Las Vegas Arts and Culture Archives - Laura Henkel, Ph.D.

New Mural at The Neon Museum

ACPR — Sun, 20 Sep 2020 07:06:43 +0000

Curating a mural by renowned Las Vegas artist James Stanford for the Neon Museum has been a true pleasure.

The 154-foot mural named “From the Land Beyond Beyond” covers the south wall of the Museum’s Reed Whipple building. Beginning with the Stardust Resort & Casino, which collapsed in 2007, Stanford’s mural design pays homage to early Las Vegas monuments. As a tribute to the Stardust’s Aku Aku Polynesian restaurant and Tiki Bar, the mural also features two Moai sculptures that was seen at the venue. The Sultan from the renowned hotel and casino known as The Dunes, which closed in 1993 to make way for the Bellagio, brings back found memories for local and tourists alike. > Read More

James Stanford and his work in progress

Dunes Hotel and Casino postcard showcasing the fiberglass Dunes Sultan, ca. 1960. Anthony Bondi Collection, The Neon Museum

Stardust Hotel and Casino Postcard, ca. 1960. Anthony Bondi Collection, The Neon Museum

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Sand To Sin

ACPR — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 06:52:20 +0000

Extract: Sand to Sin by Dunn-Edwards Paints

“Multi-media artist James Stanford is no stranger to creating art that merges past and present, reality and fantasy. In fact, Stanford is best known for his artistic work exploring themes of religion and spirituality, Zen Buddhism, and the metaphysical like his famed photomontage series, “Indra’s Jewels.” Now he’s brought this talent to another project, one that features prominently in Las Vegas’ ever-transforming landscape — a new large scale mural entitled, “From The Land Beyond Beyond.”

In June the Las Vegas-based artist finished his latest piece, the 154-by-19-foot mural painting on the Neon Museum’s newly acquired Reed Whipple building, which is located directly across from the museum. Stanford was commissioned by the Cultural Corridor Coalition to help beautify downtown Las Vegas. In his effort to do so, the artist drew from worldly and fantastical themes, as well as paid homage to the city’s famous Stardust Resort & Casino and Dunes Hotel & Casino, memorializing Vegas’ famed early days. The mural’s title, “From The Land Beyond Beyond,” was inspired by the 1958 film “The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad.”

Blending hallmarks of these casino properties, Stanford depicts the astronomical-themed Stardust neon signage and Moai carved lava statues, a reference to the Stardust’s Tiki bar and restaurant. On an adjoining wall panel, the artist painted a giant sultan overlooking the landscape, a reference to the Dunes property. Stanford used Dunn-Edwards Paints to bring his creations to life, and completed the project with the help of fellow artists Nanda Sharifpour, Ali Fathollahi and Milo Duffin. In his mural, Stanford seamlessly merges the city’s past into its artistic and cultural future with these images, displaying a heritage of art, design and commerce unique to Las Vegas.” < Read More

Photo by Laura Henkel

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