Great beyond: Art exhibit encompasses global works

Kimberley McGee

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2000 | 2:42 a.m.

What: "Art Beyond Borders."

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 13.

Where: Las Vegas Art Museum.

Cost: $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for students, children under 12 free.

Information: 360-8000.

The measured blue lines on a yellow legal pad held the plans for the future of an art exhibit that crosses delicate political lines to bring together art from every nation.

Maryann Del Pizzo and Ed Solomon, self-described art lovers, hunched over their dining room table on a summer night in 1980 and drew up the plans to bring art from countries around the world together in a traveling exhibit.

The fruits of their decades-long labors fill the white walls of the Las Vegas Art Museum in the exhibit in "Art Beyond Borders" through Nov. 13.

"Twenty years ago we sat down and wanted to do something," Del Pizzo said.

"We were younger then," Solomon said.

"We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into," Del Pizzo said.

"And how much we'd get out of it," Solomon said.

The exhibit is a visual and physical testament to their efforts.

"All of this is a United Nations of art," Del Pizzo said. "A place where every country is represented equally."

The two business persons with a thirst for art began a quest 20 years ago to cross international boundaries through the expressive medium of art. They formed the International Museum of Twentieth Century Arts (TIMOTCA) in 1980, which gathers pieces from countless countries and shows them around the world.

Just as the Olympic Games are a gathering of nations competing on a level playing field and politics are pushed aside, TIMOTCA was created as an unbiased venue for artists to express themselves, represent their countries and exchange ideas through art.

While politics might separate the people of one country from another, the artists' work hangs within feet of each other.

A colorful landscape painting from Haiti rests next to a Monet-inspired sea from Mexico, and a peaceful farm scene by an artist from Madagascar in stands in contrast to a Korean contribution in the 45-piece exhibit.

And the artists express what is happening around the world, not just in their countries.

A bold, cartoon-like painting by Erro of Iceland, "Mandela of 1991," paints a political climate featuring two men known for vastly different reasons -- one hate, the other peace. The piece shows pigs in uniforms carrying beer mugs and a poster of Adolf Hitler, while in the forefront a hand holds a photo of South African Nelson Mandela behind bars.

Alfatih Hamad, the officer in charge of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, said the exhibit and its intentions advances the goal of worldwide peace his organization seeks.

UNESCO has joined TIMOTCA to help sponsor the display, citing its multicultural capabilities.

"We believe it's worth the effort, supporting this idea, it's worth it for the cultural and educational, aspects," Hamad said.

The city chosen was a bit of a surprise to Hamad.

"Las Vegas doesn't particularly have a reputation for culture but it's a good investment for Las Vegas because it can be a place of expression," Hamad said. "The museum shows the other side of Las Vegas."

Tucked to the side of the Clark County Library on West Sahara Avenue, the museum itself was an interesting art piece, he said.

"I wouldn't have thought there is such a fantastic museum in Las Vegas," Hamad said. "Nothing against Las Vegas but it goes against the stereotype of Las Vegas and that's what is so fantastic about it."

The exhibit uses art is a diplomatic tool, he said, that can be a vehicle for an exchange of ideas and emotions across continents.

"By looking at all the different paintings, you can see the quality," Hamad said. "You have a feeling of tragedy, of happiness, you never get that from a statement, from words. You get an entire message in a flash to you."

Making that art moment a reality is why, Del Pizzo said, she and Solomon worked so hard to overcome cultural, political and physical borders to bring art from all nations together.

"There were many road blocks but what kept us going was the idea that this was a new idea," Del Pizzo said.

The pair originally identified 10 countries for participation. They first approached friendly embassies and dignitaries to form a bridge of communication.

At times that bridge was tested by wary artists or the endless trails of paperwork needed to export a particular painting, but in general the support for TIMOTCA was unwavering.

"Art is an international language," Del Pizzo said. "We have never been turned down by a country or an artist and no country has not participated in this project."

The American Indians of the United States offered a large painting by New Mexico artist Dan Namingha, who attended the opening of the exhibit two weeks ago.

"It is a wonderful thing, to bring artists together, and this has brought some beautiful pieces all in one room," Namingha said. "It's good to be involved with this."

He was inspired by the TIMOTCA's mission, and in 1999 painted his piece, which hangs in the LVAM, titled "Passage XI."

Working with the different governments proved to be a colorful experience as Del Pizzo learned the art of diplomacy.

"It was amazing to see," she said. "Countries were communicating, they were signing the papers, there was a wonderful camaraderie, a celebration."

Following an international paper trail, the pair stumbled and recovered a few times over the years as they worked through the red tape of many different countries.

"Some of them worked with us and handed over a painting but a lot of them just had such a hard time with it," Del Pizzo said. "Asking for their painting was like asking for their leg, or their head or their child."

They had to narrow their choices for a particular artist, then choose one painting from the sometimes temperamental geniuses. They finally had to convince a delegate of that country to agree to let them have the painting and for it to represent the country.

No small feat.

"It was hard, but it was so worth it," Del Pizzo said

The exhibit has been hung in a few museums around the world, most notably on the walls of the United Nations building in Washington D.C., but by years end TIMOTCA plans to announce a permanent center for the collected paintings and continued efforts for art internationally, Del Pizzo said.

"We can't say, but it will be in the Southwest, we hope," she said.

Del Pizzo originally thought of Las Vegas for the traveling exhibit on a pleasure trip to the Strip in the mid-'90s with her husband. They wandered away from the bright lights and found Red Rock Canyon.

"It was beautiful and I thought that if something so beautiful could exist here, why not bring our art here? " Del Pizzo said.

The match was sealed by recent art events at Strip hotels and the Las Vegas Art Museum's push to bring international art to the parched patrons of the local art community.

The Venetian and Bellagio have opened the doors for art to waltz into Las Vegas and claim a space among with the glamorous showgirls and animal acts featured in Las Vegas' entertainment.

"This city is beautiful and it's shown that it's open to art," Solomon said. "We thought it was the right fit."

And the right time.

"The world is ready for this project now," Del Pizzo said. "Twenty years ago it wasn't."

Her partner has a more lofty outlook on TIMOTCA's accomplishments.

"It's the same thing needed to go to the moon, it needed innovation," Solomon said. "We went to the moon and here we are. Now we need to continue our exploration."

Kimberley McGee is an Accent feature writer. Reach her at 259-4096 or mcgee@lasvegassun.com.

archive