enculturating las vegas into the next millennium... art, dance, film, music, poetry, theater, history, nature and everything else that enriches the lives of those who live and visit southern nevada... Since 2003...

Thursday, February 24, 2005

The Spores w/ Molly McGuire at the Double Down, Vacation (All I Even Wanted)

So I'm reading Sin City Sounds and one of the bands listed to play is The Spores with Molly McGuire. Being a former New Orleans resident, I got to see a two-piece that she used to front named Rhudabega. The band was great and she was a phenomenal performer, throwing down on her bass guitar.

Your Local Scene has an interview with her, and the band website has songs available here. The Spores at the Double Down and the Voodoo Organist at the Aristocrat both coincide with a vacation, so I get to miss both of those bands.

Speaking of vacation, I'm going on one. Which means one or two more articles before Saturday and new ones on my return. I know I've been slack on writing lately, which is sad because I went to the first day of the Dam Short Film Fest, and got a press tour of the Atomic Testing Museum, both of which were great.

So, I resolve to write more about the goings-on in our fair town! . . . After I get back.

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More Galleries and Artist Spaces Courtesy of Cindy Funkhouser & Friends

Want to know about the latest Downtown art developments? The March issue of Las Vegas Life has a great article about Cindy Funkhouser (FunkHouse, Whirlygig Inc.), Naomi Arin (Dust Gallery) and Julie Brewer (also Whirlygig Inc.). Their latest venture is gallery/artist rental spaces at 1551 S. Commerce St. The article details the plans for the new property, as well as an additional arts property. It's a bit unfortunate that these new projects are so far away from The Arts Factory and galleries that make up the core of the arts district. While this dilutes the concentration of arts-related businesses in that area, the addition of these new projects can only be a benefit to the local arts scene.

Bonus link: Click here to see what the new building looks like from the sky.

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Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Volunteers Needed To Serve As Guides For Historic Downtown Post Office During Centennial Celebration

More on the post office/museum courtesy of the city's website. Some of the employees at the museum have taken to calling it the "Post Modern".

As part of the city’s upcoming Centennial, the city is looking for volunteers to serve as museum guides for the historic downtown post office. The city is now accepting applications for volunteers interested in giving tours of the building during the months of May, June and July. Architects, historians, artists, graduate students, educational professionals as well as experienced museum guides and those with a passion for local history are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will attend weekly classes and training sessions during March and April including lectures by local historians and preservation experts.

Applications are due by February 28. Those interested in becoming part of the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse Post Modern docent team and would like to receive an application form, can contact Kim Jones at the city of Las Vegas at 229-4739.

These museum tours are one of the many civic and public events scheduled for the building during the Centennial celebration.

The city recently marked the closure of the post office with a ceremony to recognize the longtime employees and box holders. Last year, the City Council approved a plan to turn the historic building into a cultural center complete with exhibition space and programming focusing on the city’s colorful and complex social, political and aesthetic history.

The National Register-nominated facility, located just west of City Hall, is touted by experts as the most refined and best preserved of the city’s Depression-era architecture and is considered a regionally important example of neoclassical public architecture. Much of the interior has retained original features and decorative ornament. Improvements to preserve the structure are planned and will conform to federal standards for the treatment of historic properties.

The city contracted with Chattel Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Inc. to conduct a study on the most appropriate reuse of the building. As part of the study, the consultants interviewed more than 140 people from throughout the community   involved in government, arts, history, tourism and related fields.

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Friday, February 11, 2005

Remembering the Guggenheim Las Vegas

This January was the 2 year anniversary of the closing of the Guggenheim Las Vegas. Managing Director of the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum Elizabeth Herridge spoke of the now-gone museum and mission of the existing one on KNPR's State of Nevada and her interview can be heard here (RealAudio).

For your enjoyment, here are some pictures of a museum that no longer exists.

Guggenheim Las Vegas

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