pairinLV

November 28, 2016November 27, 2016

Nothing

Know what’s between Phoenix and Las Vegas? Nothing.

I don’t mean it’s totally empty – on the way to Las Vegas, we drove by a Joshua tree forest and ate at an unfriendly hot dog place.

We also noticed a spot on the map off highway 93, between Wickenburg and Wickieup, for the town of Nothing, Arizona. I’m using the term “town” very loosely here.

On the way back, we stopped there, in front of the abandoned gas station that’s the only building in sight. According to the sign painted on the side, Nothing has a population of 4.

But even that may be an exaggeration.

November 21, 2016

ArtBar

The ArtBar at UNLV is self-serve.

Instead of mixing yourself a cocktail, you make your own artwork. The block semi-circle in the lobby of the Barrick Musuem is stocked with supplies and a prompt inspired by a current exhibit.

In conjunction with a powerful series of photos now on display – Edward Burtynsky: Oil – the ArtBar invited visitors to “reflect on process and change.”

There were charcoals, pastels, pencils, crayons, and cardstock in a neutral palette of tans and grays, black and white. I decided to take a few minutes to put pastels against a page and see what would come out. So I pulled up a stool, contemplated change and erosion, and made mountains.

Marjorie Barrick Museum at University of Nevada, Las Vegas is free (optional $5 donation), and the ArtBar is in the lobby and open to anyone. There is metered parking in the lot just outside the museum.

October 17, 2016October 17, 2016

Playing Card Mini Journal (WIP) and Las Vegas Trip

A photo posted by stephanieliebold (@stephanieliebold) on Jul 10, 2015 at 11:11pm PDT

Vegas has never seemed like my scene, but Phillip and I are planning to be there in a couple weeks. His longtime friend Michael, who now calls the area home, is getting married, so we’re taking a road trip! It’ll be my first time in Las Vegas (outside of a brief layover en route from Indiana, which doesn’t really count). So I’ve been researching things we might want to see – both on The Strip and beyond it.

A video posted by stephanieliebold (@stephanieliebold) on Jul 11, 2015 at 9:55am PDT

I also started making a mini scrapbook with playing card pages.

Even if the glitz and excess I associate with Vegas isn’t so appealing to me, there’s more to every place than meets the eye. I’m looking forward to searching out spots that tell different stories.

PS In case you can’t see them, the Instagram shots are a photo of Mr. Cheeseface on a slot machine and a video of take-off over the lights of The Vegas Strip.