The Guide

The Majorie Barrick Museum is fluid about a lot of things, especially how many exhibits it’s showing at any given time -- sometimes it’s one mega-show and a smaller display, sometimes it’s six different presentations. In this case, the city’s main contemporary art museum is going with three.

Contemporary Ex-Votos -- the de facto headliner show -- pairs traditional Mexican art with works that broadly celebrate LatinX culture; In Relation combines pieces from the Barrick collection with new ones created by local artists to expand the notion of motherhood; and P0RTAL diversifies the hat trick with a showcase devoted to graphic design. As usual for the Barrick, lots of art -- and lots of variety.

If this show sounds familiar, that might be because it’s been in the Barrick’s East Gallery since April. But with almost two months left (from the date of this publication) to see it, we wanted to give it one last shout-out. A who’s-who of international arts organizations support this culturally rich collection of contemporary work by Latinx artists inspired by the Mexican tradition of Ex-Votos, small devotional paintings that are a type of retablo, or “altar art.” The artists, which include some names familiar to locals (Elena Brokaw, Justin Favela, Zully Mejía, Krystal Ramirez, and others), engage with the U.S.’s largest collection of retablos, curated by University of Illinois at Chicago art professor Emmanuel Ortega and kept at the New Mexico State University Art Museum. They riff on the theme in a wide variety of ways, from mixed-media installations, to repurposed signs for Las Vegas Latinx businesses.

Exhibit runs through November 23.

In this exhibition, the prolific local artist looks to level the viewing field, if you will, by rendering her subjects in a sort of photographic heat map. A high-resolution thermal camera “takes away the familiar,” Alterwitz says. “It creates ambiguity to the physical characteristics that can socially divide us, such as color, gender, or age. Pigmentation, tattoos, hair color cease to exist.” What’s more, her technique flattens images, putting subjects against dark backgrounds, their essence shimmering untethered in the foreground. At a time when people are deeply divided, Alterwitz aims to disorient viewers in their preconceptions — and orient them toward a new way of seeing their fellow humans.

Exhibit runs through November 23.

Homero Hidalgo’s work epitomizes abstract art. The intricacies between color and lines in his paintings allure the eye. That, and his creative ability to find symbolism in unexpected places, are what make his work stand out. His recent exhibit, Goldmining, presents a two-dimensional combination of painting and smartphone photography. By using components of both artistic fields, Hidalgo attempts the “goldmine” of media consumption.

Singer Johnny Mercer was born 115 years ago on November 18. You can celebrate him and his music (he wrote a lot!) with Capitol Records recording artist Rose Kingsley, who will perform Moon River, Days of Wine and Roses, and others you will probably recognize if you are a certain age.

Why is Core Contemporary, one of the city’s most vital art galleries, closing? Owner/gallerist Nancy Good told “KNPR’s State of Nevada” that Clark County’s handling of the Commercial Center redevelopment — to say nothing of unwanted intrusions in the complex by non-patrons — has left some tenants no choice but to leave. So Good is ending Core’s run with not only the SOMA exhibit by multidisciplinary artist Laura Esbensen, but also a funeral — specifically, a Jazz Funeral & Wake — on December 13. The affair will acknowledge both the death of her gallery as well as its life — and the life it helped breathe into the local arts community — complete with a proper funeral procession through New Orleans Square and a party at the gallery after. Dress up for this one, folks.

Note: Gallery is also open to appointment times.

Sigrid Nunez is coming to the Beverly Theater, the exact spot that author André Aciman absolutely packed two weeks ago for his own book reading. This time the New York City-based Sigrid will be reading from her latest novel, The Vulnerables. A lot is going on in this pandemic-set book, which is very much rooted in the malaise and tribulations of the modern era, but also expressed and processed through the lens of the past. It’s heavily reliant on our connections with one another. Bonus: Apparently it’s also funny and features a parrot.

Nunez will be speaking to former Black Mountain Institute Shearing Fellow, Tajja Isen. She’ll also be signing her book, which comes with your ticket, so don’t fret if you haven’t read it yet — you will.

“A familiar story, with a twist” was clearly the inspo behind Majestic Repertory’s latest show, The Devil Wears Payless. Unless you’ve been hiding in a closet for the last 20 years, you know that’s a nod to the bestseller-turned movie The Devil Wears Prada.

Everyone knows Vogue U.S. editor Anna Wintour, whom Meryl Streep’s hard-charging film character was modelled after. But Payless is also a familiar cultural reference, as those of us of a certain age will remember Payless Shoe Source, a low-budget shoe store famous for its cheap knockoffs of name-brand kicks. This satire, true to its name, juxtaposes both ideas — opulence and frugality — in a comedic kicker of a play, as Streep's character is now associated with fashion disasters as opposed to that season’s in-demand items.

The Majorie Barrick Museum is fluid about a lot of things, especially how many exhibits it’s showing at any given time -- sometimes it’s one mega-show and a smaller display, sometimes it’s six different presentations. In this case, the city’s main contemporary art museum is going with three.

Contemporary Ex-Votos -- the de facto headliner show -- pairs traditional Mexican art with works that broadly celebrate LatinX culture; In Relation combines pieces from the Barrick collection with new ones created by local artists to expand the notion of motherhood; and P0RTAL diversifies the hat trick with a showcase devoted to graphic design. As usual for the Barrick, lots of art -- and lots of variety.

In this exhibition, the prolific local artist looks to level the viewing field, if you will, by rendering her subjects in a sort of photographic heat map. A high-resolution thermal camera “takes away the familiar,” Alterwitz says. “It creates ambiguity to the physical characteristics that can socially divide us, such as color, gender, or age. Pigmentation, tattoos, hair color cease to exist.” What’s more, her technique flattens images, putting subjects against dark backgrounds, their essence shimmering untethered in the foreground. At a time when people are deeply divided, Alterwitz aims to disorient viewers in their preconceptions — and orient them toward a new way of seeing their fellow humans.

Exhibit runs through November 23.