Scenic drive

     By Sonya Padgett
     View staff writer
      It may not be van Gogh, but Clark County Parks and Recreation's Van-Go project is the next best thing.
      County officials have heard locals lamenting the valley's lack of culture, and in keeping with the valley's surrealistic atmosphere, are bringing art to the public with two new mobile art galleries.
      The work of local artists Dotti Burton and Anthony Bondi have been "wrapped" advertisement-style on two county vans, in an effort to raise awareness of local talent and provide more culture to residents.
      The vans drive around with the art for one year, and the artists receive exposure through the county Web site, cards and the vans.
      "It's a good opportunity for the artist," said Diane Bush, cultural supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department. "It's also a good way to do a public art project. Public art has an important part in people's cultural lives, and it's important that the county do its part."
      During an open call for artists to submit their work, nearly 100 entries were received for the $4,000 project. A juried panel of people in the art profession selected the winners.
      Burton, a southwest-area resident for 37 years, has worked as a professional artist for 30 years. Three of her watercolors are displayed on the back and both sides of one van, along with her name.
      Although she's shown her work around the country and in the Caribbean, she appreciates the exposure she's receiving through the Van-Go project.
      "I think it's terrific, I was very pleased with it," Burton said. "It was quite thrilling to see your paintings driving down the road all over town. I think it's a ray of hope for local artists because this hasn't been the most ambitious town for art. The county has really been a force for local artists."
      For Bondi, a digital collage artist, displaying his work on vans in the same way advertisers place ads on buses is the best exposure for his art.
      "The side of a van is a much better place for my art than a gallery," Bondi said. "I'm very happy to have my work driving down the street. It's a great idea to use the city vehicles to present art to the public, because I've always thought art is in competition with advertising, television and other forms of media. My art is designed with that in mind."
      Only two vans currently carry the images, but Bush hopes to do two more if the county can find a sponsor.
      That would be good news to Bondi; he's hoping the idea spreads throughout the valley.
      "I'd be very happy to see this kind of work on all city vehicles," Bondi said. "The city and county governments exist to make people's lives a little better. Why should buses have only ads on them?"
      A program about the project including interviews with the artists, can be viewed on the county's television network, Cox Cable/Channel 4, throughout June.
      Bush encourages local artists who didn't know about the program to call her at 455-8239.