tomorrowpeople- Contemporary Arts Center

tomorrowpeople is the latest exhibition showing at the Contemporary Arts Center, until March 18th. Justin Favela, Leah Craig, Catherine Cruse and Thomas Willis make up the emerging artists of tomorrowpeople.
Upon entering the gallery, Justin Favela’s work titled ‘1095 Tamales’ makes a substantial statement. Mr. Favela, a Las Vegas native of Guatemalan and Mexican decent conceived this work based on his contemplation of  'what it would look like if I had a tamale, for three meals a day, for a year'. Tamales, traditionally made by women are in this context made using ‘manly’ industrial material such as cement, sand and found objects. Taking his inspiration from the Neon Museum, Mr. Favela created ‘Estardas’ motivated by the Stardust sign which can be seen there. Using cardboard, paint and hot glue he created a sizable likeness which similar to Vegas, is quirky and fun. I really love his “Hella, Hella, Hella Bomb” a sculpture made of wood, foam core and cardboard. This whimsical piece is a wink to the numerous Mexican restaurants that grace most southern states. Inspired by a chance visit to one such restaurant with his brothers, the food was declared a “Hella, Hella, Hella Bomb”. Mr. Favela’s art is grounded and playful. His portrayal of his daily surroundings and influences makes palpable his happy take on life.  He describes his current work as a response to his Las Vegas upbringing stating: “My home, my heritage and bad television motivate me to make things.”
Thomas Willis is described as “interested in the idolization of material objects in Western culture and its relationship to binary systems such as the absent and the present”. His works feature objects on “burnt surface of gessoed canvas”. Mr. Willis describes remembering his fascination with his father’s wallet as a child and uses everyday objects to capture mesmerizing and rhythmic forms, using a burning technique. His work has a sepia toned appearance which does in fact make it seem timeless.

Catherine Cruse uses painting to examine “how relationships with loved ones shape and define us. Her figurative paintings explore body and flesh as metaphors for the damaged or re-fortified self.” Using such titles as “Ruin, Ruin, Ruin” and “Brave” Ms. Cruse’s exploration of the human form creates a dichotomy of  beauty and agony.

Leah Craig’s work “investigates the effects that routine and social constructs have on an individual's relationship to his or her environment. Creating visual catalogues of the various objects and architectural styles, the artist sketches commonly traversed paths that occur within the periphery of local Boston neighborhoods. She is interested in how this practice of cataloging, through the act of attention, can expand one's visual boundaries.” Similar to an architecs blueprints, Ms. Craig’s work is precise and exact.

The Contemporary Arts Center is located at
107 East Charleston Blvd., Suite 120
(702) 382-3886 / lasvegascac.org