Columnist Scott Dickensheets: Introducing our new ‘Arts’ mascots

Scott Dickensheets

Tuesday, March 9, 1999 | 10:06 a.m.

John Galane has only been involved in the arts a few months, but he's equipped with the long perspective of a native Las Vegan, and he believes he knows what culture here needs: some really good mascots.

Thus "The Arts," a pair of Picasso-esque suits, all cubes and tubes adorned with facial features. They are to be Mr. and Mrs. Arts, the symbolic fun couple of Las Vegas culture. As conceived by Galane and the gang down at the Allied Arts Council, The Arts would show up at any public function that two people in Cubist getups can get into, thereby promoting the arts. They would also talk up the cause in local schools and neighborhood centers, in hopes kids will soon be dragging parents to cultural events if their friends The Arts will be there.

"It's meant to be the 'Got milk?' of Las Vegas arts," Galane says.

He'd settle for the If it doesn't get all over the place, it doesn't belong in your face of Las Vegas arts, or the Budweiser frogs of Las Vegas arts. Life is short, art hard -- something like that. Whatever it takes to get people to notice the city's cultural life.

Judging from the small models sitting on Galane's day-job desk at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, the costumes -- designed by fellow Allied Arts board member Paula Velayo -- will be quite snappy. A costume maker will build them for cost and the Merica Agency is designing an ad campaign for free.

"The one thing we're missing is funding," Galane says. "That's what we have to work on." And how: Allied Arts estimates it will cost $206,000 to implement, including buying ad time. While the National Endowment for the Arts has chipped in $10,000, the council will still need to raise about $106,000. Galane is certain it will come together. "In two months we've gone from nothing to this. That's how motivated and excited I am by it."

Of course, it's an open question as to whether this sort of mascotry will work for culture -- people cavorting in oversize gimmick suits seem more suited to the sidelines of minor-league athletic events than the brainier milieus of art. The costumes, while cool to the max, don't address what I think are the real problems of cultural growth here: A.) getting those who aren't habitual consumers of art to take it seriously, to dare the initial befuddlement of contemporary painting or dance and give it a whirl ; and B.) distinguishing the arts from entertainment and educating residents about the difference.

In those regards, The Arts, by joining the rising Disneyfication of America, may actually work against the long-term interests of culture. A.) It's hard to take big Cubist costumes seriously; and B.) they may further smudge the line between art and entertainment, a line that desperately needs unsmudging.

Galane doesn't see it that way. "It is my belief that if we create an exciting vehicle to get people (out to art events), the word will spread, there will be more cohesiveness, and then we'll be able to raise money for the arts." But, to his credit, he realizes the limits of what people in weird costumes can accomplish. "It's going to take a couple of years to catch on," he says. "They're not going to be the be-all and end-all to get people into the arts. But it's a vehicle. We want to build excitement." Well, good luck. And if that "Got milk?" approach doesn't work, you might try a "Just do it" instead.