The Rita Deanin Abbey Art Museum is home to the namesake’s limitless creative vision. You can also bask in wonderful chamber music at this artist’s fortress.
The accomplished Las Vegas string ensemble Desert Opus performs “From Romance to Revolution” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the museum at 5850 N. Park St. in northwest Las Vegas. Tickets are $30, available only in advance at ritadeaninabbeymuseum.org.
Desert Opus comprises musicians Arturo Hernández Gómez, James Anderson, Leanna Oliver and David Warner.
The program chronicles “a pivotal moment in Russian history,” according to organizers, from the lyricism of Alexander Borodin to the modern voice of Dmitri Shostakovich. His Waltz No. 2, arranged for a string quartet, Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2, and Shostakovich’s youthful String Quartet No. 1 are expected highlights.
Musicologist Heather Buffington Anderson will provide commentary, context and historical insight into the works.
The museum is also offering free admission from Abbey’s birthday on July 19 through July 26.
The indoor-outdoor exhibit space opened in March 2023. The museum is laden with Abbey’s pieces in a wide variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, stained glass, porcelain enamel fired on steel and computer art. The longtime artist and arts professor died in March 2021 at age 90, having lived in Las Vegas since 1965.