• Local, State and Nat'l News

2nd Annual Artexpo Las Vegas Kicks Off September 18

The 2nd Annual International Artexpo Las Vegas (AELV) kicks off Thursday, September 18 with a VIP preview and benefit supporting the Sunrise Children’s Foundation (SCF). AELV takes place for the second consecutive year at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, located in Bayside Exhibit Hall D. The benefit preview, intended for trade and VIP guests only, will offer attendees a first look at artworks shown by more than 300 exhibitors from over 20 countries worldwide. Following the opening night celebration — which will feature hors d’oeuvres and cocktails throughout the evening — International AELV 2008 is open to the trade and public September 19-21.

A centerpiece of opening night is the Artexpo Silent Auction, featuring artworks by a number of International AELV’s most prominent artists, with proceeds benefiting SCF. Spicing up the festivities is “Artexpo Culinary Art,” a presentation of culinary interpretations by top Las Vegas chefs of pieces from top Artexpo artists. To get the bidding going, the dishes created for this feast for the eyes will be unveiled by the chefs at 7:00 p.m. in the center court area of AELV where the auction items will be displayed. Participants include: Vincent Pilon, the award-winning Executive Pastry Chef of Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino and Brian Howard, Executive Sous Chef for Chef Kerry Simon’s CatHouse at the Luxor.

Following AELV’s art and food-filled opening night benefit and preview, highlights from the three-day show include a Sept. 18 keynote address at 11:15 a.m. by Craig Kausen, president of Linda Jones Enterprises (LJE), home to the art of legendary film director and creator Chuck Jones (who is Kausen’s grandfather) and daily interactive live painting events with world-famous marine-life artist and muralist Wyland (Center Court, 1-3 p.m.). Former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, now also an acclaimed visual artist, will appear on Sept. 19 to discuss his work (in the SPS Limelight Booth, 1-3 p.m.). Another exhibiting artist, contemporary painter Christopher M., designed AELV 2008’s official poster and will be unveiling it at the preview night.

International AELV primarily spotlights nationally and internationally renowned artists and the galleries and publishers representing them, with an emphasis on original paintings, sculptures and limited-edition prints. There’s something for every taste, with pieces by artists ranging from the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood to Dutch master Rembrandt to Andy Warhol, Fabian Perez, Romero Britto, Yuroz, Sergey Cherep, Brian O’Neill and Anne Packard, among many others. The show also includes the first-time SOLO section, highlighting emerging and independent artists; the EXPOSURE section, featuring photographic images; and the AmericanStyle-sponsored Decorative Arts & Design Pavilion, featuring fine crafts and functional art.

International AELV is produced by The Art Group, the No. 1 worldwide producer of art shows and art-related publications, including Artexpo New York (NYC’s No. 1 art market) and Art Miami in addition to the leading trade publications Art Business News, DECOR and VOLUME.

To purchase tickets for International AELV’s September 18 launch and benefit for the non-profit Sunrise Children’s Foundation, call 888.608.5300. Based in Las Vegas, SCF offers 12 programs operating throughout southern Nevada that serve more than 200,000 individuals and their families annually. SCF’s focus is pediatric health and education and they also oversee the SCF Education Health Center at Agassi Academy. Learn more about SCF’s important work at www.sunrisechildren.org.

More than 3,000 trade buyers and 7,000 individual consumers and collectors are expected to attend AELV, which runs:

Friday, Sept. 19 Noon – 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information, logon to www.artexpos.com