ARTS NOTES

Kristen Peterson

Friday, July 7, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

Festival features work of innovative video artist

Nam June Paik was a pioneer in making video as art. The multimedia installation artist, who was born in Seoul, Korea, died earlier this year at age 73. He combined technology and music and worked with avant-garde artists, including cellist Charlotte Moorman, composer John Cage, rock star David Bowie and choreographer Merce Cunningham. He also manipulated television sets to distort the imagery and is recognized as the creator of the first video synthesizer.

The evolution of his career can be traced in the rarely shown "Video Synthesizer and 'TV Cello' Collectibles" a 24-minute video compilation of collaborations between Paik and Jud Yalcut that the Las Vegas Art Museum will show at 7 p.m. Tuesday as part of "LVAM Summer Film Night." The 35-minute "Video-Film Concert" will also be featured.

The festival ends Aug. 8 with Raymond Pettibon's "Sir Drone," a 1989 video about three Los Angeles teenagers trying to form a punk band.

More information can be found at www.lasvegasartmuseum.org or by calling 360-8000.

Latin jazz

The 18-piece Nevada Jazz Orchestra will present its annual Latin Jazz Connection at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Winchester Cultural Center, 3130 S. McLeod Drive.

Formed by the 31-year-old Las Vegas Jazz Society, the big band promises an evening of fiery Latin numbers and new arrangements by its artistic director, Bob Ross, and arrangements of popular songs, which include "Besame Mucho," "Caribe" and "Con Alma."

Tickets are $17; $12 for students and seniors. For more information, call 455-7340.

First Friday

Get out of the house and into the heat. First Friday festivities take place tonight in the downtown Arts District and surrounding areas where galleries, boutiques and restaurants open their doors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Main stopping points include the Arts Factory and S2Art Center near Charleston Boulevard and Main Street; the street festival on Colorado Avenue at Casino Center Boulevard (outside the Funk House); Commerce Street Studios at 1551 S. Commerce St., which still has the Obstacle Art miniature golf course; Holsum Lofts on Charleston Boulevard, just east of Interstate 15; County Government Center at 500 S. Grand Central Parkway; and G-C Arts, Dust Gallery and Avant Gallery on Main Street, just south of Charleston. More information can be found at www.firstfriday-lasvegas.org.

Post-fourth Phil

With sold-out performances each year, not everybody gets to see the Las Vegas Philharmonic's popular Fourth of July concert. Fortunately, there are televised reruns. Beginning today at 1 p.m., the patriotic concert, capped off with fireworks by Zambelli Fireworks Internationale, will be rebroadcast on Cox Channel 96.

The program will also be broadcast at 7 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Tuesday on Cox 96.

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