The Gallery at Summerlin houses art variety for customers' wants
By JAN HOGAN VIEW STAFF WRITER
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The Gallery at Summerlin, located at 9330 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 180, opened its doors April 22. Inside, there's everything from a $25 object d'arte to a $60,000 oil painting.
The eclectic mix includes prints by Dr. Seuss, which are for sale. Alongside "Horton Hears a Who" and the "Green Eggs and Ham" illustration is one deserving a second look for its complexity.
"I love the title 'A Cat Detected in the Wrong Neighborhood,' " said Marie Walsh, gallery director. "This piece, it isn't found in any of his books."
The gallery's interior is designed with linen-colored walls, high-tech halogen lighting, a metallic copper ceiling and wood flooring. Part of the back wall is devoted to framing, with a series of V shapes making a distinct pattern behind the granite-topped cabinetry. The opposite back wall is mirrored with shelving. It houses much of the 3-D art -- bowls, vases and objects of dubious practicality but plenty of likability.
One of those pieces is a set of nesting bowls depicting the hectic pace of New York City. On their rims are either 3-D cars or buildings. Place a smaller bowl inside a wider one and the cars appear to be speeding past the high rises.
"I want those cars to move," said Debra Blitzer, gallery owner. "I wish they were kinetic."
Blitzer is an artist in her own right. Besides the Summerlin site, she has a studio in Santa Fe, N.M., but spends most of her time here. She is known for her work in ceramics. Some of her mask series pieces line the hallway by the viewing room.
Walsh is a master framer with more than 20 years of experience, as well as a businesswoman with deep connections in the art community.
The two met a couple of years ago and fostered an immediate friendship and decided to open the gallery in the Village Square center. The north-facing front of the gallery means not worrying about the strong summer sun affecting the artwork.
At 2,400 square feet, the gallery is spacious enough to showcase large paintings but still offer a welcoming feel.
Most of the day-to-day operations fall to Walsh.
"Every single artist I've ever met, they don't want to be out front," Walsh said. "They (love the idea of) a gallery but they want to be creative and spend their time in the studio."
Blitzer said the gallery will not cut into her studio time as she gets up early, starting work by 5 a.m. each day. By 9 a.m., she figured, she'd be ready to come to the gallery.
Blitzer's and Walsh's love of art has transferred to their daughters, who also work at the gallery. Susan Walsh is a sales consultant. Sandy Cannon, Blitzer's daughter, serves as office manager and sales consultant. Cannon has a degree in studio art from the University of Missouri in Kansas City and she and her husband have a small painting studio in their home where they work in acrylics and mixed media.
The Gallery at Summerlin currently features art by only one other Las Vegas artist, Ruth Bush. In the future, the gallery operators will be looking at local artists' portfolios to see which others they want to include.
Not content to merely offer art, the owners also plan to further the art scene by hosting meet-the-artist nights, fundraisers, art industry speakers, music and art nights and themed parties highlighting artists, countries or artistic styles.
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