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Posts Tagged ‘Arts’

What isn’t there to say about New York City, it’s one of the most famous cities in the world, renowned for many things; it is one of most influential cities for its arts, history, diversity and many cultural backgrounds, NYC has so many sections within its 5 boroughs that each holds many different museums and establishments of arts.

It hard to say that when you’re in New York City that you are going to visit the museum because there isn’t one specific museum, there are dozens and dozens in the city, unlike other cities that have one or two museums. Within the borough of Manhattan you have the lower part and the upper part, they both have multiple museums within in blocks from each other.

In the lower half you have the village, which houses majority of NYU (‘New York University’) students and allot of independent artists, the vibe there is bursting with creativity, it also home to the ‘Guggenheim Museum Soho’, which has a permanent collection of Andy Warhol paintings. In the upper half, you have areas like Harlem one of the oldest areas in Manhattan that has had its fair share in creative history it is also where the ‘Hispanic Society of America’ is located. Whether it is arts or music, Harlem is synonymous for its culture.

Right down the middle of Manhattan is Central Park and the ‘American Museum of Natural History’, one of the largest museums in New York, it houses thousands of art pieces and spans blocks across Fifth Avenue,  the museums carries art from the dawn of earth to present day. Just further down is the ‘New York Museum of Modern Art‘, which showcases one of the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in the world.

In the borough of Queens you have the ‘Queens Museum of Art’ where the famous model Panorama of the City of New York is. The model is 9335 sq. ft. with 800,000 buildings representing the 320 square miles of New York City. In the borough of Brooklyn is the ‘Brooklyn Museum’, what’s unique about the ‘Brooklyn Museum’ is that it has one of the best collections of Egyptian Art in the world.

The home of the ‘Yankees’, the Bronx borough is also the home of the ‘Bronx Museum of the Arts’, The Museum’s collection consists of over 800 twentieth-century and contemporary works of art in all media.  And the borough of Staten Island has a collection of historical and contemporary art that reflect the history, people and culture of Staten Island.

But that’s not all, with all the city’s famous landmarks like the ‘Empire State Building’, ‘Chrysler Building’ and ‘Statue of Liberty’ there is one landmark that is its own museum. ‘Ellis Island’, known around the world as the “gate way to the new world” is one of the only museums that chronicle the history of immigrants and their struggles and travels to come to the land of the free. When you come to the ‘Ellis Island’ museum, you relish how many people have stepped through those doors and how they shaped America to what it is today. It’s truly astonishing.

But with all the museums I mentioned just now, that is only a fraction of museums that reside in New York City, you wouldn’t be able to visit all of them in one trip. This is even better because now you have a reason to visit again…

For more information on New York City’s museums please visit: http://www.nycgo.com/

Article by Jasper Gonzales

San Francisco, one of the largest art cities in the country, if not the world. As I travel across the northern west coast, I think of all the wonderful cities with all their different backgrounds and cultures. I’ve been to New York, I’ve been to Chicago I’ve been to LA, etc. but none quite compare to how unique the art community is in San Francisco, as I started my journey I realized how much of a massive scale it is, yes there is an art district but San Francisco’s art community stretches out across every end of the city.

Walking down Mission Street I’m greeted by Artist Ally, the space covers more than 4000 sq. feet, one of the largest galleries in San Francisco and houses over 50 artists that, just further down the road is the ‘Cartoon Art Museum’, a place where illustration is dominate. The museum has over 6,000 pieces of original, cartoon, animation art, displays an array of editorial cartoons, comic books, graphic novels, anime, Sunday funnies to Saturday morning cartoons. It is one of the only museums in the west coast that is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of cartoon art in all its forms.

The ‘Museum of Modern Art’ is another art institution that resides in San Francisco, with over 26,000 pieces it is also the only museum in the west coast to showcase a large collection of modern and contemporary art. From MOMA I head over to  the John Berggruen Gallery in Union Square, stepping into the gallery I’m in awe of all the 20th century art by American and European artists, such exquisite art that make you think what inspired the artist to create such masterpieces.

But it isn’t just the galleries that make up San Francisco’s art community, it is also all the street vendors and events that bring art directly to the enthusiast. In the heart of the Union Square shopping district I just so happen to run into an art sale, artists cover the grounds displaying their artwork and selling their passion, I spoke with a few of the artists and they explain that this is a monthly event and that the San Francisco locals and tourists make it possible for the art sale to continue business.

Art is everywhere, it line up and down the streets all over San Francisco, from Fisherman’s Wharf to Market Street. Artists create huge wall murals, and mosaic sculpture are scattered all over town, they bring the museum outside. You can’t walk a block without seeing art; from the ground up you’ll see it all over. From recycled material turned sculptures of interesting proportions, to the billboard size paintings that cover sides of buildings, for the art enthusiasts, locals, or visiting tourists, it’s one of the reasons why you’ll love this city.

For more information about San Francisco visit: http://www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com/

Article by Jasper Gonzales

Nevada is a robust state with cities and towns rich with culture, one of those towns being Henderson in between Las Vegas and Boulder City.  Henderson is a town emerged with arts and every year hundreds of locals and out of towners come to visit for the 13^th annual ‘ArtFest of Henderson’.

The art festival stretches over a mile long and houses an array of artists showcasing and selling their art. This year they have different venues happening at the festival to quench everyone’s pallet. For example, a chalk art contest where artist draw huge murals depicting many of the artists visions, two stages where musicians and live bands entertain the spectators, authors meet and greet as well as a live reading of their books, the ‘National Guard’s’ obstacle courses to keep the kids physically active, and about a dozen different food and beverage vendors to supply festival goers with local restaurants cuisines.

As I walk the festival grounds, I see the art scene is flourishing; so many artists with different backgrounds of art fill the space, presenting fantastic artwork that could fill up a museum ten times over by captivating your senses as you stop and gaze at some of the pieces. There are more artists here than last year which brings a unique take to what you normally see, especially with the many Las Vegas hotel/casino museums. It is such a great thing because it takes you from the clandestine settings that many Vegas tourists are use to; you only think that such beautiful art is only at the Bellagio, Wynn, or Venetian but when you get to the ‘ArtFest of Henderson’ your perspective of fine art is opened to a dynamic scope of everything in between. It’s a stunning and refreshing feeling that you just take in and appreciate.

I noticed many of the artists I’ve met also have this appreciation for the ‘ArFest‘ for it is one of the biggest art festivals in Nevada. They explain that with the amount of people that come to the two day event it boosts their profits by a large significance, especially with the way the economy is right now. It seems like the love of art that the spectators have is making them buy art as if it was water.

However, no matter whether the economy is stable or not that wouldn’t stop the artists or spectators from being out there.  The ‘ArtFest’ is such a fun event that artists are happy and proud to show off their artwork, enthused to interact with spectators, and the fact that it’s a terrific atmosphere to be in. The live music playing as you watch the creative chalk artists create larger than life size art,  checking out one of a kind metal work creations that resemble your favorite animals while dining on great food; thinking to yourself how they designed such interesting work fashioned from metal is nothing less than intriguing.  Is acrylic more your liking? If so, you could watch painters do an open air paint demonstration, meanwhile sipping a cocktail from one of the many drink booths.

No matter what your interests are in art, the ‘ArtFest of Henderson’ has it in one form or another. You just have to bare the one mile walk to find it… = )

For more information about the ‘ArtFest of Henderson’ visit:

http://www.888artfest.com/art-shows/nevada/artfest-of-henderson

Article by Jasper Gonzales

May 8, 2010 was a great night for the Arts, and the city of Las Vegas. That night the art community of Las Vegas came together for ‘Art N’ Sole’, a charity event where artists designed one of a kind shoes which were sold in a silent auction to benefit  the ‘Goodie Two Shoes Foundation’. All of the proceeds of the night’s event were donated to ensure children received shoes.

Shoes you may ask? Yes, shoes.

The purpose of the ‘Goodie Two Shoes Foundation’ is to help under privileged children in Las Vegas Nevada, receive a pair of shoes. That is the goal that Nikki and Tony Berti set out to accomplish; “There are thousands of kids in the Las Vegas area that don’t even have something so simple as a pair of shoes.” say’s Nikki to the on lookers at the event. The ‘Goodie Two Shoes Foundation’ originally known as the ‘Goodie Two Shoes Giveaway’ started in 2003, after Nikki and Tony were involved with a similar program during Tony’s days as an offensive lineman for the ‘San Diego Chargers’ in the ‘NFL’.

‘Goodie Two Shoes’, a volunteer program that has helped around 4,000 children a year since its inception,  travels across Las Vegas donating new shoes to children of disadvantage families, whom do not posess the resources to supply them. Children that would otherwise have to alternate their only pair of shoes with their siblings just so they can go to school. Making the situation worse is the psychological challenges these children face that keep them from enjoying normal childhood experiences. Children whom see their peers running around and playing, but are held back by the worry that engaging with them may ruin the pair of shoes that their brother or sister would have to wear the next day. It is hard to fathom that a simple pair of shoes could prohibit a child from such crucial development and education. All because they have to stay behind, due to the fact they do not have shoes to walk in.

The GTSF (Goodie Two Shoes Foundation) is here to help prevent those situations; when the GTSF first started, it quickly garnered the support of the community. With the help and outreach of their supporters, they were able to add additional events to their program like the ‘Art N’ Sole’ event this past Saturday. ‘Art N’ Soul’ was a spectacular event, so many artist were in attendance as they each had a different take on their design. With shoe donations from ‘Zappos.com’, they utilized many styles of art to produce one of a kind shoes. Many art supporters even the likes of Siegfried Fischbacher of the world famous Las Vegas magic duo ‘Siegfried and Roy’ was at hand for the silent auction.

In 2010, the GTSF launched its shoe mobile. A one of a kind shoe store on wheels that travels school to school, meet one on one with children, measure their feet and make sure they have a proper fitting pair of shoes. With this mobile unit, their goal now is to serve 10,000 children a year.

People realize the importance of a child’s education, but often do not realize that something like a simple pair of shoes can change the outcome of a child’s development. It’s unsettling to think that something so simple, that we often take for granted, can have such a profound effect on our child’s train of thought. It gives them the relief that they can have a normal life. A life without worrying about whether or not they can go to school cause their lack of shoes, or that their shoe will fall off due to it being worn out, not having to think about their siblings borrowing their shoes. A shoe that they can call their own. Without having to worry about these issues they can focus on more important things like; going to school, getting an education, what they want to be when they grow up and acting like the child that they are.

For more information about the “Goodie Two Shoes Foundation” or to donate to their cause, visit:

http://www.goodietwoshoes.org/

Article by Jasper Gonzales

Every year during mid April, Boulder City has its annual fine arts festival; show casing a wide array of art; many artists  from all over the west coast come to the art festival, located at Bicentennial Park in Boulder City, Nevada, just west of the ‘Hoover Dam’;  artist come to show off their work ranging from oil paintings to sculptures.

It’s always a unique experience to be here every year because it’s never the same; wandering the aisles through the festival is always a treat because you may never know what wonderful item you may find here. And whatever your  price range is, buyers don’t need to worry, wallets won’t be harmed here, beautiful giclee reproductions are here for  more than half the price of their original counterparts, and you’ll be able to find many items at different price ranges.

You could spend a whole day here; just outside the festival is Boulder City itself, an art filled town that has had its hands embracing the arts for years. No matter where you go you will see the history of Boulder City’s artists displaying their  art all over the town. It’s an art lovers dream.

There are many things to do here in Boulder City aside from the art festival, from the many quaint shops here or the fabulous dining experiences from a wide selection of restaurants, to their art galleries like the ‘Artist Guild of Boulder City’ gallery or the art boutique shop of ‘Eclectica’, there is too much fun here in Boulder City.

But don’t take it from me; you have to see it for yourself…

For more information about the ‘Boulder City Arts Festival’ visit:

http://www.bouldercityartguild.com/ArtFestival.html

Article by Jasper Gonzales

It’s that time of the year again where the film festivals open up like a dam that has opened it’s floodgates. The artistic creativity of hungry directors flow like the rushing water that is engulfing the masses of thirsty individuals wanting a new original idea that will hopefully stir up the film industry.

One of the film festivals this year that is getting the attention of spectators (which might I add) also includes the ‘Screen Actors Guild’ is the ‘Dam Short Film Festival’ that is held every year in Boulder City, Nevada; just a stone’s throw away from the glitzy glamour of Las Vegas.

You’d expect the film festival with it being miles away from the entertainment capital of the world to be over shadowed by shows like ‘Cirque Du Soleil’ & the vast night clubs that line up the strip, but instead crowds flock in from all over the west coast to get a glimps of the vast potential of the independent film community, most of them; are young college student wanting to make an impact & solidify their names among director giants like ‘Night of the Living Dead’s’ George Romero and ‘Monty Pythons’ Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones.

See, unlike there big financed counter parts like the ‘Tribeca Film Festival’ and ‘Sundance’ who are backed by the likes of Robert De Niro and Robert Redford, the ‘Dam Short Film Festival’ was created in 2003 by Lee and Anita Lanier who both, like De Niro and Redford, loved independent films. Lee & Anita loved it so much that they would travel the U.S., Canada and Europe just to see them.

The festival, in it’s sixth year running, has grown so much in popularity that they have more film submissions growing year by year & have definitely gotten the attention from major sponsors like ‘The Art Institute of Las Vegas’. So when you think to yourself about catching a flick at your nearest multiplex, don’t forget that there are many alternatives as in film festivals that can quench your thirst for the next big thing in film expirence…

For more information on the ‘Dam Short Film Festival’ visit: http://damshortfilm.org/

Article by Jasper Gonzales