Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
what helped secure the funding for the museum's 30,000 feet of worth of space in
the impressive, sky-lighted space (part of a new local library) it now inhabits, but
it didn't do much for the reputation of the place. Then, in 2005, the board got
smart and hired Libby Lumpkin, formerly of Harvard and the Bellagio Gallery of
Art, as the new Executive Director. She has utterly transformed it from a provin-
cial “showcase” museum, to one on the forefront of the contemporary arts move-
ment. Lumpkin, a savvy curator, has achieved this by pairing exhibits of the most
talked about up-and-coming new artists (Cindy Wright, Michael Reafsnyder, Ivan
Djeneef ) with such established names as Frank Gehry, Larry Bell, and Judy
Chicago. As a curator, Lumpkin favors beauty over all, picking works that trade
less in high concepts and more in craft, sublime color, and rich textures. She also
has instituted an innovative guard program, hiring local artists and art enthusiasts
to patrol the space, who then double as guides. If one approaches you and offers
a tour, take them up on it; on my last visit my guide/guard took me on an eru-
dite stroll-around, explaining how the sculptures were made, optical illusions in
the pieces (she knew just where to stand), and even the history of the California
minimalist movement (the topic of that particular show). Docent tours are held
weekends at 2pm, but I can't imagine they're any more illuminating than the ones
the guards give on an informal basis. Exhibitions change every 2 months; allot 1
hour to tour the entire museum.
A transportation note:
Unfortunately, the museum
is a good 20-minute drive west of the Strip, inconvenient for vacationers without
rental cars.
Now that Lumpkin is in charge, you're unlikely to see any Vegas-based artists
at the Las Vegas Art Museum (it tends to trade in internationally recognized artists
only). Local art, however, is playing an increasingly large role in Downtown Las
Vegas, which now recognizes one former warehouse area as its very own
Arts
District
5
(see map on p. 141).
It's a homegrown affair to be sure, consisting of
just about a dozen-or-so galleries, two or three murals, and a monthly arts street-
fair (p. 177) that's the pride of Las Vegas. But its heart is in the right place, and
unlike most large cities, this is one art scene that still has artists, rather than busi-
nesspeople, at its core. Which makes it a messy affair, to be sure. Most of the gal-
leries are owned by the artists themselves, meaning that the business hours posted
on the doors of each are more of a wish list than a promise to actually be there.
Oftentimes you'll head out to gallery-hop, and half the galleries will be shuttered,
their artist-owners off “following their muses” . . . or dropping acid, or who the
heck knows where they are. But for every one that's “gone fishing for inspiration”
another will have its doors wide open, the gallery owner eager to chat and some-
times show you the latest work they're toiling over (at the easel in the corner).
Those with wall space to fill should note that art bought here is one of Vegas' true
bargains; I've seen pieces go for as little as $25 (though the majority will go for
several hundred up to several thousand dollars). Top galleries (all have free admis-
sion) you'll want to hit include:
u
Dust Gallery
(1221 S. Main St.;
%
702/880
-
3878; www.dustgallery.com)
and
G-C Arts
(1217 S. Main St.;
%
702/453
-
2200; www.gcarts-lv.com).
The
two heavy-hitters on the scene, these are NOT artist-run galleries. Instead,
the professional curators here bring in mid-career and established artists from
all over the country, but primarily Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. Both
