It’s been a doozy of a year for us all, and that’s especially true for the local arts community, which faced the outright cancellation of live entertainment in 2020. But the arts are all about resilience, finding hope and weaving gold from the most plague-infested straw. So we asked notables from Las Vegas’ creative community to share their thoughts and New Year’s Resolutions for 2021. Here’s to better times!
Performing Arts
“The outsider spirit drives circus and comedy. It’s not just resilience. It’s an anti-fragile ethos. Struggle makes it stronger. The hunger of the artist and the hunger of the crowd will fuel shows and art with burning energy in 2021.” –David J. Foster, comedy & circus producer
“My word and intention for 2021 is to “elevate.” When I think of that word, it gets me hype[d] and excited about the things I want to do in my life. It reminds me of my worth, and it holds me accountable to maintaining a standard of actions and mindset that are necessary to achieve the big things I want for my life.” –Destiny Faith, actress & producer
“Coming into 2021, I wish our entertainment community—from the Strip’s shows to the Smith Center to Downtown and community theater—can return to live performance once again. As for me, my resolution is to look beyond what I’ve considered theater and expand my skill set to explore outside the box.” –Anita Bean Sande, performer
“I resolve to face 2021 with a new appreciation for being ‘in the moment’ and to live in a state of gratitude. During these nine months, I have realized that I took so much for granted. It becomes crystal clear that I have lived my life rushing through every moment, always on the precipice of the next production or project. Always on the go and working months in advance meant little time for reflection and celebration of accomplishments. Then suddenly it all stopped. Nothing to do … nothing, but to be ‘in the moment.’ Therefore, I resolve to maintain what I have learned about being in the now: ‘in the moment.’ And I am resolute to live in a state of gratitude. In all of this time of uncertainty, the one thing that has remained constant is the support of this community of artists. I am supremely grateful to be part of this astounding the Las Vegas arts community—with its amazing people. The arts will survive this time, and we will be required to be stronger than we were before.” –Norma Saldivar, Chair, UNLV Department of Theatre & Executive Director, Nevada Conservatory Theatre
“My resolution is to be more considerate, less wasteful and to stop making excuses to be less than I accept from others.” –Colin Cahill, performer in Atomic Saloon Show & comedy duo Mak and the Cheese & co-owner of Fly Fearless Yoga
“We are hopeful for an end to the pandemic and a return to in-person performances and to have the support to be able to remain operating until that day comes. Our resolution is to continue to find ways to bring theater to the community, if only a limited basis for now.” –Walter Niejadlik, President of Las Vegas Little Theatre
“I’m incredibly proud of the groundbreaking work The LABLV created this year and honored to work with the brilliant artists of Las Vegas. As challenging as 2020 was, it brought the Vegas community of producers (over 40 organizations) together to form the Producers Alliance of Southern Nevada, PALSNV. I’m excited to continue to connect and create more opportunities for our incredible community through the arts.” –Kate St-Pierre, Artistic Director of the LAB LV & President PALSNV
“If nothing else, 2020 taught me that any long-range season planning is hubristic at best. So my resolution for 2021 is to take everything a day at a time. This encourages me to appreciate the small moments that really make up the backbone of a life.” –Troy Heard, artistic director of Majestic Repertory Theatre
Literary Arts
“2020 felt like our chrysalis year. With the Strip and Downtown stages going dark, so many of us performers felt lost in a quarantine cocoon. For 2021, I want to emerge from the darkness better than before. I want to see the world differently. No fear, only excitement and a playful anticipation of what is to come, like a butterfly beating its wings for the first time. I want to fly again, connect again. I want to love more. And I want hugs, lots and lots of hugs.” –Ashley Vargas (MsAyeVee), teaching artist & Program Director for Poetry Promise Inc.
“I resolve to take my time, to rest often.” –Vogue Robinson, poet
“For writers, seclusion and making word count are often synonymous. We are not in the clear with COVID, so I’m leaning into writing. Not worrying about what I’m missing, lamenting what I can’t do or shaking my fist at 2020. I’m just going to write sh*t, and write sh*t and write more sh*t in hopes someone will want to read it and it will mean something to them, which is the whole reason to do this work in the first place. I hope lots of other writers, aching to be heard and read, do the same. We need your words more than ever. Remember writers, seclusion can suck, but it’s also your superpower.” –Kim Foster, James Beard Award-winning food writer
Visual Art
“2020 was a year for reflection and making moves toward a vision that decolonizes the arts and other marginalized communities. Culturally, when we look to strengthen our present community, we reflect seven generations back and plan seven generations ahead. So what have we learned from where we stand in 2020? We are reminded that there are still deep-seated inequities affecting our communities, and that two viruses—COVID and racism—have claimed the lives of many people we hold dear. We also have agency to push the narrative towards equality, social justice, healing and cultivating a stronger future for all through the arts in 2021.” –Fawn Douglas, Nuwu Art
“In light of how fantastically awful 2020 was, the most pertinent words of resolve for the upcoming year come from Winston Churchill: ‘If you’re going through hell, keep going.’” –JW Caldwell, artist and art handler
“For myself this upcoming year is about connecting to the outskirts of the universal mind beyond the veil; creating more grand artworks and immersive experiences extracted from dreams that promote the deep feelings and celebration of the highest self. Watching my fellow art community colleagues adapt to these beautiful paths has been exceptionally delightful to witness. Las Vegas is continuing to enact its relevancy as a reflective monolith in the desert providing hope, dreams and new beginnings for many. … Taking a moment to ponder and simply be ‘in the moment’ is heavily needed this upcoming year. Vegas always finds a way to thrive, and as a community we stand strong together in our perseverance. The desert is always full of unsuspecting magic. The universe of love is just a fragment away, and the portal to activate it is within you and all of us together.” –Heather Hermann, Owner & operator of Metropa Studios, neo-noir artist, performer and immersive designer
“Express gratitude and love, creativity and care. Nurture relationships that grew or have been fortified during the pandemic and through advocacy and organizing work with other artists. Continue to advocate for the arts/arts education in Las Vegas, and in particular, to help shine a light on the important role of artists and cultural institutions in our community and the critical work they do. I’m looking forward to working with Justin Favela on Live in America, a live art festival in Northwest Arkansas where we’ll have the pleasure of highlighting Las Vegas within a national context and to current and future collaborations with Desert Arts Action Coalition.” –Wendy Kveck, artist
“As I approach 2021, there are undeniably moments of deep reflection about 2020 and an assessment of whether my goals have changed, as a human being, an artist, a business owner, or whatever. While it may be surprising to some, the only thing that has changed for me is the monumentally increased belief that arts and culture will restore the our cities, our communities, and our world, by bringing out the best of our humanity. My resolutions—or as I like to call them Re: Solutions—focus on building upon my lifelong mission being of service to my community: through art, mentorship, through the nonprofits I founded or co-founded this past summer, through the exhibitions of local working artists I curate in the gallery, through art residencies in my working studio, etc.” –Nancy Good, artist & gallerist of Core Contemporary
“My hope is to push myself to new realms in 2021 as a creator: to further hone the self discipline I developed in 2020 while prolifically producing new work. I am especially eager to reconnect and rekindle my relationship as a creator with the Las Vegas community.” –Kent Caldwell, sculptor & performer
“Make more work. That’s my main concern in the new year after how destabilizing 2020 has been. While drawing and illustration have begun to take on a more prominent role in my work, I’m most eager to revisit my painting practice after working as a studio artist for a company the past few years. I plan to re-examine themes about the body and mortality in my work while also engaging topics new to my oeuvre such as class issues, isolation and loss. Ideally I’d like to connect with other artists working in similar themes and potentially curate an exhibition. –Wendy Chambers, artist
“For this year, my resolutions are simple: to study the resolutions you published [in 2019] and be inspired by them. And to continue to offer a high quality exhibition space for our outstanding local artists.” –Priscilla Fowler, gallerist & owner of Priscilla Fowler Gallery
Filmmaking & Music
“While my vision of 2021 is drenched in an opaque fog, an unknowable territory, I hope to finish post-production on the film we shot during quarantine. The film is a coming-of-age-tale set in 1994 Las Vegas, and, save one brief cameo from Sean Astin, the film features an all-female cast. During the year we will also continue releasing music under our GC Records label. The first of many releases will kick off in January with Las Vegas rock/punk/folk act Lawn Mower Death Riders.” –Shahab Zargari, filmmaker & co-owner of GC Records
“My resolutions: I would like to finish another two screenplays, produce another short film or two and go back to my roots and work on a theater production.” –Jeff Zampino, screenwriter
“Res: let people know when I appreciate them and why, commit to buying an artist’s album if I listen to it more than once on a streaming service, encourage and inspire new artists to complete their projects and offer them assistance if they need it.” –Brian Garth, producer, sound engineer & singer/guitarist of Black Camaro
