Artists protecting their turf can say it with radiators

Friday, July 20, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.

When the Michigan-based developer REI Neon met with community members last April to unveil plans , including an arena, for 85 downtown acres, there was, um, a little upheaval from some artists.

Frustrated that the $9.5 billion development could derail their efforts to build a viable Arts District in the seedy area of downtown, they huddled and discussed how to respond.

Of course, they'd appear before the Planning Commission when it consider s REI's Project Neon in May. (No one from the Arts District spoke against the project Wednesday when the City Council backed REI Neon's plan to build an arena at Main Street and Charleston Boulevard as the best of several proposals.)

Some artists suggested they express their feelings about the arena with art. Publicly.

Although there hasn't been a rallying effort to create a sidewalk exhibit or guerrilla display, Nevada Radiator has suggested a potential opportunity for expression with its third annual radiator art contest.

The contest is a clever one. Pick up an old radiator at the shop, turn it into art.

A juried show follows with the winner receiving $500.

Given that Nevada Radiator sits where the arena would be built, now's the chance for arena expression - pro or con.

The shop and gallery, owned by Chelsea Nork and her husband , Dave Van Zanten, is in line to be sold for the new development, so this could be the contest's last year. The radiators must be submitted in time for the next First Friday event , on Aug. 3.

Details: Nevada Radiator, 1114 S. Main St., 384-7777

Heading home

After much hullabaloo, the Contemporary Arts Collective advisory board voted to move back to the Arts Factory near Charleston Boulevard and Main Street.

Photographer Wes Myles, owner of the Arts Factory, will serve as interim president, replacing Jacie Maynard.

Myles says the move date depends on what kind of deal can be worked out with Jeff LaPour, head of the group that owns Holsum Design Center , where the CAC leases space. The collective signed a three-year lease at Holsum last year. Despite donations from LaPour Partners, CAC's rent still is double the $1,000 a month it was paying for a smaller space at the Arts Factory.

The move could happen as soon as September, Myles says. In any case, the CAC will exhibit shows at the Arts Factory within the next two months.

M Modern, which now has the old CAC space, will "still have a presence at the Arts Factory, says Myles, who also co-owns the gallery. But M Modern plans to do more event shows at the Hard Rock Hotel similar to last month's exhibit that was presented by Racket magazine and curated by M Modern.

CAC is expected to vote in new officers Saturday.

Details: www.lasvegascac.org

Paradise lost?

Preservationists were among the standing-room - only crowd that met at the Las Vegas Country Club on Wednesday to discuss concerns about the sale of the Las Vegas National Golf Course. Fans of mid-century modernism have been working to preserve and restore homes in the Paradise Palms community built by Molasky Development in the 1960s. The homes were designed by Dan Palmer and William Krisel, known for their work in Palm Springs. Some of the homes back up to the Las Vegas National Golf Course.

Although it's too soon to panic, Mary Margaret Stratton of the Atomic Age Alliance says development on the golf course could become a preservation issue.