Sun editorial:

Displaying contemporary works

Downtown Las Vegas would be ideal fit for art museum once economy improves

Friday, Feb. 13, 2009 | 2:07 a.m.

Communities throughout the United States recognize the cultural value and quality of life enhancement that art collections available for public display can bring.

That’s what makes it disappointing that Finnish businessman Poju Zabludowicz, chairman and chief executive of Tamares Group, has decided to postpone his group’s proposal to build a contemporary art museum on East Fremont Street downtown because of the shaky economy.

As reported by Kristen Peterson Tuesday in the Las Vegas Sun, Zabludowicz still plans to open a privately funded museum with emerging artists’ work that he and his wife, Anita, have collected since the mid-1990s. They have amassed more than 1,000 works and had planned to rotate them in exhibits at the museum.

A centerpiece of their collection, “Large Field Array,” is a series of cube-shaped sculptures by British artist Keith Tyson that has appeared in a prominent gallery in New York.

It is encouraging that a spokesman for Zabludowicz, whose company owns the Plaza and the Las Vegas Club, says he still plans to open a museum in Las Vegas.

A downtown contemporary art museum would not only attract visitors, but would also be a potential anchor for galleries and art-related ventures that could help spruce up an area of Las Vegas that The New York Times described in a Monday headline as “shabby.”

As Downtown Cocktail Room owner Michael Cornthwaite told the Sun: “It would have been a day and night attraction for a new demographic of people.” That’s why we believe Mayor Oscar Goodman was wrong when he said: “I don’t see a museum for art as necessary downtown.”

Los Angeles and San Diego are examples of nearby major cities with downtown contemporary art museums. There is no legitimate reason why Las Vegas shouldn’t also be on that list.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By KDR81

2/13/09 at 9:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Then donate your own money to fund and operate it. Don't force taxpayers to pay for your love of bad art like we had to pay for the ugly monstrosity known as Greenspun Hall at UNLV.
By davidcurtis

2/13/09 at 1:04 p.m.

Suggest removal

I suggest people visit the LVAM and CAC.
Both are up and running and have been for many years. The content is as good as it gets.
This is a fairly large desert basin. There is no need to fixate on any one location. CAC is currently in the Arts Factory and enjoying its 20th season.
LVAM has an impressive building even though it is a bit of a drive up the hill. Their shows, under LL's former direction, have been outstanding.