Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 | 8:18 a.m.
A rare chance for members of the arts community to mix and mingle was provided Aug. 5 when Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., arranged for the visit of Eileen B. Mason, senior deputy chairwoman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and members of her staff.
The midday workshop and press conference to acquaint nonprofits with federal arts funding opportunities was made possible by the sponsorship of Steve Brooks, president of The Art Institute of Las Vegas.
Representatives of the diverse fine-arts community convened on The Art Institute's shining new campus in Green Valley at 2350 Corporate Circle Drive. Many came to tour the classrooms where interior design, visual arts, graphics, culinary arts and other subjects are taught in state-of-the-art facilities. A light lunch and other refreshments were prepared and served for the gathering by chef instructors and their advanced students.
The funding and grants workshop was held in the spacious library, and began with an informal mixer where Porter and his Southern Nevada district director, Kay Finfrock, assisted by state Sen. Mike Schneider and his wife, Candy, the newly elected president of the Nevada Arts Council, greeted guests, including Patrick Gaffey, Bobbie Ann Howell, Joan Tinker, Mary Camp, Kitty Boeddeker, Marilyn Gillespie, Bea Radcliffe, Susan Jarvis and Firouzeh Forouzmand. Also present were Jerry Schefick, Gary Sessa, Eileen Hayes, Suzanne LeBlanc, Loribeth Dalton, Lamar Marchese, Susan Jarvis and Sam Roberson.
The National Endowment workshop was an insightful overview of the ways grants and funding are allocated, with special hints on how best to present an application. Noteworthy was the recommendation to use print photos or slides rather than digital pictures, as formats are not yet consistent between software product lines and could lead to poor results.
Among local fine-arts organizations sharing in the nearly $600,000 given to Nevada last year are Clark County's Department of Cultural Affairs, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Henderson Library District, UNLV's Donna Beam Art Gallery, the Schoolhouse Program at the House of Blues -- a program that brings children in to listen to different styles of music -- and Nevada Chamber Orchestra, to name just a few.
Vegas, Berlin-style
Few evenings on the Strip will rival the soft opening of "Zumanity" as presented by Cirque du Soleil and New York-New York.
Performed in a ruby-toned theater with excellent seating and vantage of the drum-shaped stage for all, the production carries a strong visual and musical overtone reminiscent of decadent Berlin in the 1930s. All the excesses, extremes and controversial scenes were vividly discussed at the party following.
Felix Rappaport, president/chief executive of New York-New York, with Guy Laliberte, founder-chief executive of Cirque du Soleil, introduced the show, then later mingled at the extravagant private party for fellow gaming executives, invited guests, media and performers.
In the rich mix were Siegfried and Roy with Bernie Yuman, Irwin Kischner with Shirley Mulvihill, Gary and Chrisse Waddell, Bobby Baldwin, Lynn and Brian McMullan, Elizabeth Blau, Dr. Keith Boman and Brad Brennan with Tanja Anguay.
Attending with wife Aki was Ari Levin, who will serve as local producer for Russia's famed Kirov Ballet when it makes its sole American appearance at the Aladdin Theater for the Performing Arts on Sept. 6 and Sept. 7. Others seen mingling on the sparkling deck of the Brooklyn Bridge party venue were Dr. Fred Toffel, Anton Kumikeyev, Tom Bruny, Mel Wolzinger, events planner Karen Gordon, Ginger Bruner, Beth Mullaney, Linda Burger and Adam Hughes, an original cast member of "Thunder From Down Under."
Surprise party
Local artist and art dealer Jerry Olivarez surprised his wife and fellow artist Nicola with a stay at a luxurious suite and surprise birthday party at The Venetian.
In honor of the occasion, a spectacular chocolate tower cake with feather-light layers of chocolate cake, white chocolate cream and raspberries -- adorned with spun sugar climbing roses -- was created by Postrio Pastry Chef Kenny Magana.
Present for the catered dinner, also from Postrio, and slices of the heavenly cake were guests including Dr. Jeffrey Brookman, recently returned from serving with the U.S. Marines in Iraq, his wife, Monterey Brookman, artist and designer Kelly Donahue, import-export businesswoman Carol Kiravana with John Nassar and members of Nicola's family. Held in the suite on the 27th floor of the resort, the party provided guests with a private view of the gardens and pool enclosure.
archive
