BEAUTIFYING DOWNTOWN: A work of art

Events Plaza mosaic features cultural events such as music and theater

MARLENE KARAS/VIEWMosaic artist Hal Carter shows off his mural that was unveiled Oct. 17 at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St. It took Carter and a team of five art students 60 days to finish the piece, which is the fifth public art piece in downtown Henderson. MARLENE KARAS/VIEWArtist Charme? Curtin paints at the art show held during the unveiling of Hal Carter?s mural at the Henderson Events Plaza. Advertisement

The push to turn the Water Street District in downtown Henderson into the city's art hub is on.

On Oct. 17, the fifth public art piece was unveiled at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St.

The mosaic mural, conceptualized and built by artist Hal Carter, colorfully depicts theater, art, music and visual arts.

"I call it 'Artistic Freedom' because we're losing a lot of freedoms in this country, but art is still free," Carter said. "That's the one thing we do still have, full creative freedom."

The city received an $11,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant is a HUD Economic Development Initiative Special Purpose Grant for the purchase and placement of public art in downtown Henderson.

"The budget was quite low, but I really wanted to do it," Carter said.

Carter said he put in an application because of the exposure the piece gives him.

"The city of Henderson congratulates Hal Carter with the unveiling of his work in the Henderson Events Plaza," said Andrea Primo, director of the Cultural Arts & Tourism Department. "It is a unique mural that has captured the essence of the city's community events and live performances."

The artist completed the collage with the help of five students from Dixie State College in his hometown of St. George, Utah. It took the group 60 days to build 16 4-foot-by-4-foot panels out of 25 cases of title. They put the mural together in a studio in Utah and transported it to Henderson.

"It was quite a feat," Carter said.

Carter is noted for his multidimensional and conceptual art designs. His traditional and contemporary art pieces, including crafted wood, sandstone, mosaic furniture and wall hangings, have been displayed in a variety of art galleries and festivals in Utah and Nevada.

"This mural is upbeat," Carter said. "We always need that."

Carter said he loves to work with color and wanted to incorporate that into the mural because the events plaza is where people go to enjoy themselves.

"This is part of a project that's ongoing," said Annette Mullins, cultural events supervisor with the Department of Cultural Arts and Tourism. "The redevelopment agency is trying to bring art to downtown and bring public art into the city."

The mosaic joins the Embarq building, 7-Eleven building and the Muffler Shop, which have become a canvas for murals depicting the progression of Henderson during the past 50 years.

The large art piece, which stands 32 feet long by 8 feet high, will be the centerpiece of the Henderson Events Plaza. It will be placed on the southeast wall of the plaza's amphitheater, adjacent to City Hall.

Contact Henderson View reporter Lauren Romano at lromano@viewnews.com or 477-3839.