Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/533211
photography by Jim Laurie (meteLLus); theodore Witcher (Witcher) Las Vegas artist J.K. Russ did us the honor of contributing not only our cover, but an original piece of art, Spring Romance, for us to auction at our Summer issue party to benefit the Nevada Museum of Art, which is supporting some major local art projects currently in development. What are your thoughts on the Las Vegas arts scene? "Las Vegas is truly a city of hidden treasures. I make regular visits to the Strip to revel in its glittering spectacle, but I also like to frequent the more obscure Downtown performance venues where you might find burlesque, or live body painting, or an Elvis look-alike contest. I gain much inspira- tion from the strong performance scene here, and I can see the potential for more interaction with the art scene—connec- tions with New York's Art Production Fund, Artra Curatorial in LA, the alternative London Biennale project, and the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, which are all supporting innovative installation and performance art in this city. It's great to see Downtown's Life Is Beautiful festival incorporat- ing a strong art component again this year, and I hope we will also see the development of more permanent venues that encourage the cross-pollination of creative genres." J.K. Russ artist A native of Chicagoland, T.R. Witcher has written about architecture and urbanism for a variety of publications, including Time, Civil Engineering, and Las Vegas Weekly. His essays on popular culture have also appeared on TheAtlantic.com and Salon. For this issue, Witcher penned our Haute Property story on how some green builders are shifting the local design aesthetic away from the Spanish tile roofs and stucco for which Southern Nevada is known and toward a slick, modern style that is as natural as it is progressive. Why is it important to build green? "In a desert city like Las Vegas, thinking about the environment is not just a question of being chic. It's necessary for our survival. We are reminded of the drought sweeping the Southwest every time we see shrinking Lake Mead in our backyard." How do you handle the steamy Vegas summers? "The best way to enjoy the summer in Las Vegas is to be active very early in the morning and then enjoy all the city has to offer in the evening. At noon, best to bury your head somewhere cool." T.R. WiTcheR writer Michael K aplan writer Our feature on the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas was written by Michael Kaplan. A journalist based in Brooklyn, Kaplan is the gambling columnist for Cigar Aficionado and has written for publications that include Wired, Playboy, and The New York Times Magazine. He is a frequent visitor to Las Vegas and knows the city well. This month he contributes a story on the hotel casino's recent changes. What do you find so fascinating about the Cosmopolitan? "I had an opportunity to find out how the place developed and where it's going. Cosmopolitan is the most unique overnight spot in Vegas right now, and it makes for a compelling story. I've stayed all over town and it's my go-to. The property has a great vibe, cool restaurants, happening nightlife, and fantastic rooms. Plus there are balconies that are perfect for chill-out sessions on summer nights." JeRRy MeTellus photographer Jerry Metellus was the photographer behind this year's Vegas Dozen feature. Well-known in the world of entertainment, he has photographed everyone from Jerry Seinfeld to Mike Tyson and has been a guest photographer on America's Next Top Model. What do you love about Las Vegas? "I love both liv- ing and shooting in Vegas because of the energy this town carries 24 hours a day. There's always a location, day or night, that I can access to create great images, from desert to urban." How did you enjoy the Vegas Dozen shoot? "I had a blast shooting the Vegas Dozen. The good news is that I knew a few of the honorees, having worked with them in the past. My approach to a photo shoot bridged the gap with the ones I'd yet to meet. When I first meet someone, personally or professionally, I address them as if I've known them for five years or more. It creates an instant, closer connection by bypass- ing the get-to-know-you trial period. Consequently, there was quite a bit of banter going on, some of which cannot be printed in your respectable pages. All in good fun." 32 vegasmagazine.com ...WiThouT WhoM this issue would not have been possible // summer 2015