What Lies Beneath<\/p>\n
The Las Vegas fa\u00e7ade is so well known for its bright lights and spangles that even locals sometimes have to blink twice before they can see the real-life vibrancy that lies beneath.\u00a0 If the classic Strip isn\u2019t the definition of kitsch, who knows what is?\u00a0 The newest trend in Vegas, however, is far from cheesy.\u00a0 Its most recent love affair is a breathless passion for culture, big-time Vegas-style.<\/p>\n
This new appreciation of all things cultural isn\u2019t just superficial, either.\u00a0 Real Picassos line the wall of the upscale restaurant, Picasso.\u00a0 The Gallery at the Bellagio recently featured a Faberge exhibition while old world masters from Reuben to Jan van Eyck graced the walls of the Guggenheim Hermitage museum.\u00a0 The Winn Collection is housed in the deserted Desert Inn and even the local Las Vegas Art Museum<\/a> attracted record visitors with its Portrait of Washington.<\/p>\n Vegas-based MRC Group Research Institute estimates that of the 36-million visitors who come here each year, over seven million plan to include a visit to an art museum or gallery.\u00a0 \u201cBringing in big shows and established museums created an awareness of fine art [in Las Vegas] and showed how entertaining art is,\u201d says Tim Quillan, president of Nevada Arts Advocates.<\/p>\n Perhaps even more encouraging for local and visiting arts lovers, more modest strides are also being made.\u00a0 Local artists and galleries are gaining a steady local clientele.\u00a0 That means artists can afford to produce art and galleries can stay in business.<\/p>\n A Las Vegas arts tour should start with a first-class pair of walking shoes and a high-quality map of the city.\u00a0 While you can gallery hop to your heart\u2019s content right on the strip, to capture the exciting emerging artists scene, plan to do a little driving.\u00a0 Then, as long as you have that car anyway, take in the 1,000-year old petroglyphs at the Valley of Fire<\/a> or Red Rock Canyon<\/a> before driving the strip at night to see pop art at its most flamboyant.<\/p>\n Start your walk at Desert Passage at the Aladdin<\/a> (702-736-7114), where multi-talented musicians display their wares at The GRAMMY\u2019s Art of Music (702-313-7664).\u00a0 Original art, limited editions, collectables and memorabilia by luminaries in the music world including Jerry Garcia, Paul McCartney, Grace Slick, David Bowie, John Lennon.\u00a0 Explore environmentally-themed paintings, prints, photography, sculpture and glass at the Wyland Galleries of Las Vegas<\/a> (702-699-9970), then stop by for a piece of edible art at Teuscher Chocolates<\/a> of Switzerland (702-866-6624).\u00a0 If you are ready for a full meal don\u2019t miss Commander\u2019s Palace\u2019s (702-892-8272) heavenly Creole and Cajun seafood that is flown in fresh daily.\u00a0 Come back before bedtime for heavenly jazz at the Blue Note Jazz Club (702-862-8307) on the corner of Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd.<\/p>\n Le Boulevard at Paris<\/a> (<\/strong>3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-946-7000) is hard to beat as a lunch stop.\u00a0\u00a0 Take advantage of the pastry or streetside crepes shops along the cobblestone path, then duck over to Re Galleries\/Atelier (702-792-2278) to watch an antique 8-ton, Marioni flatbed lithography printing press make gorgeous turn-of-the-century style posters. Le Paradis Fine Jewelery (702-892-8220) carries fine jewelry and crystal bangles;\u00a0 L’Art De Paris (702-946-7000) features original and reproductions of paintings and dolls.\u00a0 If this is one of your last stops, don\u2019t forgo Mon Ami Gabi (702-944-4224) the absolute best place to enjoy an evening open-air meal.\u00a0 The French onion soup is fabulous and the view across the street of the dancing waters of the Bellagio makes this one of the most romantic places in town.<\/p>\n VIA Bellagio<\/a> (3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South; (702-693-7111) scatters art everywhere.\u00a0 d. Fine Men\u2019s Store (702-693-7927) carries glass art by international artists as well as fine men\u2019s clothes.\u00a0 When Dale Chihuly decided to open a retail shop, he picked Vegas.\u00a0 Although small, Chihuly at Bellagio (702-693-7995), located at the far end of the spectacular garden Conservatory, features studio and original edition pieces, lithographs, original drawings by Chihuly, and vitreographs.\u00a0 \u201cIt is incredible,\u201d says gallery manager Gary Lunn, \u201cWe are doing double what we thought we would be doing.\u00a0 People from all over\u00a0 the world come here and we have shipped to almost every country that I can think of.\u201d\u00a0 Next door, the Botanical Garden (702-693-7950) tin toys, pressed-flower picture frames, glass flowers and hummingbird feeders.<\/p>\n The Appian Way at Caesars Palace<\/a> (3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-731-7110) sports a full-size replica of Michelangelo’s masterpiece, David, who watches over the imported marble corridors.\u00a0 <\/strong>Visit Cottura (702-731-7110) for hand-painted Italian ceramics, china, pottery, busts and pasta-sized bowls.\u00a0 Then step into Gallerie Michelangelo (702-796-5001) to saunter amongst\u00a0 life-size contemporary and art deco sculpture, original paintings, porcelain dogs, bronze eagles other decorative masterpieces produced by 54 artists.<\/p>\n Forum Shops at Caesars Palace<\/a> (3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-893-4800) is the reigning queen of the Las Vegas mega-malls and still tops for people watching and ambiance.\u00a0 Filled with breathtaking reproductions of some of Italy\u2019s most spectacular art, the store facades replicate the materials, textures and designs of an ancient Roman street circa 300 BC to AD 1700. By now, you must be get hungry.\u00a0 Grab an outside table at Bertolini\u2019s (702-869-1540), located beside the Fountain of the Gods, to watch everyone in the world go by.<\/p>\n Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian (3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South; 702-414-4500)\u00a0 lets you follow a singing gondolier as he poles along the canal through cobblestone streets.\u00a0 Wandering minstrels, Italian opera singers, comedians, stilt-walkers and living statues are among the Artisti del Arte’ performers at St. Mark\u2019s Square. Don\u2019t miss the Bernard K Passman Galleries (<\/strong>702-791-3376) to discover black coral work in everything from fine jewelry to exquisite miniature sculptures.\u00a0 Ripa De Monti (702-733-1004) offers imported glass from Venice.\u00a0 Il Prato (702) 733-1201) presents in items imported from Venice including Venetian masks, porcelain dolls, period costumes, and miniatures pieces of furniture, collectible automobile miniatures and oil paintings. They also carry French music boxes and fine paper goods.\u00a0 Regis Galerie (702-414-3637) offers bronze pieces and Faberge eggs.<\/p>\n Off the strip, the Masquerade Village at the Rio (<\/strong>3700 West Flamingo Rd.; 702-252-7777)\u00a0 lets visitors get in costume to help create a floating carnival.\u00a0 The real draw for art lovers is the Markman Gallery (702-240-8513), the brainchild of a local artist who has paints in the back room.\u00a0 The gallery also features sculptures, glass, pottery, bronze and paintings.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t eaten in a while, don\u2019t miss Rosemary\u2019s, about four doors down, a critically acclaimed restaurant with taste sensations that you won\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n Now that you are off the strip, you might was well check out the nearby artist studios.\u00a0 Most of these are by appointment only, so call ahead to make sure the artists are in and please, get directions.\u00a0 Domsky Glass Studios and Design Effects (3720 W. Oquendo Road, Suite 104, 702-616-2830) is a husband and wife team that specializes in fusion and painted glass and metal sculpture.\u00a0 You may not have heard of Leslie Rankin, yet, but you soon will.\u00a0 Rankin was recently featured in the \u201cModern Masters\u201d series on Home and Garden Relevision.\u00a0 Rankin and her custom tiles, tabletops, sculptures and bowls can be found at Glassic Art Gallery (5850 Polaris Ave.; 702-658-7588). Former Parisian Claude Roy began Forme D\u2019art gallery to showcase his bronze, clay and plaster sculptures, but he has begun to add artists whose work also intrigues him.\u00a0 Vignettes (5460 Desert Point Drive; (702-221-8350)\u00a0 features original paintings and custom glass work.<\/p>\n The Art Encounter (3979 Spring Mountain Road; 702-227-0220) features sculpture, jewelry, pottery, bronze cast \u201ccritters\u201d from Oregon, relief, deco women and sophisticated Picasso-esque portraits from local artist Jennifer Main and 100 other artists including Loppo Martines.<\/p>\n Romanza Garden Living (3545 South Decatur Blvd.; 702-596-1601) specializes in unique and fabulous outdoor art including antiques and reproductions of folk art from around the world, Grecian and Chinese terra cotta pottery and, at one point, an actual Romanian hay wagon.<\/p>\n Ryan Gallery\u00a0 (2972 S. Rainbow Blvd.; 702-368-0545) offers a wide variety of styles of international and national two- and three-dimensional works from artists from as far away as Australia and Israel.<\/p>\n Carrara Fine Art (<\/em>1236 S. Rainbow; 702-877-4299) carries contemporary marble, alabaster, bronze and stone sculpture and art from over 100 artists including emerging and established artists such as Art Wells, Kim Barrison, Dray, Picasso and Dali.<\/p>\n Go to Gallery P (982 American Pacific Drive, Ste 204, Henderson, 702-568-5429) for owner\/artist Joeseph Palermo\u2019s personal favorite post modern art from his own studio as well as paintings, sculpture, drawings by15 international and local artists.\u00a0 \u201cThe synergy is here and artists are pouring in,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Artist and author Roy Purcell is looking for the feminine within in a series of 7×9-feet etchings tracing female mythology.\u00a0 Purcell Studio & Gallery (2000 Pinto Road, Henderson; 702-564-9565).\u00a0 One of the newest galleries is in downtown Henderson.\u00a0 Old Town Gallery (10 West Pacific Street, Henderson; 702.568.5655) features watercolors, photorealism, sculpture, photography, glass and jewelry from 29 local artists.<\/p>\n Keep up the art theme with Pasta Shop Ristorante (2495 E. Tropicana Ave.; 702-451-1893) where metalworks, wireworks, mosaics, jeweled glassware and silverware by locals artists Ann Alenik and Erin Moss are displayed.\u00a0 Iowa Caf\u00e9 300 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 101 (702-366-1882) is a downtown eatery that offers a local sanctuary for artists and their friends as well as a Wednesday “Games Night,” and music on Friday and Saturday nights.\u00a0 Bootlegger Bistro, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South (702-736-4939) is old-time Vegas as art where the owner is a former crooner who knows how to make a lounge act classy.\u00a0 Local entertainers, celebrities and politicians all call this place home. What Lies Beneath<\/p>\n If You Go<\/p>\n Whether coming by plane or by car, most people think of the 5-miles of Las Vegas Blvd. as Vegas.\u00a0 Most local guidebooks include a basic map of the casino strip that shows where each resort is in relation to the other.\u00a0 To venture off the strip, get a good map but realize that the city is laid out in a fairly logical manner.\u00a0 Las Vegas Blvd. runs north and south crossed by major roads that run for miles in either direction.\u00a0 Since the big roads are named after casinos, Tropicana, Flamingo, Sahara, use those to orient yourself when calling a gallery for directions.<\/p>\n There are dozens of websites including Vegas.com, citysearchlasvegas.com, and lv.com that carries information on places to see, but make sure you call before trekking to a gallery;\u00a0 websites are notoriously out of date when it comes to this kind of listing.\u00a0 For generic travel information contact the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau (800-332-5333) or the Las Vegas Welcome Center (800-821-6624).\u00a0 But perhaps the easiest way is to pick up any of the free magazines and newspapers that carry comprehensive art listings such as Where Las Vegas or Neon.<\/p>\n Fun museums to squeeze in your visit are the Liberace Museum (1775 E. Tropicana Ave.; 702-798-5595); the Las Vegas Art Museum; (9600 W. Sahara Ave.; 702-360-8000); The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum (Venetian 702-414-2440) and the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (702-693-7871).\u00a0 Donna Beam Fine Arts Gallery (University of Nevada, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; 702-895-3893)\u00a0 is the gallery for local arts students that has seen a steady stream of bright young artists who are rapidly gaining international acclaim.<\/p>\n If you still haven\u2019t gotten your fill of arts, try the Annual Invitational Native American Arts Festival<\/a> (702-455-7955), a 3-day program in April of arts, crafts an Native American culture. May is Lei Day (702-251-5793) celebrating the Hawaiian culture with arts, crafts, food and entertainment.\u00a0\u00a0 The holiday season brings The Evening with the Artists (702-227-0220).\u00a0\u00a0 The first Art Las Vegas (312-587-3300), bringing in dealers and collectors from around the world, is scheduled for October.<\/p>\n by Lynn Goya<\/p>\n 11-7-2003<\/p>\n