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April 20, 2009
The economy and art in Las Vegas
Last year saw the closure of a Guggenheim outpost in the Venetian Hotel-Casino and the decision in 2007 by Steve Wynn to convert a gallery at his Wynn Las Vegas resort into a Rolex shop.
And not just any Rolex shop, a very successful one. Let's not forget that Las Vegas resorts are businesses, after all. Read the article.
Wynn, who for a time showed his private collection of Monets and Picassos in a gallery at his resort, boasted last year that the Rolex shop he replaced it with grossed $16 million in sales the first year.The Guggenheim Hermitage Museum at the Venetian is now a restaurant.
The article then cites as a ray of hope:
Also, the 10-year-old Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has drawn 7,000 paying visitors in the first two months of its latest show featuring works by Lichtenstein and Warhol; and First Friday, a festival in which several downtown small galleries and antique shops stay open late, draws thousands each month.
Wait - 7,000 over two months is a few more than 100 people a day. Pretty slow. I'm afraid that people go to Las Vegas for something other than beauty.
Posted by CrankyProfessor at April 20, 2009 7:38 AM
Comments
Are Lichtenstein and Warhol beauty?
Posted by: JSTB at April 20, 2009 1:31 PM