Viva Las Tater

Late on Sunday and I just returned from the CULT OF POTATO World Tour Premiere Party at the Contemporary Arts Collective (CAC) in Las Vegas. Our exhibit opened with a Martini Mixer on Thursday for the board members and friends and then on Friday over 2000 people visited our exhibit as part of the Vegas First Friday. They close down a street, all the area galleries and stores stay open late and it is one great event. So many different types of people came through...rave kids, families with strollers, old people, the mayor, TV crews from A&E and some tatoo reality show, etc. It was super impressive. The gallery is housed in the Art Factory building that has a bunch of studios and galleries...an amazing vibe. I had two potato quilt pieces and then did a slight performance piece, dressed in my potato culinary coat handing out potatoes from a big tin pan. I loved interacting with all the people. It really was one the funnest and happiest nights of my life. (See some photos.) And I got to share it with two of my oldest, dearest, and most inspirational friends, Rebecca and Nina. Other highlights, in no particular order, included:

1. Laura and Tommy: CAC board members and incredible hosts for the entire stay, taking us to fun places (Little Buddha at the Palms for dinner, the feather store) and showing us their fantastic house and tricked out bicycles. These two are the most stylish and full of love couple I know. Laura Love turned 35 on Friday night too. They will be here for the St. Louis Potato event in July.
2. A slew of folks from the CAC and the Arts Factory, including Marty Walsh--a fantastic painter who helped us hang and light the show and has a heart and smile as big and bright as the moon. Plus, she paints kitchen appliances and wears red cowboy boots. Paco, former curator of the Liberace Museum and current curator of the Neon Boneyard. I was mesmermized by his knowledge of Las Vegas history, and the art scene in the town. And he was so gracious, treating us to a private tour of the boneyard. (I took tons of pictures including some with my Holga.) Just a tremenously warm guy. Nina and I are going to work on bringing a neon show to St. Louis. Diane and Charles, also of the CAC...again just wonderfully supportive folks who did so much to make us feel at home. I can't say enough good things about this place and the folks involved.
3. Bright lights from the observation deck of the Stratosphere.
4. Walking down Main Street in my new lime green feather boa (courtesy of Rebecca Stees).
5. Every second in the red Dodge Neon with Tom, Nina, and Rebecca. I don't remember laughing so much in my life.
6. Watching Laura and Rebecca dance to DJ Shoe's mix of Benny and the Jets at Little Buddha.
7. The artist brunch on Sunday. I got choked up and cried, which wasn't exactly a highlight, but I was just so darned freaking grateful and happy.
8. Learning all kinds of new stuff about the potato from Jeffrey Allen Price.

I am so excited about the St. Louis Potato show. I have the best friends in the world.