Artist inspired by Las Vegas city life displays new installation

Artist Mark Brandvik says his art is usually informed by where he is when he creates it. Right now, that is the city of Las Vegas.

"I primarily do painting, drawing, sculpture and a bit of video," he says. "I deal in the subject that I know. It is Vegas but it is the Vegas that's very close to where I live, in the center of town. I'm trying to capture my immediate environment."

His latest work is directly related to the city. Showing in the Rotunda Gallery in the Clark County Government Center, 500 S. Grand Central Parkway, "Green Felt Jungle Gym" is a massive multimedia installation made mostly of the metal tubing used in chain-link fence construction.

"The title of it," he notes, "is a play on the title of the (1963) book about Las Vegas and the mob, 'The Green Felt Jungle.' Once I had the name in my mind, it kind of governed the form it took. 'Green Felt Jungle' refers to Las Vegas, but the jungle gym inspired the final piece. When I did it, I had the Government Center in mind so I wanted it to be quite large so it would have an impact in the space."

In announcing the show, the county's press release said: "Mark Brandvik paintings and sculptures locate the viewer within a specific setting or narrative that builds upon larger themes of place and location. His paintings of midcentury Las Vegas architecture present classics such as Paul Williams' La Concha Motel, the Four Queens Hotel, and most recently, Davy's Locker. Homes, slot bars, churches, and motels are pared down to their idealized, essential forms; these iconic pictures may be read as homage to Las Vegas history, addressing both desire and loss."

A native Las Vegan, Brandvik says he agrees with that assessment of his work.

Brandvik was studying architecture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, when, he recalls: "I just happened to land in an art class. I did it as a general interest thing and it seemed to be the direction I was looking for and the thing looking for that I would do."

After getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, he got a master's degree in painting, drawing, sculpture and installation at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Today, besides making his own art, he teaches drawing and design classes to UNLV undergraduates.

"In almost all cases, for me the work I'm making is a continuation of themes and ideas I've been dealing with for a long time -- mostly related to Las Vegas," Brandvik says. "In a rare case there might be a commission where I'm given direction by someone who has a specific thing in mind."

Brandvik is part of the growing arts scene in Las Vegas.

"The arts community here isn't as large as in other places, but it is vital and an artist can draw energy from it," he says.

As for the city itself, he knows it well and sees its many facets.

"Las Vegas has the ability to be many things, which is one of the things I like. It makes the town schizophrenic but I like that.

"There's a difference between what people who live here know it is and what people from outside the city want it to be," he adds. "It can be normal for people who live here or a den of debauchery for others from the outside. Either way, it's very interesting."

Brandvik's work has been exhibited from Los Angeles to New York City and is in private collections across the nation and in South Africa.

"Green Felt Jungle Gym" will be at the Government Center through March 23. His work can then be seen in the group exhibition, "Dreamhouse," at Clark County's Winchester Gallery in April.