’s ongoing commitment to the residents of Southern Nevada is evident through the 2008 introduction of an enhanced membership program which included the debut of Modern Council – a fine art affinity program providing members exclusive access to private and corporate art collections as well as artist lectures and meet-and-greets. A portion of the proceeds from each Modern Council membership helps to fund educational classroom field trips to BGFA for students of all levels – from elementary to high school. An enriching intern program also is available for students enrolled in an accredited college or university.

BGFA is currently showcasing “Classic Contemporary: Lichtenstein, Warhol & Friends” in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego through September 7. Former patrons of LVAM will be required to present a valid membership card to the BGFA Box Office to enjoy unlimited admission to the exhibition.

BGFA is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call (702) 693-7871.

Bellagio Resort and Casino

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Artist Chad Brown brings his fusion of architectural imagery and abstract techniques to the Winchester Gallery beginning Feb. 17. An artist reception will be held in his honor from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the gallery, located inside the Winchester Cultural Center at 3130 S. McLeod Drive. The exhibit will continue at the gallery through April 17.

Brown, who has presented a number of exhibits in the Las Vegas valley during the last few years, reintroduces his “every man” figure, clad in a white shirt and black pants, into a new collection of paintings. Although looser than previous depictions, the appearance of his “every man” is “a call to arms” for viewers. The connection between this figure and the often chosen similar dress of President Barack Obama is a poignant statement for the artist. Brown’s intent is to suggest a space that asks the viewer to consider how they can participate in this new era. The collection also will include a 30-foot mural designed specifically for the curved wall of the gallery space.

Brown earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001 and his Master of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006. That same year, he received the Wally Goodman and Patrick Duffy Best in Show award for his work in the 55th Art Roundup Juried Exhibition at the Las Vegas Art Museum. Recently, Brown participated in a two-person show at the Dust Gallery.

Clark County Parks and Recreation sponsors the exhibit with partial funding from the Nevada Arts Council. The Winchester Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays.

Those interested in “your move” by Chad Brown can call the Winchester Cultural Center at 455-7340 or visit the Web site at www.accessclarkcounty.com/parks.

About Clark County

Clark County is a dynamic and innovative organization dedicated to providing top-quality service with integrity, respect and accountability. With jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and covering an area the size of New Jersey, Clark is the nation’s 15th-largest county and provides extensive regional services to more than 2 million citizens and 44 million visitors a year. Included are the nation’s seventh-busiest airport, air quality compliance, social services and the state’s largest public hospital, University Medical Center. The county also provides municipal services that are traditionally provided by cities to almost 900,000 residents in the unincorporated area. Those include fire protection, roads and other public works, parks and recreation, and planning and development. In 2009, Clark County celebrates a “century of service.”

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Studio at the Palms announced today a partnership with Aderra Inc., adding the next generation of content delivery to the already state-of-the-art recording studio located inside the Palms Casino Resort. Through Aderra’s “Live in a Flash”™ USB Technology, the Palms can offer immediate live recordings of events including concerts, conferences, live DJ sets and other happenings throughout the resort. The Palms will become the first property in the world to adopt this new technology allowing patrons to leave an event with a USB flash drive loaded with their live experience, giving them a unique and personal product.

“It’s the ultimate souvenir. The technology will change the way the hotel and the artists performing in our venues enhance our customer’s experience,” said Palms Casino Resort Owner George Maloof.

With “Live in a Flash,”™ Studio at the Palms will become the hub of recording for events happening in The Pearl Concert Theater, Rain and Moon nightclubs, the conference centers and ballrooms and everywhere in between. The content is instantly uploaded to a USB flash drive available in a wristband, key fob and other custom styles. Additionally materials can also be pre-loaded on the USB drives with the ability to add the live content at the show date.

“We’re proud to be working with Studio at the Palms to showcase our technology. The Palms is constantly at the cutting edge of what’s new and how it can benefit their customers,” said President of Aderra Inc. Ed Donnelly.

In addition to working with Studio at the Palms, Aderra Inc. has been using its “Live in a Flash”™ USB Technology to instantly deliver multimedia content for film studios, conferences, sporting events and charities. Aderra’s expertise in the field of instant content delivery is gaining a foothold in countless markets driving users to targeted information and online destinations to expand its horizons.

President of Aderra Inc. Ed Donnelly and Studio at the Palms Director Zoe Thrall are both available for interviews.

About Studio at the Palms:
The Studio at The Palms is an 8,000 square foot, multi-room studio providing a level of technical sophistication and client comfort unparalleled in the Las Vegas area. The facility includes a large tracking and mixing room boasting a SSL 9000K, 80-input mixing desk. A second studio with an acoustically identical control room and a mid-sized overdub booth are available primarily for mixing. The studio provides a truly top-shelf selection of microphones, processing, amplification and recording equipment. For more information on the recording studio, please visit www.palms.com.

About Aderra:
Aderra Inc. provides an innovative way to capture the “once in a lifetime” experience of live shows, sporting events, conferences, government and public assemblies and immediately deliver it to fans or attendees after the event. Aderra is on the cutting edge of content delivery with the use of their “Live in a Flash”™ USB Technology. For more information, visit www.aderra.net.

Palms Casino Resort

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December 12 – March 8, 2009
Lecture by David Pagel: Thursday, December 11, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Members’ Preview Reception: Thursday, December 11, 7-9 p.m.

The “L.A. Now” exhibition features 20 emerging artists who live and work in Los Angeles, California. The exhibition is organized by critic and curator David Pagel. Artists included in the exhibition were selected from among those who presented outstanding artworks in Los Angeles commercial galleries during the 2007-2008 season. The artists work in a wide variety of styles and media; each has gained national or international recognition for artistic achievement.

Artists featured in the exhibition include: Olivia Booth, Miles Coolidge, Liz Craft, Nathaniel de Large, Lecia Dole-Recio, Brad Eberhard, Wendell Gladstone, Katie Grinnan, Elliot Hundley, Annie Lapin, Michael Lazarus, Nathan Mabry, Allison Miller, Kristen Morgin, Christine Nguyen, Jared Pankin, Steve Roden, Jeni Spota, Don Suggs, and Wayne White. The exhibition represents the Las Vegas debut for all of the artists.

According to curator Pagel, “L.A. Now” is designed to showcase the artistic achievements of the artists individually: “rather than start with a theme, and fit the art into that, I’m starting with the art and seeing what emerges from that.” Most important for Pagel was to select artworks that are not only singularly memorable, but that together create compelling interactions: “I wanted the works in my show to converse with one another, to engage one another materially, intellectually, and emotionally.”

“L.A. Now” is accompanied by a fully illustrated exhibition catalog, which includes an essay by the curator. The catalog will be available for sale at the Las Vegas Art Museum, and on the Museum’s website.

David Pagel is a freelance writer, curator, and art critic for the Los Angeles Times. He is Associate Professor of Art Theory and History and Chair of the Art Department at Claremont Graduate University. Pagel’s previous exhibitions include “Painting Design,” Claremont Graduate University (2007); “702 Series: Sush Machida Gaikotsu,” Las Vegas Art Museum (2007); and “POPulence,” Blaffer Gallery, University of Houston (2005). He is recipient of an Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship in Contemporary Arts Criticism and has been a Macgeorge Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

LVAM is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and is closed Mondays. General admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 55 years and older, and $3 for students 13 years and older; children 12 and younger enter free when accompanied by an adult. For more information on exhibitions, membership, and education programs, please call (702) 360-8000, or visit www.lvam.org.

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