LETTERS

Regarding "Artistic Differences" [June 1]:

It has occurred to Wes Isbutt and Jack Solomon that they're operating in Las Vegas, right? The city that couldn't support the Contemporary Arts Collective? The city that barely supports its Smithsonian-affiliated art museum? The city that lost a Guggenheim due to low attendance?

Far from being "the biggest live draw there is," art is continually struggling to find a receptive audience here. Whether they like it or not, First Friday's carnival vibe is bringing eyeballs to Solomon's and Isbutt's galleries. Take away the kettle corn, noisy reggae and Cindy Funkhouser's atmosphere of inclusion and Wes Isbutt will be trying to sell his photographs to nothing but tumbleweeds, broken asphalt and winos. Solomon will have to go right back to Paris Las Vegas and continue selling in a day probably half of what Galerie Lassen sells in a half-hour, despite the fact that the latter's work contains dolphins and Mickey Mouse.

What we've got in First Friday and our Arts District is something that is going to take years to evolve, and Isbutt and Solomon plainly want control of it. It's not about what's best for the city or even what's best for the artists, but that which will allow these two men to have their delusions of new urbanism. You want to exist in a rarefied air, gentlemen? You want to go somewhere that accepts and nurtures elitists of your caliber? McCarran offers hourly flights to New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle. You're more than welcome to try your luck in one of those cites and see how long it takes for your cream to rise to the top. I'll tell you this much, boys: It never would have happened here if Cindy Funkhouser hadn't stirred the glass.

Dear Editors,

It would seem that all the low- and middlebrow artists would be well advised NOT to circumscribe the arts below the mesas of sports and comedies. Even this analogy is oversimplified. In my view, baseball, swimming and gymnastics are the highest of sports because of their low incidence of collisions. Boxing and other blood sports are at the bottom of the topography.

Artists should NOT support high-rise buildings because they cause global warming. Think of the Earth as a dancer doing spins. If the dancer keeps her arms and one leg close to her body, she can spin the fastest. If she extends her arms and one leg, she slows her spin. Then each new high-rise building is another "arm" adding to the cumulative effect of slowing the Earth's daily rotation, allowing the sun to heat every square inch of surface just that much longer. Thus, global warming.

The answer is to give everyone incentive to Spread Out More Evenly.

Thank you,

I completely agree with Thomas Luscher [Letters, June 1], Sen. Reid is an embarrassment to Nevada.

I hope that he and his fellow Democrats will be more democratic and defend our wonderful and patriotic nation by challenging the secretive, corrupt, torturing, lying and spying Bush administration that has made us the most hated and vulnerable in our history.

I would just like to bring to everyone's attention the discrimination we disabled citizens of Las Vegas face with certain events that are held in our fine city.

On the 25th of May, the VH1 Rock Awards were held at Mandalay Bay. I answered an ad from a company called Seat Fillers. They pick a certain number of people from the area to fill the seats in the audience. The seating is free if you're selected but, of course, you pay for your own food and souvenirs.

I was e-mailed a confirmation letter that said I was accepted to attend. I had to be there between 3 and not later than 5 p.m. I was there at 2.

I am a stroke survivor and live my life in a power chair, but that doesn't stop my enthusiasm for life. I'm a colorful, well-known character all around Las Vegas. I'm also a musician so this would have been the highlight of my career to attend this show.

When the people from Seat Fillers saw I was handicapped, they told me they would be unable to accommodate me. They said they only allow able-bodied persons to attend their shows. This upset some of the people in line with me so the lady from Seat Fillers said she would see what she could do. She came back about 15 minutes later and said if I waited until 5 p.m., after they had everyone else seated, she would get me in. So I waited outside in the hot sun, just to make sure I wouldn't miss her if she came to get me early. Finally after everyone was in, I waited a little longer. A security guard came out and I asked him the time. He told me 5:45 p.m. I explained my situation to him and he went to find the lady for me. She came out and said, "Oh, there's no room for you because VH1 sold that ticket for $160 to someone else."

That was all the explanation I got, no I'm sorry you sat out in the heat for all that time for nothing or even just an apology!!

Now, I would like to try out for the upcoming game show, Deal or No Deal, at the Hilton but, when I called, I was told not to even bother coming if I can't climb stairs!

What's happening to our city when handicapped persons no longer count. I can't even get decent housing. It's such a shame and it doesn't look like it's going to change anytime soon.

A Unhappy Handicapped,

Hey:

Okay, you printed the article "Most Beautiful People in Las Vegas" [May 11], now grow some testicles and print "The 10 Ugliest Las Vegans." I vote for Ron Futrell and Rikki Cheese—you pick the other nine males and nine females!

Sincerely,