Arts center offers local artists’ work

Friday, June 6, 1997 | 5:47 a.m.

The Arts Factory was conceived by Wes Isbutt, owner of Studio West Photography, a commercial studio in a portion of the building's second level, and his partner R. Suave, who lives in California. The entire first floor of The Arts Factory building was renovated, encompassing seven studio suites surrounding a common area.

"I want to provide studio space for all the arts, so that tenants' services may be intertwined under one roof," Isbutt said.

For the first time in Las Vegas, two nonprofit art groups -- the Nevada Institute for Contemporary Art and the Contemporary Arts Collective -- are opening shows together in the same building. Each have galleries at The Arts Factory.

The NICA Gallery at The Arts Factory will be showing "A Big Deal," a collection of large paintings, and the CAC Gallery will be displaying the ceramic works of Ann Mulford, Dean Adams and John DeFazio. The CAC will also feature a second showing of contemporary, conceptual, standing and hanging sculptures in another area designated for a coffee shop, scheduled for a fall opening.

Eight local artists will be showing their work including UNLV art department chairman Lee Sido, Tama Scronse, CCSN Professor Amy Kline-Alley, Terry Stolz, Helena Pobst, Terrien Hale, Casey Lewis and Barbara Thompson.

Fine art photography by Mark Andrews and Steve Diskin of Four Corners Framing will feature Native American flutist Daniel Hamilton in their studio for the grand opening, while "The Art of Omananda," a display of Aborigine art, will be showing in another studio.

The Arts Factory also houses Thom Madre artist studio, JAWA architect studio, Direct Sales and Marketing Concepts, and Tattoos-R-Us.