By Bekah Denny
The New York scene is migrating to fabulous Las Vegas in a legion of painted hands and the lingering scent of clay. From starving artists’ pop up shops to long standing residencies, the art movement is making its resurgence in Las Vegas.
The Neon Museum has piloted this renewed movement by opening a modern art gallery in 2009, and most profitably, the Neon Boneyard housing over 200 vintage Las Vegas signs. The museum is located in the classic La Concha Visitors Center, built in 1961 and saved from demolishment in 2005. The newly renovated building also showcases its Urban Gallery which includes the “Hacienda Horse and Rider,” the first sign to ever be displayed as public art.
“I find art exhibits very interesting because of the variety of art in each exhibit, from historical artifacts to modern art there’s always something different,” Brenden Moreno, freshman, said.
Another renovated Vegas museum is the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art. In a former life, a natural history museum, the Barrick is located in one of UNLV’s three original buildings, showcasing some of the most contemporary art. The Barrick is holding the Dorothy and Herbert Vogel 50×50 Collection, along with a populous of cultural artifacts ranging from indigenous Paiute weaving to thousand-year-old ceramics from the ancient Mesoamerica.
“A great place to go for art is the art district where they have First Friday and artwork from people in the state that share their works with the hopes of getting noticed,” Zoe Tison, junior, said.
The Arts Factory hosts new exhibitions monthly, previewing a new show the first Thursday of every month. The Arts Factory is a place where artists get together and inspire one another through their art. The Arts Factory has started a hub of artists in Las Vegas by donating resources for art education, drawing classes, poetry readings, live musicals and theatrical productions.
In the industrial downtown arts district, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) sits as a nonprofit organization working to showcase art denied by other galleries and fund exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and other art-related events.
Seven Magic Mountains, located just outside of Las Vegas, has attracted photographers from all walks of life, bringing together amateurs and professionals trying to capture the perfect photo centered around this faux natural wonder. Ugo Rondinone, a Swiss artist based in New York, created the 30-35 foot tall sculptures out of rocks found locally in Nevada. The sculptures are set on the Jean Dry Lake to honor the first land art in Nevada 40 years prior by Jean Tinguely and Michael Heizer in the 1960s.
“The mountains where extremely fascinating and unique because the whole concept seems so random and curious,” Baily Ludwick, sophomore, said.
Art exhibits come and go, but Las Vegas has certainly become an artistic haven, displaying a variety of art for all. From painted rock totems in the desert, to high end oil paintings, this contemporary movement is here to stay.
