I love going to First Fridays because it invites a certain atmosphere of art life within Las Vegas. I know it's not as mature as the LA or New York scene where there are a plethora of art galleries with a heavy lifestyle within visual arts, but the fact that it exists means we are trying. I'm glad there are many artists in Las Vegas still curating and showing their works in public. You can always find a wide variety of styles in the Arts Factory and Emergency Arts. Now, as for the most part outside the galleries, there are a lot of art performance and bigger structures/sculptures. Most of which consist of musical festivals, certain practices, dances, talent shows, and painters in action. What I love most of all is the music and food culture. I love finding different food trucks and how it creates its own unique flavor of atmosphere for the people they gather. There were quite a few of students, middle-aged couples, and families that love going to these events. I have a gallery of May's First Friday event.
I really liked the art sketches by Teresa Maharaj, her works really grabbed my attention as they were dark but she found beauty within darkness. It was edgy and crafty, with a twist of mystery. At first, you can't make out what the figure really is until you look further and step back afterwards. I commented how she should use color gradients to intensify the effect, she said she's taking a break from color to focus on the shapes, which I can agree to. She's done many others in color and as I guessed, she also did tattoo designs. I love her imagery, it's complete and the flame like effects really makes a strong and unique impression. You can view more of her works on her website.Mark Rumsey
Another artist, Mark Rumsey who was also featured at the P3 Studio at Cosmopolitan had his Noctilucent show in the contemporary art gallery. He is known for his office paper works, most of them would be designed for wallpapers or ceilings. My favorites are his cloud forms with different colored filtered lights and Baldaquin (2010) where the ceilings casted shadows from the sunlight. I wasn't able to see it at Cosmopolitan so I was glad to be able to see it in person here. It was basically hundreds of pieces of paper stapled into a cone-like shape piled up upon filtered lights against walls and doors. It was interesting to see how it was interpreted by the audience. I immediately thought of landscape art or a type of one, say like snow or mountains and that quickly diminished and transitioned to more modern and contemporary art piece. I really just am amused by it simply because it was aesthetically beautiful and entertaining. Although, I do wonder if he would allow people to touch, move, or shift the shape of the piles since he also allows volunteers to help him make his installations. That would put another meaning to community art. Take a look at his other exhibitions! It's so beautiful! 
Lastly, there was one artist in action when I entered the room, she specialized in sand painting which is known as Mandala. Her main focus and intention for this project was to promote healing meditation. I thought it was really cool for the process and the end results were amazing. She was precise and worked intensely on laying the color pigments carefully on the right areas. I asked how long the piece would last, she replied that once she's done she will sweep it up. I would love to frame this work, so maybe she should have it air-tight shut with glass or resin layered on the surface to make a few of her works permanent but of course, that's what makes it so precious in the end.
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