By JIM CANFIELD
Moapa Valley Progress
In a city that hosts six casinos, it might come as a surprise that the best bet is not a gamble at all but a sure thing. Sitting right in the heart of downtown is The Mesquite Fine Arts Center and Gallery. And unlike the bright neon lights on the exterior of a casino, it’s brightness resides inside. It is a brightness generated by many talented artists that exhibit their art there and by the talented volunteers that teach how the art is created. The best part is, the Center is always free to visit.
The art exhibited at the Center is continually changing. Every visit provides a new experience.
Visitors can participate in the Center’s Brown Bag Lecture Series free on the first Tuesday of every month at noon. Each lecture features a guest speaker covering a host of topics as varied as Egg Tempera Watercolor and Photography to Flower Arrangement and even Life Coaching.
The Center also devotes an entire wall to the Artist of the Month. This month the works of Lance Barr are being featured. A retired police officer that also served almost 30 years in the military, Barr started his art career by joining an art class at the Center.
Becoming a member is easy and very reasonable. As a member you can display and put your artwork up for sale in the Gallery. Members can sign up for the monthly “themed” competitions. For a small fee, members get to present their artwork for the month.
Besides enjoying the art presented, visitors to the Center get a chance to vote on their favorite piece. Each submitted artwork is also judged by professional artists and people within the art industry. The monthly themes are announced in November of the previous year giving the artists plenty of time to present art in all types of media. Winners are awarded prizes.
The Center also conducts a regular schedule of classes including one and two-day workshops at the Virgin Valley Artist Association’s Art and Pottery Studio. According to Center volunteer Susan Holladay, “except for pottery, most of the classes are held right at the center and the classes have everything from beginning drawing, acrylics, oil and pottery.”
“Stay Smart with Art” classes are offered two times a month; the first for 8-11-year age group and the other for 12-16-year age group.
There are a host of additional programs. Information is available at www.mesquitefineartscenter.com.
