OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Las Vegas Art Commission Meeting – February 19, 2026

Public Meetings — Thursday, February 19, 2026
BodyLas Vegas, Nevada
SessionPublic Meetings
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 17:14

Transcript — Verbatim
0:54

Okay.

0:59

Hello, everyone.

1:00

I would like to call this meeting to order.

1:04

I now call the February 19th, 2026 meeting for the City of Las Vegas Art Commission to order.

1:12

Would the Deputy City Clerk call the roll, please?

1:17

Certainly.

1:18

Chair Beals?

1:19

Here.

1:20

Vice Chair Benarchik.

1:21

Here.

1:22

Second Vice Chair Roberts.

1:24

Is excused Commissioner Clevin?

1:26

Here.

1:27

Commissioner Douglas.

1:29

Is excused.

1:30

Commissioner DeSantis.

1:31

Here.

1:32

Commissioner Chirk.

1:33

Present.

1:34

Commissioner Chi.

1:37

Commissioner Portnoy.

1:38

Present.

1:39

Commissioner Commissioner Von Bastians.

1:41

Present.

1:42

Commissioner Galotti.

1:43

Present.

1:43

Thank you, Chair.

1:44

You have a quorum.

1:45

Thank you so much.

1:47

We're moving on to item number two.

1:50

Has the meeting been properly noticed and posted in compliance with the Nevada Open Meeting Law?

1:56

Yes, it has, Chair.

1:57

Thank you so much, Brian.

1:59

And now we're going to move to item number three, public comment.

2:04

Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action.

2:10

If you wish to be heard, come forward and give your name for the record.

2:14

The amount of discussion as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed may be limited.

2:21

I see no one at this time, so we're going to move to action item number four for possible action to approve the final minutes by reference of the regular meeting of January 15th, 2026.

2:38

Would anyone like to make a motion?

2:40

Commissioner Clevan, I move to approve the minutes.

2:47

Okay, thank you.

2:49

And so now I would like to call for the vote.

2:52

All in favor.

2:56

Okay.

2:57

Any opposed?

3:00

Great.

3:01

The motion passes.

3:04

Now I would like to move on to item number five, report by Carmen Beals, Arts Commission Chair, regarding a monthly summary of current initiatives, curl cultural events, and opportunities awards.

3:20

Celebrate with us at the opening reception of the annual Lunar New Year Exhibition, Year of the Horse Today.

3:27

Thursday, February 19th from 5 to 7 p.m.

3:30

at the Mayor's Gallery at the Historic Fifth Street School.

3:34

Light bites and refreshments will be available, and our very own commissioner, Craig Galati will be uh in the show.

3:45

Please join us on Feb Friday, February 20th at 10 a.m.

3:50

for the unveiling of Jean Jeannie by Wayne Little John.

3:54

The event will take place at the Shadow Lane entrance of the UNLV Dental School where guests can view the artwork up close and hear directly from the artist.

4:05

Please join us on March 4th from 6 to 8 p.m.

4:09

at the Charleston Heights Art Center Gallery at 800 South Brush Street for the closing reception of a visual mixtape by Don Michael Jr.

4:21

Please join us for the opening reception of Rhythm and Resilience, Black Vegas on Thursday, March 12th from 6 to 8 p.m.

4:29

at the Civic Center Gallery on 525 South Main Street, which is right across the sidewalk.

4:37

This exhibition explores African American life in Vegas from its first black resident through the 1980s, celebrating creativity, resilience, and achievements that shape the city's character.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Procedural██████████████████████████35%
Parking Requirements███4%
Summary of Proceedings

Las Vegas Art Commission Meeting – February 19, 2026

The Las Vegas Art Commission held its regular meeting on February 19, 2026, at a location not specified. The meeting was called to order by Chair Carmen Beals, and a quorum was established. Commissioners discussed upcoming cultural events, received staff reports on public art projects, and considered future agenda items including parking grants for artists and the definition of public art.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Clevin moved to approve the minutes of the January 15, 2026 regular meeting. The motion passed unanimously with no opposition.

Chair's Report

  • Chair Carmen Beals announced several upcoming events:
    • Lunar New Year Exhibition (Year of the Horse) opening reception on February 19, 5–7 p.m. at the Mayor's Gallery, Historic Fifth Street School, featuring Commissioner Craig Galati.
    • Unveiling of "Jean Jeannie" by Wayne Little John on February 20 at 10 a.m. at the Shadow Lane entrance of UNLV Dental School.
    • Closing reception of "Visual Mixtape" by Don Michael Jr. on March 4, 6–8 p.m. at Charleston Heights Art Center Gallery.
    • Opening reception of "Rhythm and Resilience, Black Vegas" on March 12, 6–8 p.m. at the Civic Center Gallery, on view until August 20. Curated by Chair Beals, narrated by Clayton T. White.
  • Commission Clevin added an exhibition at the Barrack Museum on February 20, 7–8 p.m.

Staff Reports

  • Mary Sabo, Laura Machado, and Parker Recky Johns presented:
    • The "Waiting on a Light" sculpture (David Ryan) at Third and Ogden is complete and unveiled February 2.
    • AMP Gateway and Arts District Public Art Project is in contracting phase.
    • Ward 4 AMP project in redesign phase.
    • Centennial Hills Park Environmental Tile Mural Project on schedule.
    • Cliff Garden Studio sculpture (30 feet tall) at Civic Plaza: fabrication completion expected early April, installation April 26, dedication illumination event May 7.
    • Routine condition assessments and graffiti abatement ongoing.
    • Wallapai Canyon Trailhead Environmental Public Art Project moving along.
    • Artist Justin Favela contracted for a permanent sculpture in East Las Vegas.
    • Medical district project (Rancho Gateway) – artist for "The Healer" collecting bids.
    • "Jean Jeannie" on Shadow Lane dedication ceremony February 20 at 10 a.m.

Discussion Items

  • Future Agenda Topics:
    • Commissioner Vaughn Douglas proposed discussing parking grants for artists in the Las Vegas Arts District, possibly providing annual passes for artists, musicians, and gallery workers.
    • Commissioner Safira requested a report on the definition of public art under the Percent for the Arts ordinance, to clarify what forms (poetry, literary, performance) are eligible and how to maximize funding use.
    • Chair Carmen Beals suggested inviting the festivals team to share upcoming programming and how they work with artists.
    • Commissioner Clevin encouraged members to propose future agenda items to make meetings more meaningful.
  • Staff clarified that the requested definition and funding scope discussion could be placed on a future agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made during either the action item public comment period or the citizens' participation period.

Key Outcomes

  • The minutes from January 15, 2026 were approved unanimously.
  • Commissioners identified three topics for potential future agenda items: parking grants for artists, definition of public art under the Percent for the Arts fund, and a presentation from the festivals team. No action was taken on these proposals during this meeting.
  • The meeting was adjourned following the completion of agenda items.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Hello, everyone. I would like to call this meeting to order. I now call the February 19th, 2026 meeting for the City of Las Vegas Art Commission to order. Would the Deputy City Clerk call the roll, please? Certainly. Chair Beals? Here. Vice Chair Benarchik. Here. Second Vice Chair Roberts. Is excused Commissioner Clevin? Here. Commissioner Douglas. Is excused. Commissioner DeSantis. Here. Commissioner Chirk. Present. Commissioner Chi. Commissioner Portnoy. Present. Commissioner Commissioner Von Bastians. Present. Commissioner Galotti. Present. Thank you, Chair. You have a quorum. Thank you so much. We're moving on to item number two. Has the meeting been properly noticed and posted in compliance with the Nevada Open Meeting Law? Yes, it has, Chair. Thank you so much, Brian. And now we're going to move to item number three, public comment. Comment during this portion of the agenda must be limited to matters on the agenda for action. If you wish to be heard, come forward and give your name for the record. The amount of discussion as well as the amount of time any single speaker is allowed may be limited. I see no one at this time, so we're going to move to action item number four for possible action to approve the final minutes by reference of the regular meeting of January 15th, 2026. Would anyone like to make a motion? Commissioner Clevan, I move to approve the minutes. Okay, thank you. And so now I would like to call for the vote. All in favor. Okay. Any opposed? Great. The motion passes. Now I would like to move on to item number five, report by Carmen Beals, Arts Commission Chair, regarding a monthly summary of current initiatives, curl cultural events, and opportunities awards. Celebrate with us at the opening reception of the annual Lunar New Year Exhibition, Year of the Horse Today. Thursday, February 19th from 5 to 7 p.m.

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