Multi-talented artist opens show at Pahrump Art Gallery

Laurie McCaslin, a multimedia artist, was designated as the featured artist at the Pahrump Art Gallery on July1st. A wall is dedicated to McCaslin’s various art pieces, such as water color, acrylic, color pen and torn paper mosaic. The gallery features a different artist each quarter of the year.

McCaslin is well versed in many other mediums such as pencil, pen and ink, oils, pastels, woodcuts and lithos. She said, “The mediums I work in the most are watercolor and torn paper mosaic. Watercolors are clean, easy and don’t require special solvents or ventilation. They are also easily portable for painting outdoors.” McCaslin added, “Torn paper mosaics fulfill the little kid in me to cut and tear and paste. I find it very therapeutic. Others call me insane.”

McCaslin has received numerous awards including but not limited to county fairs, state fairs, the Wild West Extravaganza’s art show and the High Desert Film Festival’s art show. She has illustrated two Keeper Of The Well books for the Pahrump Arts Council (PAC).

For the last eight years, McCaslin has been in charge of the local arts installations for PAC at the courthouse, library and recently Bank of America. “The scheduling and installing of a show takes a lot of work. I’m fortunate to have a good crew,” McCasling stated.

On the theater side, she has been with the Shadow Mountain Community Players from the beginning. McCaslin explained, “I design, build and paint all the sets. When I say paint, I mean paint on the scenery. It’s really just another canvas, albeit eight foot tall ones. It takes about 11 flats to complete the backdrop.”

McCaslin also does the research for the costumes and then sketches what they will be for each character. Then her mom, director Gayle McCaslin, does the sewing. “I also serve as co-director, props, tech and chief cook and bottle washer. The only thing I don‘t do is act.” McCaslin said.

“I was born an artist into a family of artists. Visual arts and music come from my mother’s side. My great-grandfather worked with the architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Disney. My grandfather built dioramas of the moon and Mars for JPL which were later displayed at the Smithsonian.” McCaslin explained.

“From my father’s side comes theater. All my siblings did theater in school. My father (Carlton McCaslin) has acted in theater, starting in high school, right up to the present.” she added.

The Pahrump Art Gallery is located at 601 East St. next to the Pahrump Community Library.

The Pahrump Art Gallery has recently installed a new exhibit. The “Featured Artist” for this quarter is Laurie McCaslin with her stunning watercolors. Joining McCaslin will be seven local artists: Lloyd Martin, Princy Simonsen, Kathy Leroy, Charlise Butler, Linda Mahner, Sherry Princen, Georgia Christensen and Nancy Stillwell. Please drop by to see the beautiful art and browse the Chapter Two Bookstore. The art gallery website is www.pahrumpartgallery.com.

Contact author Creag Rowland by emailing creag.pvtimes@gmail.com.