Friday, Dec. 2, 2005 | 7:54 a.m.
Not wanting to be known simply as the "Starbucks Guy," artist Michael Griesgraber is swapping his "painted parodies" (noted masterpieces altered with a coffee cup and Starbucks logo) for three-dimensional wall hangings.
His "Faces in the Crowd: The Vegas Influence," an exhibit that references Las Vegas socially and historically, opens tonight at his MGriesgraber Studio Gallery in the Holsum Lofts.
The new mixed-media works are a continuation of an earlier effort that included the "People of Color" wall hanging displayed outside his former studio at the Arts Factory.
Griesgraber often sets aside his brush to experiment with various media. His mixed-media work titled "War and Peace" used vent covers to allow the viewer to see religious imagery from one angle and soldiers invading Iraq from another.
"It's a little tongue-in-cheek," Griesgraber said about his new work. "This is not high art. It's not even decorative art.
"People like it or they don't."
The exhibit at Holsum Lofts, 241 W. Charleston Blvd., is part of First Friday. A reception is scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. today. For more information on MGriesgraber Art Studio Gallery, visit www.mgriesgraber.com.
First Friday information can be found at www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org.
Contemporary Clare
John Clare, former KCNV 89.7-FM disc jockey, left Las Vegas this year for a job with WITF 89.5-FM in Pennsylvania, putting an end to the contemporary classical music radio show, "20/20 Hearing," which he produced and hosted.
This month the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers will recognize Clare and the show with the ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award.
His "20/20 Hearing" debuted on the Nevada Public Radio station in October 2003. The following year it won Best Radio Show at the Working in Communications Electronic Media Awards.
Clare, an advocate of musical discussions with composers, said the show is close to his heart. He now produces "The Symphony Show" at WITF. The show focuses on local symphonic happenings in central Pennsylvania. Clare also contributes to a morning cultural news feature and a show similar in style to "20/20 Hearing."
"I love being back East," Clare said via e-mail. "I had a blast in Las Vegas, but as in life, it's great to go out on a high note. This Deems Taylor Award from ASCAP proves that."
Calling troops
Celebrating the art of quilting, member circles from Desert Quilters of Nevada will hold a quilt and craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Rainbow Library, 3150 N. Buffalo Drive, near Cheyenne Avenue.
The 20-table spread will include quilts, small wall hangings, wearable art, table runners and other items. The event caps a raffle fundraiser that collected $1,000 to go toward telephone calling cards for American troops in Iraq.
"We just want to do our little bit," said Jane Jeffries of Desert Quilters. "We were going to send $300 until we found out that wasn't going to buy many telephone cards, so we decided to send $1,000."
The group of more than 400 quilters is known for its philanthropic efforts. It sent 60 quilts to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Nancy Dixon of Lone Mountain circle said local quilters recently sent 43 quilts to the local Salvation Army, along with quilt bags filled with toiletries.
For more information on Saturday's event, call Dixon at 804-4204. More information on Southern Nevada quilting groups can be found at www.desertquiltersofnevada.org.
Haunting and holy
The World Vibration music series continues this weekend with "Music of the Andes" at 2 p.m. Saturday at Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive. The show features the four-member Ecuadorian group Duchicela.
It performs traditional pre-Incan music on a variety of wind, string and percussion instruments. Admission is $10; $7 for children, age 12 and under and seniors, age 55 and over. Call 455-7340.
The American Guild of Organists will present its members recital at 4 p.m. Sunday at UNLV's Doc Rando Recital Hall. The "Christmas Organ Music Recital" will be performed on the 38-stop, 53-rank, three-manual von Beckerath organ, which the university acquired last year through $500,000 gift from the Smith family in honor of the late organist and UNLV alumna Maurine Smith.
The free recital is open to the public.
Series stars
Broadway star Betty Buckley is in town this weekend for "An Evening With Betty Buckley." The Tony Award-winner will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall as part of the New York Stage & Beyond series. Tickets are $45, $60 and $90. Call 895-2787.
As part of the Charles Vanda Master Series, pianist Emanuel Ax and clarinetist Richard Stoltzman will perform together at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Artemus Ham Hall. Tickets are $40, $55 and $85. Call 895-2787.
Kristen Peterson can be reached at 259-2317 or at [email protected].
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