Meadow City Music Festival and Studio Tour sponsored by the Arts Council of Las Vegas. The above is their hashtag.  I like it.

Las Vegas is not exactly buzzing with activity but the plaza and surrounding streets are certainly much busier than when I walked through mid week.  The Arts Council studio tour includes 16 locations each showcasing local artists’ work.  My favorite stop was the   Highlands University Art Foundry.  Students learn pattern and mold making including lost wax and lost foam plus the more traditional wooden patterns and green sand.  They have mini cupola style furnaces so they can melt and pour pieces in brass or iron.  Besides the showy casting methods they also learn welding, have a forge, and even a hammer mill.  It’s just like making valves and fittings only a little more of the creative side makes it through to the final product.  One artist makes eco dyed silk using biomaterial from the area, rolling it up in a piece of raw or finished silk and steaming it some how.  The results are beautiful but I couldn’t think how I might use the fabric so I didn’t bring any home.

A series of performers takes the stage in the plaza. We heard Taiko Drummers, some “ok” rock, and some quality but pretty twangy country. Kent caught the singing dog contest…I missed it as I was wandering about checking out studios.

The weekend included workshops in song writing, rhythm and jam sessions all targeted for the aspiring artists who would bring their fledgling works to further develop and share. Seems like it could be a great creative event…we enjoyed being spectators.