LAS VEGAS, Feb. 23, 2016
/PRNewswire/ -- Bliss Dance – the breathtaking,
40-foot-tall sculpture of a dancing woman created by artist Marco
Cochrane – has found a new home. The art installation will
permanently inhabit The Park, MGM Resorts
International's (NYSE: MGM) dynamic outdoor dining and
entertainment district that will transform the west side of the Las
Vegas Strip when it opens April 4,
2016.
Cochrane will begin the installation of Bliss Dance on
Monday, February 29 and will complete
the process over a few days.
For multimedia assets, visit
http://bit.ly/BlissDanceVegas
The structure and scale of Bliss Dance was inspired by
Cochrane's first experience at Burning Man, and the piece debuted
in 2010 at the annual arts and culture event in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. She later resided
on San Francisco's Treasure Island as a public display before
being refurbished, and has now returned to the desert as a
centerpiece of The Park's natural landscaping, plantings and
inspired design.
Bliss Dance is Cochrane's and model Deja Solis' powerful statement about female
strength, self-confidence and expression. Marco Cochrane said, "What I see missing in the
world is an appreciation and respect for feminine energy and power
that results when women are free and safe. It seems obvious to me
that feminine energy is being suppressed and that this must
change. If we are to find real, lasting solutions to the
problems facing humanity, men and women must be able to work
together as equals. Bliss Dance is intended to focus
attention on this issue."
Weighing more than 7,500 pounds, the dancer's form achieves
lightness and momentum through ingenious structural engineering
using triangulated geodesic struts. Mesh stainless steel "skin"
forms the curvatures of a body in motion – an imminent and ethereal
mobility that seems to soar through space. Glimmering beneath the
sun by day, and illuminated by 3,000 colored LED lights by night,
Bliss Dance is a visual spectacle that portrays the inner
confidence and uninhibited expression of its subject.
This incredible feat of engineering and design was Cochrane's
first piece in his tri-part series, The Bliss Project. Intended to
be a catalyst for social change, Bliss Dance and her
counterparts Truth is Beauty and R-Evolution
transcend the physical world, connecting with viewers on an
emotional level with the humanity of the person, to de-objectify
the female form. By creating pieces of this scale, Cochrane hopes
to inspire viewers to take an active role in ending violence to
women and making room for women's voices.
Bliss Dance will be the focal piece of the new pedestrian
park experience. An eclectic blend of restaurants, bars and
entertainment tucked into rich desert landscaping, The Park will
become a central gathering place on The Strip's west side
connecting New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts as well as the
new 20,000-seat world-class T-Mobile Arena. An interactive and
social environment, The Park aims to build a sense of community
through innovative programming and events.
Don Thrasher, President of The
Park, said, "From its scale to its visual magnificence, Bliss
Dance is unlike anything in Las
Vegas and will be an unparalleled addition to The Park. The
sculpture's legacy of inspiring curiosity and captivating the
imaginations of spectators will thrive in our city."
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global
hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort
brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
The Company also owns 51% of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns
the MGM Macau resort and casino and is in the process of developing
a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50% of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort &
Casino. For more information about MGM Resorts International,
visit the Company's website at mgmresorts.com.
About Marco
Cochrane
Marco
Cochrane was born to American artists in Venice, Italy in 1962. Raised in
Northern California in the midst
of the political and cultural movement of those times, he was
imbued with a deep respect for balance, unity and the imperative to
make the world a better place.
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SOURCE MGM Resorts International