Chocolate Jazzed Café to present “Music Night with DeVon Murray” March 12

Enjoy a relaxing evening listening to live performances by local musicians, while being surrounded in a world of art by over 40 local artists. During the performances, delight in chocolates & wine. Music Night with DeVon Murray will be the featured program at The Chocolate Jazzed Café in the City of the World gallery at Meadow Mall on March 12.

When not performing, DeVon Murray is a music teacher at the Founders Classical Academy of Las Vegas. The academy strives to train the minds and improve the hearts of young people through a rigorous, classical education in the liberal arts and sciences, with instruction in the principles of moral character and civic virtue.

The March 2022 featured artist, Ralph Megginson III of Ralph Megginson Art, is a must-see, especially for those who love sports. Ralph is known for his caricatures, and portraits of famous sports athletes, where his passion comes alive. Check out his show from March 9-31.

City of the World, Inc. is an established 501(c)3 nonprofit community art gallery offering programs, workshops, and art for children serving the Valley since 1996.

Chocolate Jazzed Café will be at the City of the World Art Gallery at the Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 12. Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for the general public, and students are free. The gallery is located on the first floor near Macy’s. For more info, call 702-523-5306, visit cityoftheworldlasvegas.org or click here.

American Roulette exhibit examines a difficult subject

Artistic expressions about gun culture and violence at Core Contemporary until Jan. 8

By Debbie Hall

Lead photo by Aaron Cowan

“Seven Tragic Mountains”

Dimensions Variable

Printed Digital Photograph

The gun target is:

Sean Russell “Hands”

32.5 inches x 24.5 inches x 2 inches Photographic Toner, Acrylic, Resin on Panel

Abstract image is:

Bindia Hallauer “Riot”

20 inches x 16 inches

Acrylic on Canvas

Directly confronting gun culture and violence, the traveling exhibition American Roulette presents its provocative artwork in Las Vegas at Core Contemporary. The American Roulette is on exhibit until Saturday, Jan. 8, with the closing reception planned later that evening.

Whether local or national, news alerts report the dramatic rise in violent crime, especially gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, 14,516 people died from gun violence in the US from Jan. 1 to Sept. 15. That is a 9 percent increase from the same period in 2020. Mass shootings are also on the rise, 15 percent higher than in 2020.

American Roulette began as a solo traveling exhibition of Dominic Sansone’s sculpture The Gun Show in 2015. CJ Hungerman joined the exhibition for a two-person show in January 2017, and it was renamed Bang! Gotcha Joe! after Dominic’s boyhood friend. Once Cesar Conde joined the collective, the traveling exhibition was renamed American Roulette for its presentation at The Clemente Center on the lower east side of Manhattan in 2019.

Michelle Graves was asked to join in 2019, and Folleh Tamba was added in 2020 before the exhibition at The Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

Yousif Del Valle and Anthony Guntren were working on a similar idea west, and when everyone discovered their mutual goals, the group came together to create American Roulette.

Core Contemporary curates art experiences based around challenging topics to evoke thoughtful contemplation and responses. A much-needed platform is offered for productive dialog across cultural and societal divides. The opportunity for an actual conversation about gun culture and violence is the chance for people to listen and learn from each other.

“It has been an honor to tour my artwork with the American Roulette exhibit. All of the work on display is intense but of an important topic, and I am glad that it has continued to be seen and discussed. The concept of utilizing art as a conversation starter and platform for deeper discussions on societal and existential topics is a personal mission of mine and pairs well with what American Roulette is doing as a traveling exhibit,” says Michelle. “Also, I am proud to help provide opportunities and encourage artists to exhibit their work in a prestigious manner.”

Local Southern Nevada artists who were accepted to the call for art for the Las Vegas exhibit includes:

Linda Shaffer instagram.com/redpearlart

Dan Brady instagram.com/void._.space

Aaron Cowan instagram.com/aaaartist

Adriane Serrano Bojorquez instagram.com/xxaryalaxx91

Tom Umholtz instagram.com/tomumholtz

Carla Furey instagram.com/whiteshadowart

Michelle Costigan www.instagram.com/hikingmich

Sean Russell www.instagram.com/chili_river

Vezun instagram.com/vezunvezun

Bindia Hallauer instagram.com/artbybindia

Nancy Good instagram.com/nancygood_art

Kelly Ludden Facebook.com/kelly.ludden

Jen Spencer Facebook.com/kitschyjen

This is a very personal project for Serrano Bojorquez who has experienced gun violence. As she stated in her bio on the Core Contemporary website, "I was held hostage at gunpoint in 2018, during a robbery, at one point he lifted the visor of his helmet and I saw his eyes, that image is burned into my mind. I was able to disarm him where law enforcement was able to subdue him due to my knowledge of guns."

Artists part of the traveling American Roulette exhibit:

Dominic Sansone sans1studios.com

CJ Hungerman cj-hungerman.squarespace.com

Cesar Conde cesarcondeart.com

Michelle Graves gravesmichelle.com

Folleh Tamba americanrouletteart.com/Folleh-Tamba

Anthony Guntren instagram.com/anthonyguntrenart

Yousif Del Valle yousifdelvalle.com

Core Contemporary showcases artists who are strong in genres such as abstraction, surrealism, street, and minimalism, working in mediums as diverse as painting, collage, assemblage, photography, digital design, sculpture, and performance art.

Fear and paranoia have become a very integral part of many lives, not only from the pandemic and its economic and societal consequences, but the significant uptick in crime, especially gun violence. Another aspect showcasing the gun culture are the devotees of the true crime genre with networks, movies, television shows, podcasts, YouTube, and Patreon channels regurgitating the most heinous crimes. American Roulette showcases very personal emotions about the fascination with crime and its consequences.

American Roulette will be exhibited at Core Contemporary located at 900 E. Karen, Suite D222. The exhibit will continue through Jan. 8, 2022, with a closing reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8. The exhibition is accessible from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday. No appointments are necessary. For more information, visit corecontemporary.com or americanrouletteart.com.

Rose Kingsley to celebrate with CD Release Party at Chocolate Jazzed Café

The jazz and cabaret diva to perform at City of the World gallery.

Opera, jazz, and cabaret diva Rose Kingsley will share her operatic training, 4-octave range singing jazz at The Chocolate Jazzed Café in City of the World gallery at Meadows Mall on Jan. 8.

She will celebrate with the CD release, A Diva's Tribute to Johnny Mercer. She will celebrate with the CD release, A Diva's Tribute to Johnny Mercer. The lyricist, songwriter, and singer recorded timeless classics including "Days of Wine and Roses," "Moon River," "Autumn Leaves," and "Hooray for Hollywood." He wrote the lyrics to over 1,500 songs, received 19 Oscar nominations, and won four Best Original Song Oscars. He was also co-founded Capitol Records.

Rose's rich, sultry voice resonates with jazz, telling the story of the songs. Her performance will tap into the intimate side of her artistry, touching the heart and soul of the song resonating with the audience. After her debut at Birdland Jazz Club in New York City, Rose was dubbed by New York Music Critics as "the female Sinatra."

"I love jazz since I can do anything I want with my voice and interpretation. It is all about the lyrics," she explains. "I am more of a singing actress than a singer." For more info about Rose, visit rosekingsley.com.

City of the World, Inc. is an established 501(c)3 nonprofit community art gallery offering programs, workshops, and art for children serving the Valley since 1996.

Chocolate Jazzed Café will be at the City of the World Art Gallery at the Meadows Mall, 4300 Meadows Lane, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8. Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for the general public, and students are free. For more info, call 702-523-5306 or visit cityoftheworldlasvegas.org.