By VERNON ROBISON
Moapa Valley Progress
An extravaganza of local art will be on display this month just a stone’s throw from the Overton downtown commercial district.
Throughout the month of August, the Lost City Museum will be hosting the first annual Hot and Dusty Fine Art Invitational. This event will exhibit work of more than a dozen well-known local artists. And it won’t be just their artworks that are featured, it will also be the artists themselves!
On display throughout the month will be important works created by nationally-renowned Moapa Valley artists will be on display. These include artwork by Nancy Glazier and Jd Challenger.
In addition, works of well-known and beloved local artists like Max Bunnell, Lynn Rigoni, Joan Day, Janet Trobough, Heidi Leavitt and many more (see included full list).
Regional artists with local ties such as Gig Depio of Las Vegas, and Kent and Char Lang of Mesquite, will also be featured in the event.
The exhibit will include art of various media including paintings, wall art and even sculpture.
Perhaps most exciting is that each of the participating artists will have their own “Artist Day” event. On their day, the artist will be present at the exhibit (see schedule included).
On August 23 the public is invited to a main event gala reception where all of the artists will be present to greet the public.
The event’s organizer, Overton resident Jana Ward said that the aim of Hot and Dusty Art Invitational is to cement a spot for the Lost City Museum as a serious art venue, as well as to highlight the amazing artistic talent in the Moapa Valley.
“Let’s face it, August has traditionally been a tough month around here to get momentum on anything,” Ward said. “But the Lost City Museum is a wonderful venue for artists. And we have such a tremendous wealth of high-level art in our community. So we decided it was a good chance to showcase it.”
The invitational, which is being sponsored by the Lost City Museum Docents Council is meant to become an annual event. Ward said that it could very well take a different artistic focus each year. But this first year was meant to lay a solid groundwork for the future.
“My focus has been to build a process on how the docents and the museum could continue it into the future,” Ward said. “Next year it could be different. But it makes so much sense that this first year should highlight our local artists.”
Ward said that she hopes that the local community will support the event in its first year, and in the years hereafter by attending the many events.
“Everyone knows the Lost City Museum is here, but few people in town really take advantage of even a small part of what is offered there,” Ward said. “There is so much! It is truly a major community assets. But it is like a best kept local secret that shouldn’t be a secret at all.”
All of the events of the Hot and Dusty Fine Art Invitational are free with regular museum admission. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under 17. Family memberships are available which allow members to enter the museum and all of these events free.
