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"2012 Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition"

Art Students from the Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts team up with Authentic Showgirls for the Fifth Annual Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition

WHAT:  “2012 Annual Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition" that becomes the: “2012 Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition”
                                         
WHY: The vision of the “2012 Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition” is to capture the spirit of the Las Vegas Showgirl and production shows for which Las Vegas is world famous. To celebrate the rich history of our city’s Icon, the Showgirl. The artwork of the top winning artists will be displayed on the website www.ShowGirlLegacy.com  and other select galleries and venues to be announced. This project connects the visual and performing arts with a stunning combination of art from the competition, a collection of professional artists work, and vintage Costumes from the production shows that reflects the magic and history of this marvelous era.  

WHEN: This is the fifth year of the Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition. The Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts and art teacher Kelly Mabel has been involved since its inception. This is the second year Ms Mabel will open her drawing class to students and community artists. This includes a presentation and live showgirl in costume on Monday, May 21 from 11:00AM – 12:30PM.
We will have a current professional showgirl/dancer in a traditional showgirl costume. Past professional dancer Linda Spinks will be available for questions. She has also been involved since the inception, and is the mom of two academy graduates, (Gina & Lucy Alverson) Spink’s career spanned 24 years. She traveled the world with Miss Bluebell’s Dance Troup for 10 years, and danced in Las Vegas for 14 years.

WHERE: The Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts is located at:
315 South 7^th Street Las Vegas, NV  89101
Presentation will be in The Academy Theatre Black Box.  (An intimate space used for class work, small shows, showcases and chamber concerts that seats up to 150)

Invitation to participate in the Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition:

HOW TO GET INVOLVED: This is the second year we have opened the classroom presentation to artists interested in participating in the Las Vegas Showgirl Art & Costume exhibition.  If you plan to attend this session you must sign up by e-mail with Ms Mabel at: klmabel@interact.ccsd.net, and bring photo id. with you on Monday, May 21.  You must sign up for the drawing session and the Wes Winters performance for CCSD security purposes.  When signing up for the drawing session and/or the Wes Winters performance, please leave your full name and driver’s license number.  The deadline to sign up for the drawing session and performance is Monday, May 14. Students from other high schools may complete the CCSD private car permission form and join the sessions as well.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK, AND PRIZES:

How to Enter: An artist may submit one original work of art, traditional drawing or painting, preferably no larger than 24x36 inches. The artist can either submit a digital image of the art work for consideration, (to:louanne@showgirlLegacy.com) or drop off artwork at location to be announced. If accepted, artwork must be submitted ready to hang in show.
 
Additional Terms:  The producer and artist have the right to sell an entry at any of the venues on a 40 – 60 split.  The producer has the right, with the permission of the artist, once the artwork has been accepted, to reproduce the artwork for educational and historical purposes that will benefit the Legacy of the Showgirl.

Prizes:  Artists submitting entries will have the chance to win these prizes:
1st: $250  2nd: $100  3rd: $50  4th: $25 and 4 special mentions at $20 each

Deadline for entries: July 11-15, 2012
Call Lou Anne Harrison Chessik for drop off location information: (702) 630-5399

LAS VEGAS ACADEMY SPECIAL PERFORMANCE: Wes Winters is back with us again for the third year. He will perform from 12:45PM - 2:00PM on Monday, May 21.  The students can use this class for entertainment and supplemental photographic and drawing references. Winters is an award-winning entertainer and has performed professionally for 24 years. An acclaimed vocalist and pianist, his credits include television, radio, composing and producing. Winters has produced numerous shows not only in Las Vegas, but also throughout the world. These stage shows range from solo appearances to full productions with a cast of showgirls, guest acts, and his personal 9 foot concert grand piano dressed with mirrors and crystals. Added to this list is Winters’ ability to produce and perform as a tribute artist. He conceived, wrote, produced and starred in “A Musical Tribute to Liberace” at the renowned Liberace Museum for 5 years in the Wes Winters Showroom, then for a limited engagement on the Vegas Strip inside Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort. Known for his signature one-man nightclub act, “Wes Winters Live”, he currently performs Friday & Saturday at the South Point Hotel/Casino.
 

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"2011 Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition"

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The "2010 Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition Winners"

Debuted at the Nevada State Museum in Las Vegas September 15 thru December 5

and Barnes & Nobel December 6 thru January 20, 2010

The vision of the “Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition”

is to capture the spirit of the Showgirl and production shows for which Las Vegas is world famous.

This is the fourth year for the Las Vegas Showgirl Art Competition (LVSAC); Artwork generated from the Art Competition first became an exhibition in 2007 and was embraced by the staff at the Nevada Historical Society in Reno. They saw the historical value of the Showgirl Legacy and agreed to host the show. The LVSAC was promoted through the schools and in the arts community in both Las Vegas and Reno, but it was Miss Mabel, an art teacher with the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts, that embraced the project and encouraged her senior students to explore the rich history of the showgirl. Twenty pieces of art were chosen, and renowned local Artist Terry Ritter offered three pieces to be shown. The project continued to grow, and Karen Burns, with Karen Burns Productions included pieces from her special collection of MGM "Hello Hollywood Hello" costumes. The Reno Community was delighted with the live Showgirls that greeted them at the opening reception, as well as the stunning combination of art and costumes.

LVSAC was also honored to have New York Times writer Patti Brown and photographer Jim Wilson, who flew in for the opening reception to capture the allure of the Showgirl in their story that was featured in the first section, in color,  of the New York Times and was picked up on the national and international level. The Exhibition continued to travel and was on display at the Water Street Art Gallery in historic downtown Henderson, owned by College of Southern Nevada history professor Fred Sigman. It hung at the West Charleston Barnes & Noble and was part of a fundraiser for the Las Vegas Academy that included a book signing of "The Stardust of Yesterday" by Heidi Knapp Rinella and edited by Mike Weatherford. It also displayed at the "Second Annual Cast and Crew Reunion" at the Orleans Hotel/Casino and was included in the "Classic Las Vegas, Showgirls, Fashion & Art" event at the Fashion Outlets in Primm, Nevada.

The 2008 LVSAC  was again featured seasonally at the Reno Historical Society and debuted at the Las Vegas Nevada State Museum & Historical Society for nearly a year, including costumes from Karen Burns' productions collection and a working Bally's Jubilee! Costume by Bob Mackie. The opening night included a panel of entertainers along with the "Third Annual Cast and Crew Reunion" guests. United Press writer Kathleen Hennessey wrote a stellar article about the Nevada State Museum show which was featured by CNN news and traveled around the world.

The 2009 LVSAC was on display for the third year at the Nevada Historical Society in Reno, and the West Charleston Barnes & Noble with a fundraiser for the Las Vegas Academy and included an appearance of a contemporary Showgirl.

In 2010, the program downsized due to the state of the economy and focused solely on the LVA, because of  its historical role as a lead partner since inception and  its inclusion of the Showgirl Art Competition as a part of the Academy's  innovative curriculum. Miss Mabel opened up the Junior class presentation to the community with a working art event which  included a live Showgirl/model, past performer invited guests who related  their former entertainment experiences as well as sponsors and friends. The artwork you see on display was generated from the LVA class, LVA graduates and some guest artists.

LVSAC looks forward to 2011 with a highly focused art experience reflecting the traditional Showgirl, the continuing elevation of the quality/creativity of these works of  art and increased student and community artist participation. We are pleased to express our appreciation to the artists, sponsors and supporters-past and present-for the success of this program!

Sponsors:

Technology Exclusive

Denny Weddle & Associates

Nevada State Museum & Historical Society

Barnes & Noble

Karen Burns Productions

Cindy Doumani

Terry Ritter

Kell & Nancy Houssels

Carolyn Sparks

Bank of America

Escobar & Associates

Nevada Historical Society, Reno

Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors

UNLV Special Collections Department

Coldwell Banker: Diane Varney Realtor

Dr. Rex Lui, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

LIDO Paris

Las Vegas Academy Presenters:

Linda Spinks

Daryl Roth

Terry Ritter

Jerry Blank

Diane Varney

Dancer/Showgirls:

Cathy Cobert

Angela Falivena

Tara Edmonds

Alexandra Zevalking

Special Guest appearance:

Wes Winters

Our Media Supporters:

The Las Vegas Review Journal

The Las Vegas View

Mike Weatherford

New York Times: Patti Brown & Jim Wilson

The United Press: Kathleen Hennessey

Post Notes; Laura Post

Call Back Magazine

KLAV 1230AM

2010 Showgirl Art Competition information/ how to submit your artwork

2010 Showgirl Art Competition articles

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2009 Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition

The Las Vegas Academy for the Performing Arts collection of  Showgirl Art (2007-2009)was on display December 5th 2009 - February 5, 2010 as part of a Fundraiser for the Academy at Barnes & Noble on West Charleston & Rampart.

The "2009 Showgirl Art Competition & Costume Exhibition" also debuted at the

 Las Vegas Nevada State Museum and Reno Historical Society.

2009 Showgirl Art Competition

 2008-09 Showgirl Art Competition

 2008-09 Showgirl Art Articles

 2008 CAST AND CREW REUNION

 Marketing and Sponsorship  opportunities

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