Juhl announces Artist in Residence

Juhl, a 344–residence, loft-style community that spans an entire city block in downtown Las Vegas and known for its flexible floor plans and industrial chic design aesthetic, announces its 2017-18 Artist in Residence. Krystal Ramirez, a multidisciplinary artist who works primarily in textiles, was selected by a jury from more than 30 applicants.

The Juhl Artist in Residency initiative invites working Nevada artists to apply for the program, which provides select artists the opportunity to live and work rent-free at Juhl in the heart of downtown Las Vegas for a residency of up to six months. The residency includes a two-level live/work space at Juhl with a ground-level studio space of about 1,000 square feet and approximately 1,000 square feet of living space on the second floor. Ramirez will begin her Juhl residency on Oct. 1, 2017.

A first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants, Ramirez’s works emote themes of justice and visibility, building off her internal dialogues and offering a discourse on anxiety, expression and communication rooted in her Chicana identity.

Ramirez was recently invited to contribute to the Barrick Museum of Arts collection and is one of 30 Nevada artists whose work is featured in Tilting the Basin: Contemporary Art in Nevada in downtown Las Vegas. In addition to showing in galleries around Nevada, Ramirez’s work has been on view at the Clark County Government Center and exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Center, Nevada Art Museum and Winchester Cultural Center. She is a 2009 graduate of UNLV in fine arts.

“Inclusivity informs my work now more than ever,” Ramirez said. “As a female artist and person of color, I’ve felt the responsibility to elevate my voice while engaging different socio-political issues that affect and marginalize communities. Residing at Juhl in the heart of the Arts District in downtown Las Vegas will provide me with a community of diverse and creative individuals and will be a compelling environment to advance my artistic, socially focused vision.”

Ramirez was selected by a jury consisting of Uri Vaknin, Juhl owner and board member at the Art Museum at Symphony Park; Justin Favela, Nevada artist and current Juhl Artist in Residence; Michele Quinn, principal, MCQ, Michele Quinn Fine Art Advisory, nationally recognized art consultant and curator, and board member at the Art Museum at Symphony Park; and Katie O’Neill, chairman of the board at the Art Museum at Symphony Park.

“It was tremendous to see the vast amount of talent that applied for this residency, which made the selection process very difficult,” Quinn said. “The jury believes Krystal is the ideal candidate for the residency because we are confident in her ability to maximize this opportunity to grow and develop her work. I’m personally very excited to see what she does!”

According to Vaknin, a partner at KRE Capital LLC, whose company, in partnership with Dune Real Estate Partners and Northcap, purchased Juhl in 2013 as DK Las Vegas, the quality of the applicants reflects the depth of talent that exists in Las Vegas.

“Many from our thriving arts community also share a profound passion for the heart of our city’s creative center — downtown Las Vegas,” Vaknin said. “Because we believe the arts are foundational to building community, we created the Artist in Residence program at Juhl. It’s one small but significant way we nurture creative talent and foster the arts.”

Vaknin said Juhl is a mecca for artists in downtown Las Vegas because of its location between the Arts District and Fremont East Entertainment District. “Juhl’s architecture and contemporary design aesthetic naturally attract artists and creative types who appreciate the community’s progressive vibe,” Vaknin said. “And, as work on a future art museum at Symphony Park progresses, downtown Las Vegas will continue to evolve as an arts community. Juhl is ideally positioned in the center of it all; at Juhl, creativity lives here.”

Juhl encompasses multiple buildings, including a high-rise, a mid-rise, brownstones, live/work spaces, retail spaces and a warehouse-style loft building. Many of its residences can be customized via 130 unique floor plan configurations, including many that are one-of-a-kind within the property. Homes at Juhl range from 600 to just under 2,000 square feet and start in the high $100,000s. Recently refreshed, Juhl boasts an upgraded resort-style pool with cabanas, lobby and co-op working spaces that cater to its professional residents. Hallmarks of Juhl include flexible floor plans, large terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize natural light.

Private balconies, 10-foot ceilings, energy-efficient design and details, exposed concrete surfaces and mechanicals and upgraded fixtures and surfaces all combine to create Juhl’s cool urban vibe. Amenities include an al fresco screening room; two-story fitness facility overlooking the pool and spa; 10th-floor wine patio, dining deck and fire pit; 24-hour security; gated parking structure with assigned resident parking; and full-service concierge. A summer kitchen, called “Canvas Grill,” is the perfect spot for warm-weather entertaining.

And a nearby Urban Garden plot exclusively for use by Juhl residents makes it possible to grow fresh herbs and vegetables — in the heart of the city. For more information, visit juhllv.com.