‘Las Vegas Shutdown 2020’ Art Gallery Opens
As the world seeks to navigate new adventures and opportunities in the wake of COVID-19, iconic Las Vegas-based gallery owner and director, Tony Carnevale, partnered with architecture photographer, John Mastrogiacomo to design imagery and experiences capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
Carnevale led the project, in close collaboration, and partnership, with Mastrogiacomo, and the duo remained true visionaries, and driving forces, throughout this series.
The goal was to capture the landscape of the ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ while it was at a standstill. In an effort to document these times, which are just as unique as the city itself, Carnevale and Mastrogiacomo developed an eBook, titled ‘Las Vegas Shutdown 2020’.
The online publication is intended to capture the sentiment of this unprecedented era to advocates of Las Vegas, while also enticing a desire to visit. In addition to sharing this riveting communication with the world, Carnevale welcomes visitors to his Las Vegas galleries to experience our destination’s growth and resilience firsthand.
In the immediate wake of the shutdown, Carnevale and Mastrogiacomo moved to action very quickly, anticipating the impact the pandemic would have on Las Vegas.
With these poignant insights at hand, Carnevale and Mastrogiacomo recognized there was a need to provide captivating content without a tangible stage. Subsequently, the ‘Las Vegas Shutdown 2020’ eBook and limited edition fine art exhibition came to life. Images from the photography series are available in limited editions of only 20.
Destination Las Vegas typically welcomes more than 40 million visitors annually, with an economic impact of nearly 60 billion dollars.
The state of Nevada thrives on the business of tourism and it is undoubtedly the lifeblood of our economy. The team recognized drastic change was on the horizon and took rapid action to be sure our valued visitors, and workforce, were not shortchanged in these trying times.
“We will never forget St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2020”. Carnevale recalls, “In the early evening, we were told about the shutdown and just after midnight, we began to live it”.
Carnevale and Mastrogiacomo began bringing the vision for their project to life on March 18, 2020, the day immediately following the shutdown. They scouted locations and determined time frames that would accurately, and creatively, depict the environment throughout the city’s world-famous landscape.
The collaboration yielded striking content, with examples including an intimate masked wedding ceremony near the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, empty casino floors lacking their signature neon energy, the infamous Las Vegas Boulevard entirely free of traffic and ‘CLOSED’ signs displayed at places of worship throughout the destination commonly coined ‘Sin City’.
“From day one, our energy level went into overdrive as we knew what lied before us was unprecedented”, said Carnevale. “Photographing and capturing the new landscape of our word remains a top priority in defending our community and famous brand.”
The ‘Las Vegas Shutdown 2020’ eBook is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple Books at the accessible cost of $3.99.
Carnevale’s extensive collection of artistry, including imagery from ‘Las Vegas Shutdown 2020’ and beyond, currently operates within two Las Vegas locations inside Appian Way in Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino and The Forum Shops at Caesars.
Learn more by visiting https://www.carnevalegallery.com/behind-the-lens .
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