YOKO ONO / T. J. WILCOX: PAUSE
Press Release
PAUSE offers Las Vegas visitors and residents a rare opportunity to experience art in an unexpected way – by standing on the Las Vegas strip. This innovative public art exhibit will transform The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas marquee into a large-scale digital canvas showcasing work from leaders in the contemporary art world. Viewers will instantly be transformed from the everyday buzz of the strip to a thought provoking moment of contemplation and reflection. This urban art oasis turns an everyday sign into a cultural portal with the ability to touch everyone that passes by.
“The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is committed to building a platform for art and culture as an integral part of our guest experience,” said John Unwin, CEO of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, “We are thrilled to have PAUSE as the first of many art installations to be featured on our marquee.”
Presented by The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, in association with the Art Production Fund, the inaugural series features work by two major figures in contemporary art: Yoko Ono and T.J. Wilcox. Yoko Ono will exhibit Imagine Peace. T.J. Wilcox will exhibit two pieces that work together as an allusion to nature films. Filter and eau de vie de poire tell the tale of a young girl who discovers an endangered turtle in her swimming pool; and documentation of the artist's own backyard attempt at making pear brandy.
“The development and presentation of PAUSE marks the beginning of a ground-breaking partnership between The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and Art Production Fund,” said Co-founders of Art Production Fund, Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen. “Such a partnership with a Las Vegas resort and a public arts organization is unprecedented and reflects the unique desire Cosmopolitan has to bring culture to its visitors and compliments our mission to bring art to everyone”
Visitors will experience multiple genres within the artistic spectrum: visual art, new media, music, performance, and design all integrated into the unique landscape of the property. The program takes a fresh approach to immersive installation and embraces innovative ideas, provocative content and interactive projects, engaging first time viewers and art critics alike, while fostering a greater awareness of the important messages found in contemporary art.
PAUSE can be experienced at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas from August 3 - September 30, 2010.
Yoko Ono: Born 1933, Tokyo, Japan, lives and works in New York. Ono is an influential artist who pushes the boundaries of the art, film, music and theatre media. The present time marks a renewed resurgence of interest and celebration of her work. She received the prestigious Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2009 Venice Biennale and is currently on a world tour with PLASTIC ONO BAND.
T.J. Wilcox: Born 1965, Seattle, Washington, lives and works in New York. Attended School of Visual Arts, New York, 1989, BFA; Art Center College of Design Pasadena, 1995, MFA. Select solo exhibitions and screenings include: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Museum Ludwig, Cologne; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.
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