Art for awareness

Sabrina Golmassian

Thursday, April 23, 2009 | midnight

Henderson gets an injection of culture when the first College Art Scene Festival hits the College of Southern Nevada’s Henderson Campus on April 24.

CSN student Richard Guillian created the festival through a grant from the college. He says the event is intended to raise awareness of the local scene with live graffiti demos, artists’ booths and area band performances. The festival will also attempt to help young artists network with established members of the artistic community. Spaces are still available, and it’s all free.

“We give you a table, two chairs and a plug,” Guillian says. “Otherwise you can provide your own stands and displays for your artwork.” Guillian encourages creativity in the spaces, with the booths becoming works of art in their own right.

Professor Def, aka Johnny of local music and art collective Macro-Fi, says the local art scene needs a stimulus plan. “A few years ago it was 100 percent great with First Fridays. Now there’s less attendance, less art being sold, less galleries. We need revitalization.”

Among the musical acts scheduled to play: hip-hop trio Mob Zombie and electronic/hip-hop team Outside Looking In. Graffiti street team the War Crew plans to spray-paint a huge mural on a 50-foot demo wall. “We’re also building a separate wall so people can be interactive as well and try their hand at graffiti in a legal, safe way,” Guillian says.