Wynn Resorts Partners with The First Friday Foundation Las Vegas to Pair Local Students with Renowned Artists in Live Art Collaboration
The unique exhibition marked the 12th anniversary of the downtown arts and cultural festival
LAS VEGAS, October 5, 2014 /3BL Media/ - Wynn Resorts joined The First Friday Foundation Las Vegas on Friday, Oct. 3 to connect celebrated artists with students of the arts at its 12th anniversary celebration as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting Las Vegas’ thriving arts and cultural communities.
The partnership is the first time a Strip resort and major gaming company has supported First Friday Foundation Las Vegas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing local artists and inspiring civic art in Las Vegas. The foundation helps the continued growth of the monthly First Friday event in Downtown Las Vegas. The first-of-its-kind sponsorship brought together a diverse group of six established artists, who received their start at First Friday, and paired them six Las Vegas student artists, all handpicked by Executive Vice President of Wynn Design and Development Roger Thomas.
“First Friday has become an integral event in the cultural life of Las Vegans,” said Roger Thomas. “Wynn Resorts is delighted to bring the best Nevada Artists together with some of our most promising student artists in a live celebration of the first 12 years of this monthly demonstration of the vitality of the arts in our community and our lives.”
Onlookers at the First Friday celebration were given the rare opportunity to witness and engage with the professional artists as they mentored and collaborated one-on-one with the student artists on six commemorative anniversary pieces honoring the 12th anniversary of First Friday.
"The First Friday Foundation is ecstatic to partner with Wynn Resorts, said Joey Vanas, executive director of First Friday. “Their unwavering commitment to the arts community is not only admirable, but necessary. We both believe in making the arts accessible to everyone. This collaboration will reflect our visions and have a tremendous impact."
The six handpicked professional artists included London-born and Las Vegas-based artist Tim Bavington, best known for his large-scale sculptures and paintings that translate music to canvas; contemporary artist David Ryan, renowned for his multi-layered wall sculptures transformed from ordinary medium-density fibreboard; Japanese contemporary artist Sush Machida, a MFA graduate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), with a signature colorful approach to blending Eastern and Western cultures; artist Shawn Hummel, recognized for his fusion of painting and photography that abstractly captures the lights and colors of Las Vegas; multi-faceted artist and designer Zak Ostrowski, known for his use of a variety of materials in paintings, sculpture and public art inspired by architecture, science and nature; and Juan Muniz, well-known for his use of his created cartoon-like androgynous character, “Felipe,” as it “wrestles with modern life.”
Representing the diverse art community in Las Vegas, the student artists were selected from local nonprofits and educational institutions including The Gay and Lesbian Center of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Academy, Southeast Career and Technical Academy and UNLV.
The six distinct art pieces will be on public display throughout the Las Vegas Valley during the month of October to commemorate the 12th anniversary.
With arts and culture as one of the charitable focus areas for Wynn Resorts, the partnership with First Friday is a natural expression of both organizations’ support for art in the Las Vegas community. This marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership between Wynn Resorts and First Friday with the goal of engaging more artists in future projects and continuing to expose members of the Las Vegas community to all forms of creative expression.
ABOUT WYNN LAS VEGAS
Wynn and Encore Las Vegas are two luxury hotel and casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. The iconic travel destinations are operated by international resort developer Wynn Resorts, recipient of more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world. Wynn Las Vegas opened on April 28, 2005 and has been recognized as the best resort in Nevada on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” for five consecutive years. The resort features 2,714 lavish guest rooms and suites, more than 111,000 square feet of state-of-the-art casino space, 14 casual and fine dining restaurants, a spa and salon and an on-site Ferrari and Maserati dealership and 18-hole golf course. Wynn Las Vegas is also home to “Le Rêve – The Dream,” an award-winning theatrical experience blending aerial acrobatics, provocative choreography, powerful performances and elaborate effects. Encore, an expansion of Wynn Las Vegas, opened on Dec. 22, 2008. Featuring an additional 2,034 all-suite accommodations, a 72,000-square-foot casino, five restaurants and a spa and salon, Encore is located adjacent to Wynn Las Vegas. Combined, the two resorts boast four distinct nightlife and day club experiences, approximately 283,000 square feet of meeting space and 98,000 square feet of retail space. For more information on Wynn and Encore Las Vegas, visit www.wynnpressroom.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram at @WynnLasVegas and www.facebook.com/wynnlasvegas.
ABOUT FIRST FRIDAY LAS VEGAS
First Friday Las Vegas has been a mainstay of arts and culture in downtown Las Vegas for eleven years and has become the leader for family-friendly activities, art, cultural enrichment, educational efforts, imagination, community and more; mostly low cost or free of cost, for every age. The outdoor event which averages 20,000 patrons each month features several areas throughout Downtown Las Vegas that showcases artists of all calibers and genres. Stages throughout the festival feature live music, food vendors and food trucks offer the finest in cuisine and other celebratory events each month are always working to build community in Las Vegas. First Friday Las Vegas, LLC’s Managing Partner is Joey Vanas. For more information on First Friday Las Vegas, please check the website www.firstfridaylasvegas.com, like on Facebook page or follow on Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Richard Hudock/Shane Collins
Wynn Las Vegas
702-770-2120
pr@wynnlasvegas.com
Michelle Wilmoth
PR Plus (First Friday Las Vegas)
702-696-1999
michelle@prpluslv.com
