Benefit to help damaged gallery get back on its feet

After nearly a month of trying to reopen its doors to the public, Place Gallery in the Las Vegas Arts District had to give up on its dream of hosting a portion of the monthly First Friday arts festival. Even worse for local art enthusiasts, this could be just the beginning of a longer layoff.

“I’m sad to announce that due to currant (sic) events Place Gallery is not going to be open on First Friday,” resident artist Gia Ray posted on the gallery’s Facebook page.

She said that the building may have to close its doors for good and is currently uninhabitable due to missing store-front windows, broken air conditioners and structural damage.

The gallery, however, isn’t going down without a fight. The damage caused by a nearby NV Energy substation explosion July 11 can be covered by insurance — albeit with a high-priced deductible for the gallery’s artists. There’s also the issue of powering the cooler system as the gallery plays host to various events, including recent skateboard shows, during the summer months. Managing director Gina Quaranto has publicly pondered a move from the gallery’s current location at 1054 S. Main St.

Local artists are encouraged to donate artwork to adorn the wooden planks lining the blown-out glass storefront. A benefit called “Picking up the Pieces — a benefit for PLACE” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday at Alios Gallery, 1221 S. Main St., sponsored by Vegas Valley Paranormal.

The event will include an exhibition of donated artwork and a $3 raffle for gift certificates, gift baskets and other prizes from local businesses. Participants can make arrangements with Ray to donate their artwork and other items via the Facebook page or by calling 742-6241 before Thursday night.

Alios also will pick up the LVSK8 IV skateboarding exhibition recently extended through August and previously hosted at Place. A show is set for 6 p.m. Friday.

If you won’t be in town on Friday and still want to help with reconstruction efforts, you can donate via PayPal. You also can find more information at Place Gallery’s Facebook page. Friends of the gallery can subscribe to e-mail alerts and see other news at placegallery.wordpress.com.

While the loss of Place Gallery may affect the art community, there are still more than 20 arts-related attractions for visitors to downtown Las Vegas during First Friday. This week’s event will feature live bands, live artists and sculptors and plenty of food.

“The explosion is bad, but it didn’t wipe out the entire arts district,” local resident Brian Paco Alvarez said. “And most of the damage happened along Main Street north of Charleston, between Coolidge and Charleston, but nothing that would impede business as usual (for most galleries).”

The event has grown in size and magnitude for nearly a decade, and a loss of this month’s festivities would be devastating to the organization of First Friday, First Friday organizer Cindy Funkhouser said. Replacements and reorganizations may occasionally occur, but organizers and residents say it will take more than a few fires to knock out Las Vegas’ arts district.

“It will be eight years in October, and we have never missed one for any reason,” Funkhouser said. “And we can’t miss one; we can’t afford to. It will definitely be happening.”