Sparkflight Studios

We enjoyed a very Green Christmas Eve by joining hosts Katie Duncan and Maurice Showers on Green Talk Radio 1230 KLAV. The free-flowing conversation covered topics including: Tips for greening your own home What's involved with a "green" design consultation Local green happenings Green community design projects including the Ward 5 "Model Green Demonstration Home" and Marble Manor Click here to play streaming audio (MP3 file) from the show...

Marble Manor is a local housing community with ongoing donation needs for their Family Self Sufficiency center and adult education programming.  Please feel free to share this update with anyone that may be interested in investing in-kind or cash donations for the ongoing projects. The Community Center's transformation has continued to roll ahead.  On September 16th, the Career Training and Adult Learning Center had its Grand Opening.  The original plan to locate a Children's Reading Area in the Community Center was altered to meet the urgent need for adult education, job search assistance, computer skills training and GED support. The Computer Lab, sponsored by Bechtel SAIC, now provides five workstations and computer training in partnership with UNLV . The Children's area will instead be located in Marble Manor's Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) center on J Street. Stacey Bostwick at (702) 922-7016 or sbostwick@haclv.org can provide additional details. We ha...

It's finally here! Marble Manor's playground and Community Center enhancements will be dedicated this next Friday, April 10 at 3 p.m. Location: 912 Gerson, Las Vegas, NV 89106 Our friends and colleagues are welcome guests. Please join us for some light refreshments, and to hear some inspiring words from Councilman Barlow and members of the community/artist team. This multi-agency project, completed over almost two years, enhances the Marble Manor Community Center and playground, and will serve 235 households and over 600 children. If you'd like to contribute, please consider donations of children's books, sport equipment, or funds for the Housing Authority's 501(c)3 Rose Foundation. Call us for more information (702) 553-3323. We'll be posting photos of the renovated interiors soon, including the Bechtel SAIC Technology Center! See more about this project... (scroll down after clicking link)

It was an honor to receive this acknowledgment from the Housing Authority. What a great team! From artists, to landscapers, the City of Las Vegas Arts Commission, Metro and the Housing Authority. Proud to be a part of it. A lovely sentiment on the plaque: "Feeling Gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it - William Arthur Ward"

There was a fantastic turnout for Marble Manor's planting day on November 15th. Over 100 community members worked with Norm Schilling and crew to install desert landscape that looks, and smells, beautiful! We can hardly wait to see it blossom. This sensory-rich desert garden design provided by Schilling Horticulture was made possible by their leadership and contribution of both manpower and equipment. Many additional community partners contributed, such as SNAG , eagle scouts, Mountain State Nursery , Plant World Nursery , Ahern Rentals , Whiting Brothers - Rock City , Ewing Irrigation and the Nevada Shade Tree Council . Representatives from the multi-agency partnership all helped plant as well. Next up are the finishing touches to the exterior, including a new Community Center entrance, and interior improvements. Stay tuned...

Artists Dayo Adelaja and Mark Melnick have completed Phase One of the Marble Manor Enhancement Project. Bland, blank walls are banished after community members worked with them to create these space-transforming murals. Our portion of the work (architecture and landscape enhancements) is scheduled for a tentative grand opening in September 2008. Contact Anne Johnson, AIA if you'd like to be involved in this project as a Community Partner! Contributions of labor and materials are needed.

The Marble Manor Enhancement Project is a public housing partnership between Metro, the City of Las Vegas Office of Cultural Affairs, Housing Authority of the City of Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Arts Commission. Green design elements include solar-powered exterior lighting, daylighting at the new playground entrance, xeriscaping, 100% recycled plastic benches and salvaged concrete paving. Currently the project consists of two mural projects, architectural enhancements to improve appearance and use of the Community Center/Playground, and the addition of a Reading Garden to support the "Success by Six" program. Anne Johnson, AIA is pleased to be working with the City of Las Vegas as Project Architect. More to come...