War at Home
Photography by Chase R Mccurdy of 33.G
The Historic West Las Vegas or the 89106, encompasses 3.5 square miles west of the Union Pacific Railroad that would become a cornerstone for the Black community. The Historic West was originally intended to be the city center when Las Vegas was established, however by 1905 it had moved east of the tracks. With the completion of the Hoover Dam, the end of prohibition, and the re-legalization of gambling, interest in Las Vegas surged. By the 1950s and at the height of its bloom/boom, Las Vegas also became the epicenter for U.S. nuclear testing. People from all over the nation flocked to the Las Vegas strip to witness “the power of the atomic bomb” visible from the strip. The egregious wealth and spectacle that gathered here quickly earned the town the moniker "Atomic City".
Thanks to the Atomic City’s rapid growth, Las Vegas gained attention from the rich oil tycoons from the south. With this new development, Mayor Ernie Cragin devised strategies to impose Jim Crow laws that had not been previously established in the city. With this, he forced the Black populations and businesses out of circulating areas of Las Vegas and into the 89106 where city officials denied funds for water, sewage systems, and roadwork. This is how the Historic West became a Black neighborhood. The Black community of the Historic West, lived here humbly but life was considerably better here where their lives were not burdened by the constant threat of lynching like in the South. Black people began to flock to the Historic West to seek sanctuary and despite government neglect, industry began to thrive. 89106 eventually became known as the “Black Strip” where icons like Josephine Baker, Sammy Davis Jr, and Nat King Cole left indelible marks.
Today the Historic West is very unassuming. Many of its once-vibrant establishments have faded, however the resilience of its residents endures and their oral histories weave a tapestry of perseverance. Chase R. McCurdy, artist and Founder of Thirty Three Gallery, is from the Historic West. He states, “To come back home to this community is to relearn this community. When you go back home you have to bring your brick.” And sitting atop its legacy, Thirty Three Gallery lays its roots in the Historic Westside today. There is no apparent solution to the chaos that is ravaging our collective home, but if we all bring our brick we can foster, dream, and build anew. Thank you Chase and Thirty Three Gallery (33.G) for sharing your home and your vibrant community and allowing us to bring our brick.
War at Home is a “gallery album” curated to comment on modern warfare and the price that is paid by our collective humanity. In this exhibition, the gallery becomes the album and each piece becomes a track - The album is entitled War at Home. Each track/piece reflects a different plague on society such as fiscal diplomacy, the impediment of freedom, borders, bodily autonomy, and the controlled flow of information. Strung together like a melody, the works beg the question of who benefits from war and why. Featuring works by Christina G Joseph, Arzo, and Young of Black by Young, War at Home is an assemblage of art pieces composed at a time when collectively the world is facing the reality of war.
War at Home was produced and curated by Black by Young and hosted by 33.G in April 2024. We, the creators of War at Home acknowledge the ongoing global conflicts and war on our planet and pay respect to Las Vegas as the native land of the Paiute people.