Jury for XYIENCE XenArt Competition Includes Prominent Members of Las Vegas Art Community

July 24, 2012 - PRLog -- LAS VEGAS —XenArt: The Energy of Art competition, presented by XYIENCE, the official energy drink of the UFC ®, announces its jurors –a group of well-respected gallery owners, artists and leaders in the Las Vegas art community: Jennifer Cornthwaite of Emergency Arts, Justin Favela, noted artist, Jennifer Kleven of Kleven Contemporary Gallery, Marty Walsh of Trifecta Gallery, and John Villari, XYIENCE’s creative services manager.

In the first round of judging, the jury will select 20 finalists from digital submissions that are accepted through Monday, August 6 at www.Facebook.com/XYIENCE.  In round two, the jury will choose the top three winners. Work will be evaluated based on originality, creativity and interpretation of concept/theme, quality of composition/construction and overall artistic quality.  The winners will be announced on Friday, August 31.

One grand prizewinner will receive $1,000 plus a one-year supply of XYIENCE Xenergy, a second-place winner will receive $500 plus prizes, and the third-place winner will receive $250 plus prizes. The public can vote for their favorite among the 20 finalists during the People’s Choice Award voting period that is Monday, August 27 through Friday, August 31 at 6 p.m. Pacific Time at www.facebook.com/XYIENCE.

The 20 finalists will be a part of an art show and red carpet reception on Friday, August 31 at the Amanda Harris Gallery of Contemporary Art and The Lady Silvia (900 S. Las Vegas Boulevard), located in downtown Las Vegas.  The event is hosted by UFC fighter and artist Dan Hardy and is by invitation only from 7 to 10 p.m. The event is free and open to the public after 10 p.m.

The 2012 XenArt jurors:
Jennifer Cornthwaite: Co-founder of Emergency Arts, a creative collective that houses nearly 40 artists that’s located in the former Fremont Medial Building, Ms. Cornthwaite is a visionary and leader in Las Vegas’ downtown arts community. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is the 2011 recipient of the Mayor’s Urban Design Award Adaptive Re-use. Ms. Cornthwaite is the former owner of Henri & Odette gallery and currently owns The Beat Coffeehouse, also located in Emergency Arts.

Justin Favela: A Las Vegas native working between the mediums of painting and sculpture, Mr. Favela earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  His work has been shown in exhibitions in San Francisco and in Las Vegas and draws from art history, popular culture and his heritage. Recently, he exhibited in the group show “Radiant City” in Carson City, Nevada, and in “Feminist / Las Vegas” at the Marjorie Barrick Museum in Las Vegas. Mr. Favela’s latest solo show “County Center”, at the Clark County Government Center, has brought local and national attention.

Jennifer Kleven: The worst advice she ever received was “Move to L.A.” Ms. Kleven is a native of Las Vegas, a noted artist, and owner of Kleven Contemporary Art, a gallery dedicated to showcasing the work of emerging artists.  She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and opened her gallery just two years after her graduation. Her vision is to provide a place where the community can come together to enjoy high-quality conceptual fine art. Ms. Kleven is a 2012 Best in Show recipient, Contemporary Art Center’s juried exhibit.

Marty Walsh: The owner of Trifecta Gallery, Ms. Walsh is a painter and art collector with an extensive background curating site specific shows, art installations and developing art programs for galleries and academic institutions. Ms. Walsh is a leader in Las Vegas’ art community and has served on boards including: Contemporary Arts Center in downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas’ 18b (eighteen block) Art District, Advisory Board for First Friday and has been a member of Modern Council at Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.  She holds a Certificate of Fine Art from the Art Academy of Cincinnati class of 1980 when the school was still a studio-based program with the Cincinnati Art Museum.

John Villari: As creative services manager for XYIENCE, Mr. Villari combines his skills as a designer, photographer and artist to develop the brand’s unique image. Recognized by Vegas Inc. as a 2012 40 Under 40 honoree, Mr. Villari earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to XYIENCE, he worked as a designer for MGM Mirage and then art director for Peter Lik Galleries in Las Vegas.

“XYIENCE is honored to have such esteemed members of the Las Vegas art community as part of our XenArt contest,” says John Lennon, XYIENCE’s president. “This is a first year event, this group of talented individuals has provided tremendous guidance to our team. They demonstrate that the downtown art community in Las Vegas understands and value of collaboration and that building community is a priority. We extend our sincere gratitude to the jury for their time and energy in this project.”

XenArt contest submissions can be two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and photography. Accepted submissions must interpret the contest’s theme and the brand’s tagline: Power to Win™. Pieces must also feature the Xenergy can or be constructed of empty Xenergy cans. The contest is free to enter and is open to all artists over the age of 18 who reside in the United States. Contest rules can be found at www.xyience.com/XenArt.

The evening will also include a special showcase of artists who are part of the mixed martial arts (MMA) industry. The event coincides with UFC® 151: Jones vs. Henderson, which takes place on Saturday, September 1, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.