World of Art Showcase Debuts at the Wynn Las Vegas, 12/20-22

While singers, comics, Broadway shows and aerialist circus shows continue to dominate the showrooms on the celebrated Las Vegas Strip, the Entertainment Capital of the World is finally giving the visual arts the "premiere destination" spotlight with the highly-anticipated debut of the inaugural World of Art Showcase (www.worldofartshowcase.com) at the Wynn Las Vegas December 20-22, 2012.

The vision of David Goldstein, COO of Jerry's Artarama, the World of Art Showcase (WOAS) is very much a cause to reestablish the arts to their rightful place within society. It is an exclusive show for professional artists from across the U.S. and around the world to sell their art and make important personal connections with art buyers, collectors and galleries.

Fashioned as a harmonized presentation of the finest original contemporary paintings, the exhibition transcends the typical "curiosity seeker off the street" vibe of most art fairs and exhibitions to establish itself as a world class cultural event. Its primary goal is to promote the most talented contemporary painters in America, with work ranging from classical to modern.

Collectors are encouraged to view, compare and reserve favorite paintings on the World of Art Showcase online gallery, and then later at the show meet the artists/galleries who painted/represent the works and make purchases directly from them. The show is also open to potential art collectors and general visitors who may have thought about investing in art but need guidance. Goldstein and Executive Director Mario Parga see this as a completely new way of viewing and buying art, reflecting the start of a completely new age for the arts.

"The focus of the show is to promote the American arts and explain how, why and when to purchase paintings for both pleasure and investment purposes," says Parga, a veteran virtuoso guitarist, recording artist and renowned painter specializing in portraiture, figurative, landscapes and still life in the Contemporary and Classical Realism styles. "Every single painting on display will have passed a panel of art professionals to ensure that only the highest standards are accepted into the show. The same judging also applies to galleries."

Goldstein, a passionate art collector, and Parga, a professional artist and Las Vegas resident, chose the Wynn Resort as their desired venue for WOAS for its style and luxurious atmosphere as well as owner Steve Wynn's reputation as one of the world's top 10 private art collectors, press notes state.

The prestigious presentation of artwork on display in the two vast ballrooms at the Wynn is the centerpiece of a multi-faceted three-day "Celebration of the Senses" that includes live music, dance, boutique bourbon, fine wines, handmade chocolates, pastries, gourmet food and culinary arts.

Parga says, "We decided that in order to make this show extra special, we should showcase other art forms and products that we believe are exquisite and deserve recognition on a world stage. In our opinion, the arts and some finer things in life do not get the recognition they rightly deserve, and many outstanding artists, societies and food and beverage manufacturers operate under the radar because the public is not aware of them."

Parga draws on his more than two-decade career as a composer/guitarist to create the original music "soundtrack" that will play in the ballrooms throughout the duration of the WOAS. In addition to providing the calming and inspiring musical atmosphere, Parga will perform an acoustic guitar set with his band on one of the ballroom's stages during the day and play his electric guitar driven instrumental music at night with a special guest appearance from award winning vocalist Tony Harnell (www.tonyharnell.com). He is also inviting other musicians to play during the event, including classical performers.

Complementing this musical element throughout WOAS will be performances by classical and contemporary dancers who will grace the stage with everything from ballet to modern dance.

Patrons can enjoy the taste of gourmet food during their visit with specially prepared gourmet samples, pre-packed goods and the fantastic culinary art of the Wynn Resort's renowned Master Chefs, who will be catering an exclusive banquet. Further pleasures of the palate include artisan cheeses and deluxe handmade chocolates from America's finest chocolatiers. There will be pairings of foods (including chocolate) with wine and bourbon, and visitors are encouraged to sample and purchase fine products from participating food and beverage exhibitors.

Parga is currently meeting with potential WOAS winery participants from all around the country. Special VIP packages will take art enthusiasts into the luxurious world of wine, allowing them to explore high quality tastings and special reserves-in addition to special VIP access to the paintings before and after the general public is admitted.

In addition, several of Kentucky's award winning boutique bourbon distillers will be on hand to share samples and create food pairings designed to help patrons discover the difference of exceptional high quality whiskey. Those interested in further exploration can enjoy a talk from a master distiller who will explain how American bourbon is blended and 'nosed', then sample the finished product. WOAS will offer VIP packages for bourbon enthusiasts that will allow extra sampling in the evenings as part of the private VIP viewing of the paintings on display.

"The whiskey shows in the U.S. are mostly centered around Scottish single malts and some Japanese malts," says Parga. "There's very little prime exposure for bourbon, and we thought it would be in line with the WOAS theme of complementary art forms to showcase some of the best high end product. It's in line with our desire to encourage the arts in America and give recognition to those who dedicate their lives to them. That includes unique creations such as American bourbon."

The World of Art Showcase website is now live and will soon feature a virtual gallery allowing collectors to view every single painting on display at the show ahead of time and reserve works of interest. All participating food and beverage exhibitors will be featured on the site with details of what they will be offering at the show, as will the musicians, dancers and other participants. In targeting serious art collectors with a certain level of expendable income, WOAS will be advertised in leading high-end luxury magazines, art magazines, TV and newspapers across America. The promoters are also working with an Asian travel agency who will create and sell special packages to attract higher income level visitors from overseas to the show.

The overall mission of WOAS is stated: "It is the first event to purposely elevate the status of the artist, who has been an innovator throughout history and created the notion of thinking 'out of the box.'"

"Our primary motivation is making sure great artists receive the recognition they so richly deserve," says Parga. "The show is very much a cause to restore the arts that in my and David's opinion, have been pushed to the side. We live in a society where real arts are ignored or treated like a charity case. We want the experience to be incredible for exhibitors and patrons alike, so that when people walk through the doors of the Wynn ballrooms, they see not only wonderful paintings but feel as though they have entered another world. As a professional realist painter and professional musician myself, I understand the needs of fellow artists, be they musicians, dancers, painters or culinary artists. I firmly believe that the World of Art Showcase will be the biggest and most prestigious cultural event in America, if not the world."

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