Contact:
Lori Nelson, R&R Partners, (702) 318-4209/349-0625 (cell)
Erika Yowell, LVCVA, (702) 892-7664

April 1, 2005

LAS VEGAS CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATED WITH SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED LEROY NEIMAN OIL PAINTING

LAS VEGAS - LeRoy Neiman, the most popular living painter in America, today debuted the official oil painting of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) for the Las Vegas Centennial. Joining Neiman at the unveiling was Mayor Oscar Goodman, chairman of the Las Vegas Centennial and LVCVA President and CEO Rossi Ralenkotter.

Titled Celebrating 100 Years in Neon, the painting was commissioned by the LVCVA to commemorate the destination's Centennial year with a visual tribute conceived by an artist with a longstanding affinity for Las Vegas. Over the years, LeRoy Neiman has repeatedly chosen Las Vegas as his subject matter, depicting boxing matches, casino action and the city's signature entertainment in his paintings. His work hangs in several Las Vegas hotel-casinos, including Caesars Palace, the Golden Nugget and in the namesake LeRoy Neiman Suite at Paris Las Vegas.

"When it was suggested there should be a painting to celebrate the Centennial, I said immediately I was the man who should do it," Neiman said. "I was able to incorporate familiar and lasting images of Las Vegas into the painting, as well as my own memories of time spent there. There is no place in America, or anywhere else, like Las Vegas."

The public will also have the opportunity the enjoy Celebrating 100 Years in Neon as poster reproductions will be available to purchase for $45 on the Las Vegas Centennial's merchandise Web site www.lasvegas100merchandise.com. Pre-orders are now being accepted.

In honor of the painting's debut, the community is invited tonight to meet Neiman, view the painting and enter a free drawing to win one of 25 posters at a reception at downtown's Ice House Lounge at 650 S. Main Street from 6 to 8 p.m. The LVCVA is also sponsoring tonight's First Friday event in the Arts District., the area centered around Charleston and Main Street downtown. First Friday is an ongoing monthly arts, entertainment and social event that is held on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m.

"We couldn't be happier to have such a renowned artist associated with the Las Vegas Centennial," Ralenkotter said. "Like the destination itself, Mr. Neiman's art enjoys wide appeal. By incorporating Las Vegas icons such as the showgirl, Vegas Vic and classic hotel signage and representing them in vivid, neon color, his painting perfectly captures the essence of the most exciting city in the world."

Probably best known as a portrayer of sporting and social events, Neiman virtually invented the modern genre of sports art and remains its most accomplished and acclaimed practitioner. Among myriad accomplishments, he has covered several winter and summer Olympiads as an official artist. Neiman's work is represented in the Art Institute of Chicago, the Whitney Museum, the Minneapolis Museum of Art, the Hermitage of St. Petersburg and numerous other museums as well as in public and private collections worldwide. Hundreds of events are taking place throughout 2005 in honor of Las Vegas' 100th birthday with a heavy concentration in May surrounding the actual birthday of May 15. Additional information about upcoming events and initiatives is available at www.lasvegas2005.org or by calling call (702) 229-2005.