He already took it down,” gallery owner Leslie Rowland said this week of an exhibit by the artist Dray. “He took it down [after First Friday] because he left town.” For those who keep an eye on the arts district, Dray’s departure—for Atlanta—changes the metabolism of the scene a little. He sometimes seemed ubiquitous: starting the Five Finger Miscount collective; fighting rezoning on Colorado Street; painting murals; exhibiting frequently.

But dedication takes a toll, and Vegas doesn’t always return the love. “I remember the gallery director of [Markman Gallery] telling me how tough it was to sell art in Las Vegas,” Dray told the Weekly by e-mail. “Here it is close to nine years later, and I wish I could disagree with him.” It’s not that he’s lost faith in the city; it’ll grow, he says. “But I can’t wait for Las Vegas to graduate. I’ve made the best of my experience here.” Time to try somewhere else.