ART & DESIGN

A Desert Oasis of Art

by Jessica Craig-Martin

Seven Magic Mountains

On Monday, way out in the desert outside of Las Vegas where the bodies are buried, the artist Ugo Rondinone unveiled one of the most monumental Earth works of the past 40 years, seven neon limestone edifices called the “Seven Magic Mountains,” produced by Art Production Fund in collaboration with the Nevada Museum of Art. Naturally, the art world followed, including our intrepid Jessica Craig-Martin, who went on a vision quest to the Nevada desert—and converted to Liberace-ism in the process.

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Seven Magic Mountains, 2016, Nevada Desert, by Ugo Rondinone.

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Welcome to Las Vegas.

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10 AM. Flawless casino style. Stylists, please note crucial ash on leg.

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Formidable edifices I’m fond of.

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Tumbleweeds for everyone! (Rattesnakes extra.)

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These clutches each contain hiking boots, anti-venom, a pith helmet, and a butler.

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Monumental Flavors.

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Circus acts: free. Losing your dignity? Priceless.

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Heavy gambler.

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The key to the Las Vegas Strip is Lucite.

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And the runner-up for Miss Earthwork 2016 is …

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The unstoppable trifecta of Art Production Fund.

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“The men found themselves oddly drawn to the pink megalith that had appeared in the desert.”

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Nancy Sinatra was there.

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Architecture by Vagina, Dentata & Partners LLC.

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John Giorno, Sadie Coles, Ugo Rondinone, Eva Presenhuber, and Barbara Gladstone. Echoes of Goya’s “Charles IV of Spain and His Family.” Sans inbreeding.

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FaceTiming Stonehenge?

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Where: Strip mall, Vegas. What: A gym for strippers. Name: Studio 54. Amenities: One stationary cycle, three stripper poles, and a silver tinsel “Reveal” curtain. Decor: Large photos of Jerry, Elton, Andy, Bianca, Mick et al. at Studio 54 in the 70’s, wasted and beautiful. I am in awe of this motivational technique and decide to move to Vegas in order to maximize my potential. Being gorgeous and wasted is all I ever really wanted.

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Photography is completely objective.

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One more leg and she’d be in trouble.

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What I Wore: It was a Monday, so I had to dress for Holy Day in my new religion—Liberace-ism.

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“Excuse me, do you have anything uncut?”

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“Where has YOUR Birkin been?”

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Crapless Craps? I don’t even know what craps are, but I know I want mine with crap.

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Too bad. $59.99 is my cut-off.

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Apparently Ugo made Seven Magic Mountains to match Dr. Deb’s outfit. What a mensch.

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Ugo is very excited that we found Michael Heizer’s “Double Negative” after two hours driving in circles in the desert. Afterwards, he can’t focus enough to stay on the dirt road and we end up doing a Thelma and Louise into the Virgin River Gorge. And they say irony is illegal in Vegas!

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The Queen’s wave is not seen enough in the desert, I feel.

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Beth and Yvonne get their rocks on.

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I thought they said the party was at Bordeaux Brasserie, but this makes more sense.

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This evil eye necklace is better than insurance. Until you need insurance.