Jerry Misko, in front of his installation, "Midnight" (2009) at the Neon Museum(Photo: Ryan Ransom)

Jerry Misko once described his canvas reproductions of Las Vegas neon-signage as “...a little out of focus; kind of what you’d see when leaving a hotel a little bit drunk.” 

"Definite Article" (2005)

Even if you’re not cognizant of it, if you’ve been to Las Vegas in the past decade, you’re familiar with his work.  Considering the downright ubiquity of his paintings around town, you’d have to be self-absorbed to a level dwarfing my own to have missed them.   Misko’s art adorns the walls of Saks Fifth Avenue, the El Cortez Cabana Suites, the Las Vegas Neon Museum, and Cashman Center, and on exterior of the Mission Building behind The Arts Factory (the last being a project he led for ABC Television’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), not to mention all over the walls of the Hard Rock Hotel's "Real World Suite" as seen on MTV.

Now, the man who was named Best Local Artist (not just in Las Vegas Weekly’s “Best of Vegas” in 2009; but also in Las Vegas CityLife’s “Best of the Valley Awards” in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010) has teamed-up with Kickstarter (more on that in a minute) to create a “triptych” of large-scale murals at a trio of sites throughout Downtown Las Vegas.

"I'm Surrounded by Some Kids at Play" (2011) represents Misko's BLACK works

Focusing on Misko’s BLACK style, the project is a means by which the art will unify three areas of Downtown Las Vegas: The Arts District (South of Charleston Avenue), The Arts District (North of Charleston Avenue), and the Fremont East Entertainment District.  The sites within each area will be chosen with consideration given toward maximum visibility, viability, and lifespan.

Jerry Misko at work on his mural "Siren Song" (2010) at Emergency Arts (Photo: TheDuchampian)

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Self, I wonder what the hell Kickstarter is...”  And you’d be right to so wonder.  Kickstarter is, in their own words, “the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world,” using what they refer to as “all or nothing funding” – a nifty concept wherein all of the funds needed for the project are pledged upfront.  If the money isn’t raised in the allotted time, then the project doesn’t leave the gate.  No harm.  No foul.  This way, there are no half-done projects waiting for further funding.  It’s a pretty neat idea.  If you’re still curious, I refer you to Danny Greenspun’s watchband (seriously – just ask him!).

So, here’s the 411.  Once the funding has been finalized (I’m taking a “when” stance, as opposed to an “if” stance, as part of my “glass half full” outlook, these days), the sites will be announced and the murals painted.    Using local artists as his assistants and local vendors for his supplies, Misko has vowed to create a new mural every two weeks, in rapid succession.

"All the Sharp Zig Zags Went Soft" (2003) at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Fashion Show

And, if the project exceeds its goal (funding of which will be parsed-out to acquisition of the sites, supplies, administration, equipment rental/purchase, and labor/creative costs), then the murals will take on a grander scale, or the project will grow to allow for more murals.

On Jerry’s Kickstarter page, you can pledge any amount from $1 to $5,000 (the entire project requires $10,000).  So, come-on, Las Vegans (and others)!  This is a pretty massive undertaking, by a guy who loves his hometown (and makes a mean bowl of gumbo, to boot).

Jerry Misko in front of "Poor Stargazer" (2009) (Photo: Tiffany Brown)

Isn’t it worth throwing a few shekels into the pot to know that someone out there cares enough about this city to be outside from mid-July to mid-September?  Yeesh!  There are days it gets so hot that I won’t even go to the mailbox, and Misko wants to beautify our city?  Go with God, my friend!

Paint It BLACK: The Misko Downtown Mural Triptych
Click HERE for more info and to pledge

Get into it!