Death of social linchpin, Enigma Cafe founder shakes arts community

Friday, Aug. 24, 2007 | 7:42 a.m.

The death of Julie Brewer shocked the Las Vegas arts community this week.

Brewer, 40, died at her home Tuesday. The cause of death is undetermined, pending toxicology reports, according to the coroner's office.

Although Brewer, a very private person, remained behind the scenes during the past few years, her legacy will always remain in the history of downtown Las Vegas culture.

Poets, musicians, writers and artists flocked to her Enigma Cafe on Fourth Street in the 1990s. It was a popular gathering space for anyone seeking respite from chain venues, strip malls and tourist elements of the city.

With no experience in operating a business, Brewer opened Enigma, a three-building operation that evolved to include a garden, gallery and performance space. Coffee was served, sandwiches were made , and all were welcome.

"She invited people into her garden. Once they were in her garden they looked around and said hello to each other," says Anthony Bondi, Las Vegas artist and Brewer's longtime friend. "Her very, very bright character was one of the few sparks that started the Arts District."

Cafe Copioh and other coffee shops were oriented toward UNLV students. Enigma was a way to make the art s community different from the university community. Eventually Brewer sold Enigma to Lenadams Dorris, but was still weaving a local scene through parties at her home in McNeil Estates and through Whirlygig Inc., which she founded with Cindy Funkhouser and Naomi Arin. The nonprofit group runs First Friday.

Plans for First Friday sprouted at Brewer's house. While discussing a possible arts alliance or some type of temporary public art installations, Funkhouser suggested a monthly art walk.

Funkhouser says she can't imagine any of that happening without Brewer, who persuaded her to show art in the back of her antique store.

"She pretty much talked me into doing it," says Funkhouser, owner of the Funk House , where Brewer curated the first shows. "After Enigma , she wanted to get back into having a gallery of some sort. I don't even know to what extent I would be involved if it wasn't for her."

Behind the efforts to unite locals of like mind was what many describe as an amazing hostess with impeccable style who made everyone comfortable.

"She just absolutely loved bringing people together," says writer Dayvid Figler, who was a regular at Enigma, along with writers Gregory Crosby and Geoff Carter. "She threw her heart into making a gathering space where the forces in the art world first met."

Crosby, who now lives in New York, ran the poetry readings and says that for Brewer, "It wasn't just 'I'm going to open a cafe.' Enigma was a work of art. It was a true creation. She wanted it to be a place where things could happen and an artistic and cultural community could convene. It was really one of the sad ironies that Enigma closed before the Arts District really took off."

Brewer initially discouraged First Friday, but became fully supportive of the event. Bondi says it was fitting for Brewer: "It was 'Let's invite the whole world downtown to a public place and let them enjoy themselves.' "

In recent years Brewer wasn't interested in maintaining a public persona. Married to P Moss, owner of the Double Down Saloon, she focused on spending time with her daughter, Sophia, and was struggling with the loss of a couple of family members. Bondi says it was no secret that she struggled with depression.

Until recently she was still a board member of Whirlygig. Many can trace relationships and events to Brewer.

"She was honestly the first one in the Arts District," Arin says. "She really was so far ahead of her time."