First Street Art trail gets off to enthusiastic start

Get up and explore the art.

That’s what Councilman Bob Coffin and the Las Vegas Arts Commission want people to do the next time they find themselves on First Street in downtown Las Vegas.

The city unveiled the First Street Art Trail on Nov. 6 with four, of what officials hope to become many more, art projects.

The art trail, which Coffin said is funded by gasoline taxes, is spread out between Boulder and Bridger avenues on First Street.

We have declared war on the automobile, Coffin announced to a small assembly of art supporters in the heart of Boulder Plaza, on Boulder between Main and First streets. The art trail is part of his plan to improve some of the streets downtown, starting with First.

The first four projects along the art trail are “Cycled Musings,” “Vegas Jackpot Art Cache,” “Snowball in Vegas” and “Strata” of the “Windows on First” series.

The artists, who responded to the city’s call for their participation in the project, are all locals active in the valley’s arts community. Seven artists were recognized last week by Coffin and Arts Commission Vice Chairman Glenn Nowak for their part in constructing the first four pieces. The artists are Mary Hill, Suzanne Hackett-Morgan, Elizabeth Blau-Ogilvie, Lisa Fields Clark, Jesse Smigel, Audrey Barcio and Rebecca Pugh.

From the conception of the art trail to the art creation to the installation, it was all a collaborative effort, said Nancy Deaner, director of the office of cultural affairs for the Las Vegas Arts Commission. Deaner said cultural programming specialist Lisa Stamanis, who was not available to attend the night’s event, was the mastermind behind it all.

Hill, one of the contributing artists, agreed with Deaner on how much of a group effort the art trail is.

“I have to thank the city for introducing collaboration between artists,” she said.

Just a few steps walking left out of Boulder Plaza stands a green bicycle-shaped figure with a quote from philosopher and poet Lao Tzu, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Hill, a graphic designer for 20 years, who dubbed the structure “Cycled Musings,” constructed the entire piece out of a bike rack.

This reconstructed bike rack has quotes that correlate with the theme of promoting foot transportation. The entire project took her about two years to put together, Hill noted in a “meander book” she gave to viewers.

Not far from “Cycled Musings,” on the corner of First Street and Coolidge Avenue, sits an orange, blue-collared cat. The feline, perched on a concrete base, is more than 9 feet tall.

“Snowball in Vegas” was created by Eccentric Sculpture and Props owner Jesse Smigel, whom Neon Museum Executive Director Danielle Kelly once called a “desert mad scientist.” Smigel said it took him 400 labor hours to construct the hard-coated polystyrene foam sculpture, which weighs in at about 580 pounds of faux-feline mass.

“I like to make art that is viscerally enjoyed,” he said.

Smigel wanted to spark interaction between the sculpture and viewers.

“The idea was to have this cat head that’s licking its paw. Well, the paw isn’t there and you, as the involved agent, are supposed to interact and have somebody take a photo of you,” Smigel said as he placed the side of his face against the cat’s tongue.

The “Vegas Jackpot Art Cache” is considered the art form of “geocaching,” a treasure hunt that uses GPS coordinates. To experience the cache, created by Hackett-Morgan, Blau-Ogilvie and Clark and with the help of the city’s Art and Design Team, art hunters are taken on a journey from Boulder Street to City Hall on Clark Avenue to follow clues and discover prizes with a notebook and stamp pad. Information on the art cache and its clues can be found on the city’s office of cultural affairs website at artslasvegas.org.

One of the first installments of the “Windows on First” series, an exhibit of City Hall between Clark and Lewis avenues, “Strata” was designed by UNLV students Barcio and Pugh. The city described their piece as “an interpretation of the effect of time and light on the Mojave Desert landscape,” which is expressed with the colors, lines and layers used.

Nowak said onlookers are encouraged to “stop, look and reflect on Southern Nevada’s long history, before the glitz.”

Deaner told the group of art supporters that the First Street Art Trail is here to stay and will continue to add new pieces.

“From Main Street to Las Vegas Boulevard, there will be art everywhere.”

Contact reporter Cassandra Taloma at ctaloma@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381.