There is a Richard Serra sculpture being installed a few blocks from my home in Las Vegas. I discovered it recently on a walk and it was like opening an early Christmas present. The piece is being placed at an entrance to the Station Casinos corporate headquarters. Frank Fertitta founded the company in 1976 and since then the family/business has amassed an enormous collection of world-class art. I suspect Las Vegas has collectively one of the world’s greatest art collections. Sadly, these works are almost entirely held in private collections, placed in high roller suites, expensive homes or private office buildings and are largely inaccessible to the general public. Unfortunately, art in Las Vegas is used primarily to differentiate one’s status and elevate experiences for the few that can afford it. Those that truly love and value art for its ability to elevate and enrich their lives understand access to masterworks should never be limited to a few affluent individuals. I hope Serra’s piece will be open to the public, but I have my doubts. While attemping to take a photograph of a sculpture on the other side of the entrance to this very building, I was stopped by security. You can tell what people think about art by how they treat it.
Unfortunately, this Richard Serra piece was placed in the middle of a parking lot drop-off area. Before your driver drops you off at the entry you will need to circumnavigate the work in your vehicle. If the work is accessible you will need to cross traffic to an island surrounded by a parking lot. One of the best views of the work is from the top level of the parking garage adjacent to the sculpture. It is from this angle that the work reveals its secrets. The location of this sculpture reinforces a notion that the work is more valuable as a status symbol than as a transformative spatial experience. I have heard the Fertittas called “art patrons,” but I see them more as savvy investors. To be a patron you need to truly appreciate art and the processes that surround the making of art. You must actively nurture up and coming artists — not just cherry pick works from well-established masters. You don’t need to love or understand art to be an art investor. I have been told that masterworks have historically outperformed the stock market and are a better hedge against inflation than gold. I suspect, however, that the true benifits of these priceless investments are never fully realized. As for me, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope I will be allowed to experience this amazing work.
I enjoyed your take on capitalism and art today David…I have considered those ideas as well (subconsiously) related to VEGAS…I think the first time was when THE BELLAGIO started to display iconic art in a setting that seemed oddly inappropriate….I had no desire to go and like you state; it seemed meant for an elite crowd or was too difficult to manage just to see a few grand pieces of art….not for the general public…anyway…I appreciate your perspective and that you are willing to put your ideas to paper….I was in St. Louis last summer and stopped by the Pulitzer Art Foundation….it was pretty insane….I was a lone afternoon patron in an amazing building designed by Tadao Ando….and on the exterior sculpture garden was an intense and overwhelmingly large Richard Serra sculpture….rust and iron per usual….it was a contrast in meditative and intimidating all at once…as if its slanted and curved walls could collapse in on you without warning…but grandly beautiful non-the-less….several summers ago I saw one of my favorite gallery exhibitions in Palm Springs (possibly the closest real art museum to Vegas)…outside of the museum was a huge surprise: the mind boggling Marilyn Monroe sculpture (has to be seen)…the exhibition I was there to see was Richard Diebenkorn….I think a lot of his art is privately owned in homes around the California, LA and Palm Springs area (not in Museums r/t to your comments on the hidden art in the Vegas area)…. they somehow located and arranged to borrow many of the Diebenkorn works from private homes and galleries from around the country for a one-off exhibit…luckily I saw it advertised in the Las Vegas Journal and got off my rear and drove the 3 hours across the Mohave…WOW! Sorry for the ramble and likely errs in these comments…., but I wanted to respond…your blog really inspired my thoughts today….Oh! the Las Vegas Journal is responsible for me discovering YOUR gallery exhibits as well 🙂