Las Vegas First Friday Art Walk

The LA Times reported today about the First Friday art event in downtown Las Vegas. Downtown Las Vegas, of course, is not the strip, but if you keep going south on "The Strip" a.k.a. Las Vegas Blvd, you will land in Downtown Las Vegas. Like many downtowns, Downtown Las Vegas has suffered over the years, falling victim to suburban flight or, in this case, the gradual move northward into Clark County and the world famous gabmling scene that is known as Las Vegas.

Over the last decade or so, cities have attempted to revitalize their downtowns by encouraging artists to move in. So it was with Las Vegas, which joined the party a little late in the game with its "First Friday" art event launched in October 2002. The event is now drawing a consistently large crowd to warrant that streets are closed off.

In my area of Orange County, there are similar events known as "Art Walks". The first Saturday of each month you will find the "open house" for the artists of the Art Village in Santa Ana. And in the famous Laguna Beach, it's the first Thursday of every month.

Feel free to post details of art walks in your area.

Artists Ripped Off in Giclee Reproductions Fraud

Here's a scary story that was published in the LA Times yesterday. Kristine Eubanks of Van Nuys California offered successful artists giclee printing and marketing services. The prints were to be issued on a limited edition basis. She even had a TV show called "Fine Art Treasures Gallery" in which the artists' limited edition prints were auctioned off. That wasn't the only sales channel: the prints were also auctioned on Princess Cruise Lines. Trouble was, numerous quantities of these prints were unauthorized, far exceeded the limited edition quantity, and had forged signatures on them.

To prove her credentials as a fraudster without any scruples, Eubanks was found guilty of running up $144,000 in charges on the credit card of a dead business associate! Eubanks is currently serving time for the credit card fraud, and here's hoping she will also get her due for devaluing the art of several successful artists by flooding the market with large numbers of unauthorized giclee prints.

Note: ArikiArt can arrange for limited edition giclee reproductions of many of the paintings found in our online galleries and can guarantee that the artists' signature is authentic and series limitations are adhered to strictly. Contact us if you are interested in a giclee print of any of the artworks on our site and we will work with the artist to see if they are willing to supply a giclee print.

Does Art Theft Pay?

Munch's Scream Offered for Reduced Jail Sentence

David Toska, a suspect in the August 2004 theft of Edvard Munch's paintings "The Scream" and "Madonna" is plea bargaining the whereabouts of the two paintings in exchange for a reduced sentence for his role in the NOKAS theft. NOKAS is the Norwegian Cash Service, and police suspect that the Munch thefts were actually aimed at diverting police resources from the NOKAS case.

Meanwhile, in Britain the Guardian is reporting that a man who stole a museum painting in 1999 was busted when he bragged about the theft over a pint at a British pub. Another customer who overheard his bragging reported him to the police. The thief never did get his day in court, however, as he died while in custody!

Delaware Art Museum Sues Architect

Delaware Art museum sues architect and engineering firm

The Delaware Art Museum in Wilmington has filed a federal lawsuit against the Boston architect and engineering firm that handled the museum's $32 million makeover and expansion from 2001 to 2005. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, alleges that the incompetence of Ann Beha Architects Inc. and Ove Arup & Partners resulted in construction errors and delays that severely damaged the museum's financial health, reputation and fund-raising efforts. The museum is asking the court to award damages greatly in excess of $75,000...more

San Jose Hosts Festival That Mixes Art With Technology

Art and Technology Show in San Jose This Week

NBC11.com - News - San Jose Hosts Festival That Mixes Art With Technology:

"Zero One is an interactive mix of art and technology. In order to get work shown this week, an artist must be innovative and a near expert in digital technology.