Wes Myles, father of downtown Vegas art

Tiffany Brown

Wes Myles says he would like to see the First Friday events, sponsored by the nonprofit group Whirlygig Inc., toned down. “I’ve got nothing against the youth. I’ve got everything against the uncontrolled.”

By Kristen Peterson (contact)

Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Name: Wes Myles, commercial photographer, owner of Studio West Photography and the Arts Factory

Age: 46

Education: Bachelor’s from Arts Center College of Design in Los Angeles; associate degree in meteorology, Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

Why Vegas? A son of immigrants from Russia and Poland, Myles, 46, was born and raised in the Encino district of Los Angeles. He moved to Las Vegas in 1988 to start his own business, which he moved into a warehouse space at Main Street and Charleston Boulevard in 1992. Four years later he bought the building and named it the Arts Factory. In moved the Contemporary Arts Collective, the Nevada Institute of Contemporary Art and an assortment of artists, whom Myles asked to help form a creative community in the building. He and his wife, Debra Heiser, who owns a graphic design company, live in a 2,000-square-foot apartment on the second floor of the Arts Factory.

On being a pioneer: Myles, formerly known as Wes Isbutt, has been a controversial community organizer and activist, who created and organized the Las Vegas Arts District neighborhood association and has been battling city permits, codes and licensing for years.

Myles has been publicly fighting Whirlygig Inc., the nonprofit group that runs First Friday. He would like to see First Friday toned down from a street festival to an art event that would include Nevada Ballet Theatre dancers, orchestral performances or even bluegrass music. Myles says that would change the crowd immediately. “I’ve got nothing against the youth. I’ve got everything against the uncontrolled.” The Arts Factory, which houses a yoga studio and the popular Trifecta Gallery, drew 6,000 visitors during October’s First Friday.

Being in the Arts District: Myles is credited with starting and nurturing arts in the downtown area. He’s provided low rent to gallery and studio owners, including the Contemporary Arts Collective, which occupies a street-front space on the building’s first floor. He owns a dozen properties in the area, provides free space for the annual Beckett Festival, which is taking place through Nov. 15 in the Mission Building at 1001 S. First St., and has been talking with officials at Cirque du Soleil about the company moving its offices to the area. He’s been approved for and is planning to open Urban Lounge at Tinoco’s within six months (after a lengthy battle with the city and with Jack Solomon, owner of neighboring S2Art).

Hobbies/interests: Snow skiing, water skiing and travel

Sticking around? “This is my home. I have a lot invested here. I’ve put a lot of energy and my heart and soul into ... the Beckett Festival, if nothing else,” he says, laughing.