Thursdays are for field trips

Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

The Arts District is known for its sometimes eclectic mix of the visual arts and music.

But suffice it to say that the songs sung by one recent group of visitors are not normally on the district's play list.

As their bus rumbled down the back streets of the Arts District last Thursday night, the passengers sang "Henei Matovu." A Hebrew song, it loosely translates to, "We are all here. It is good and pleasant to be together."

Gallery directors went out of their way to accommodate the roughly 20 visitors taking part in the special field trip, keeping their facilities open late to await the group's arrival.

The Jewish Community Center started the Third Thursday excursions through downtown Las Vegas in November as a way to accommodate observant Jewish communities that avoid First Friday events and other nightlife on their Sabbath.

Not everybody on the bus is observant, however, and not everybody is Jewish. Some were lured by the organized guided tour and the chance to get a look at the curious nature of contemporary art, no matter how it befuddles their practical senses.

Passing a Robert Barry ink-on-paper near the door of GC Arts, Myra Berkovits leaned over and said sarcastically, "We were trying to figure out why it's $25,000 and decided that it's because there are 25 dots. We figure it's $1,000 a dot."

Berkovits wasn't alone. No one was sold on minimalism. Even a cursory introduction by a gallery guide did nothing to convince anyone of Donald Judd's brilliance.

"It's not my kind of thing," Nina Boshes said as the group moved into the back room at GC Arts for a sneak peek at an image by Olivo Barbieri, whose large aerial photographs make Las Vegas architecture look like toy models. His image of Paris Las Vegas had the group oohing and aahing, and vowing to return for the exhibit's April opening.

But next door at Dust Gallery, many in the group felt empty and a little unsettled by artist Cara Cole's images of animal sacrifices in Indonesia, despite the intriguing juxtaposition of animal parts and serene skies in her work.

Earlier, it was the sunset that had everyone captivated. "Now that's art," someone said, looking at the orange and blue hues in the West. "It's God's art," another added.

At the Archinofsky Gallery, the group listened to artist Dale O'Dell's defense of digital art while viewing the artist's photographic surreal landscapes of forest scenes, fused with scenes of contemporary western society.

Next, at Fallout, abstract paintings and sculptures from industrial residue by Bay Area artist Jessalyn Haggenjos had the group mesmerized.

From inside a huddle around a Rachel Moseley print titled "Hooker Legs" at Atomic Todd, someone remarked, "See, now I think that's a man dressed up like a woman."

Soon the group was back on the bus and headed to Holsum Design Center.

"It's really interesting because we've never been down to the Arts District," Elsa Chiss said. "It's a nice way to do it. It's relaxing."

Taking mental notes on everything was RJ Rowley, a doctoral candidate from the University of Kansas, whose dissertation is on Las Vegas and its sense of place.

Rowley grew up in Las Vegas and returned recently with his wife, Rachel, for field work. He's here to study the culture, the growth and just about anything it might include. The field trip - this was Rowley's second tour, and he plans to be back - is one of many gems that glitter with revelations about his hometown.

Next month the JCC will be busing teens into the Arts District and has arranged for students from the Las Vegas Academy to perform. The Third Thursday tours typically happen every other month.

As the group headed back to the other shuttle that would take Green Valley residents home, Jean Arin, chairwoman of the JCC's Cultural Arts Committee, said, "We're going to go back to Main Street now, so say goodbye to our friends from the East."

Again, the group broke into song, this time "Shalom Chaverim." Appropriately enough, it means, "Goodbye friends until we meet again."