Retrospective to be part of August 31stlive virtual event and art show
Carnevale Gallery plans to donate 25 percent of its proceeds through September to Vegas PBS to help support local arts programming in honor of late artist Rita Asfour.
There are 25 of Asfour’s impressionist paintings and contemporary artworks on display at Carnevale Gallery, including original paintings, acrylics, small cash-and-carry acrylics, and limited-edition fine art prints. Additional pieces are available online.
The gallery will host “Rita Asfour: A Retrospective,” a live virtual event and art show, in association with Vegas PBS on August 31, 2021. Carnevale Gallery Director and Curator Tony Carnevale is set to be joined by James Ludwig of Vegas PBS, UNLV Film Professor Sean Clark, and UNLV Affiliate Assistant Professor of Ballet and Pilates Dolly Kelepecz at 6 p.m. PST to lend insight into Asfour’s life and art styles. (https://www.carnevalegallery.com/meet-the-speakers-rita-asfour-a-retrospective-vegas-pbs-unlv )
Dr. Robert Tracy, professor of art and architecture history at UNLV, is also set to speak at the event. Asfour came out of retirement in 2012 to paint Las Vegas showgirls after seeing “Jubilee!” at Bally’s, and Dr. Tracy, recognizing the depth and diversity of her work, curated a show for her.
“It’s my privilege to be representing Rita Asfour at Carnevale Gallery,” said Carnevale. “She already had a prolific body of work prior to her retirement, but she was inspired to paint the showgirls. She saw it fit to portray something indigenous to the city of Las Vegas.”
Carnevale has been collaborating with Vegas PBS since 2014 and was inspired by the 2017 PBS documentary “Rita Asfour: Art Her Way” to approach them to collaborate on an Asfour retrospective.
“It helps Vegas PBS because they are driven by donations, but I also thought the event would help the (Asfour) family too, with closure,” Carnevale said. “The night is a retrospective in the truest sense — a celebration of her contribution to the art world.”
Asfour died on June 29, 2021. She began her career as an impressionist artist, training at the renowned Leonardo Da Vinci Academy and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1959. Known for her use of multi mediums, including oil on canvas, pastel on boar, and paper relief, her work often featured women or children, with her daughter being a frequent model.
The August 31 virtual event is free to attend. Go here to RSVP to receive the event link via email the day of the event.
Carnevale Gallery has two locations in Las Vegas: at the Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Space R10; and at Appian Way in Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Space 20.
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