More Tidbits

A few months ago I had the honor and pleasure of being invited to the introduction of a new breed of poker art at a local gallery in Downtown Las Vegas. Card Player photographer Larry Grossman has been taking photos at the World Series of Poker for 15 years. He also has been interviewing poker notables for his radio show on CardPlayer.com and also for his show You Can Bet On It on 1460 AM in Las Vegas. He hosted the AM gig for more than 16 years, and it is the longest-running gambling show in America! He wanted to expand that interest into an art form, and he has accomplished that in spades. He has teamed up with graphic artist Craig DeThomas, and they have created a line of poker art that features some of the best and most well-known players in the world. He has 35 pieces of art showcased in the recently remodeled cardroom at Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Larry Grossman and some of his line of poker art

With partner Jack Solomon, a noted and major player in the world of art for more than 43 years, Larry is in good company. Solomon has worked with some icons in the art world, including Norman Rockwell, Erte, and LeRoy Neiman, to name but a few. The original lithographs that these gentlemen have created are all numbered and signed, and are limited editions of only 350. Owning any of these lithos would make any poker/art aficionado proud. Some of the poker players featured include Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, and a recently released signed and numbered lithograph of Johnny Chan. They also sport a poster line that already has proven to be quite popular among those looking for some cool poker art but who aren't willing or able to pony up the bucks for the high-end stuff. I own some of them myself. They are abstracts, for lack of a better term, of players in various stages of a hand or poker action, and really capture the essence of the poker genre. Grossman et al. are partners with a company known as High Stakes Art, and together they are creating and distributing the artwork. You can view and purchase these pieces online at www.highstakesart.com. Considering that up until recently, the best you could hope for in poker-related art was dogs playing the game, I think we've come a long way, eh? Interested parties can call for an appointment, (702) 868-7880, ext. 11, and/or visit the S2 Art at S2 Art Building, One East Charleston Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada.



Change of subject: The Oasis Resort and Spa in Mesquite, Nevada, recently announced the dates for the next Oasis Open poker tournament. It will be held April 20-24, and will feature no-limit hold'em, limit hold'em, Omaha eight-or-better, and half Omaha eight-or-better/half limit hold'em event action. The room rate will be $25 a night, and the last night, that of the pizza party event, will be comped for anyone who enters. The buy-ins will range from $60 to $125, and some events will offer rebuys. Oasis Resort ads in Card Player in the coming months will provide complete details.



Another change of subject: I am truly blessed with great friends, a job and business I love, and a lifestyle that allows me to travel the world. I just returned from the UltimateBet.com Poker Classic and had a wonderful time. As the statistician for the World Poker Tour, I get to go to many exotic destinations to keep score at final tables. I usually stay a few extra days at faraway locations, and this year was no exception, as I was fortunate to get to do some wonderful scuba diving while in Aruba. The water there is beautiful, and I have made friends with people in a dive shop where I return year after year. Who said poker players don't have interests outside the cardroom? Many players ventured into the blue, clear waters or enjoyed other beach activities during the event. It is truly a place where it would be hard not to have a great time. I recommend the scuba diving, as it really is as good as it gets. No matter how badly you might be running in the poker games, there is something about floating effortlessly in the water at a depth of 80 feet while watching turtles, spotted stingrays, eels, and other sea creatures in their natural habitat that brings a certain peace to even the most high-strung among us. Give it a try sometime; it might be the change you are looking for.



Class dismissed.

As always, please write to me at [email protected]with your poker-related questions, comments, and column ideas. I personally will answer every e-mail. Also, I invite you to visit www.cardplayercruises.com for information on poker cruises.