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Loewen Curates Exhibit for Las Vegas Arts Council


Kerry Loewen

Las Vegas, N.M — New Mexico Highlands University media arts professor Kerry Loewen is curating an ongoing multimedia exhibit, Art After Hours, for the Las Vegas Arts Council.

The first exhibit will feature a slideshow of the work of local artists who are LVAC members.

Beginning March 10, Art After Hours can be seen in the front window of the arts council’s Gallery 140 at 140 Bridge St. in downtown Las Vegas. The exhibit launch coincides with MainStreet de Las Vegas’ Second Saturday Art Walk.

A 42-inch professional quality plasma screen will project the slideshow of the local artists’ work.

Feb. 29 is the deadline for LVAC artists to submit high quality digital images of their work to Loewen at stillevolving@gmail.com. The images must be at least 1,000 pixels in height to ensure quality projection on the screen. Loewen’s phone number is 505-454-3184.

There is no fee to participate in Art After Hours.

“This exhibit brings art outside the gallery so people who might never have been inside will see the glowing screen and maybe give contemporary art a chance,” said Loewen, who is a LVAC member. “The exhibit gives additional exposure to local artists by adding a venue for their work.

“We also want the exhibit to attract interest that will help businesses on Bridge Street,” Loewen said.

Linda Wooten-Green is co-interim president for the Las Vegas Arts Council and is working with Loewen on Art After Hours. She coordinates Gallery 140, which the arts council opened in 2010 to showcase the work of local and New Mexico artists through revolving exhibits.

Since 1977, the Las Vegas Arts Council has sponsored visual, performing and participatory arts in the community.

“One reason this new exhibit is important is that it uses 21st century media and technology in the service of artists,” Wooten-Green said. “We are very excited about Kerry’s project, and are delighted that he’s working with the council on the exhibit.

“He has a dynamic vision about the possible ways technology can be used to enrich our understanding and appreciation of the arts. Kerry is using electronic media to expand the audience for the arts,” Wooten-Green said.

Loewen got the idea for art installations people could enjoy from the street after hours when his videos were featured in three art shows called Night Moves that used the concept at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Arts in California.

Loewen will work with the arts council board to curate future Art After Hours exhibits.

Loewen earned his MFA in studio arts from San Francisco State University. He was a professor of art and media arts at Eastern Oregon University before joining the Highlands University faculty in 2009.

He teaches media arts courses at Highlands in videography, audio for video, experimental filmmaking, digital photography, and more.

Loewen’s award-winning films and photography have been featured in numerous exhibits and galleries in California, Oregon and Washington. His photographs have been published in a variety of publications and books, including chemistry and multimedia textbooks.