Casino Press Releases
West Las Vegas Arts Center Exhibit Celebrates Black History Month
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- Parent Category: Non Hotel Press Releases
- Category: City Of Las Vegas Press Releases
“A Celebration Of African Heritage” By Mario Lorne Smith Jr. Through May 1
In honor of Black History Month, the West Las Vegas Arts Center is exhibiting “A Celebration of African Heritage” by Mario Lorne Smith Jr. through May 1 in its Community Gallery, located at 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. This unusual exhibit encourages visitors to touch and feel the artworks. The gallery is open Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The public is invited to meet the artist at a reception on Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. in the gallery. A live entertainment performance will be provided at 3 p.m. during
the reception. Admission to the exhibition and reception are free. For more information, call the center at 229-4800.
Smith, also known as Minx, is a native of The Bahamas. He grew up in the islands and Holland, and speaks English and Dutch. He has lived in several parts of Europe and Asia, including London, Malaysia and Indonesia, and his art reflects influences from all the cultures he has experienced. He began expressing his creativity in artworks as a young child, even designing and creating elaborate costumes and floats for Junkanoo, a Bahamian festival similar to Carnival in Brazil, from age 12. He moved to the United States in 2006.
Primarily a self-taught artist, his creations include murals, paintings, sculptures, sketches, floats, costumes, backdrops, theatrical props, banners and art on clothing and accessories. For more information on the artist and examples of his art, visit www.minxoriginals.com.
The arts center, operated by the city of Las Vegas, is the site of numerous culturally focused activities. Classes are offered in tap, hip hop, modern, ballet and African dance, youth theatre and African drum. Private lessons are offered for piano and voice. In addition to arts, the West Las Vegas Arts Center also offers Tae kwon do, music production and studio engineering classes. The next class sessions begin Feb. 22 and April 12. Advance registration is required for classes. All of these classes are value priced and affordable for a six-week session. Call the arts center for information, pick up a copy of the current ArtQ, the program guide and class schedule at the center, or go online to view it at www.lasvegasparksandrec.com.