Ten-year Summerlin resident, Izaac Zevalking, is a successful local artist who enjoys the best of two worlds: the lifestyle of Summerlin created by proximity to parks, trails, and community centers; and the hip, trendy and eclectic energy of downtown Las Vegas. Owner of Recycled Propaganda, a gallery and art retail outlet on Main Street, Zevalking says it only takes him about 15 minutes to get from his home across the street from Sig Rogich Middle School to his gallery in the Arts District.
Born in Warwickshire, England, Zevalking came to the U.S. frequently as a child given that his father is American. Thanks to his sister, Alexandra, who was a dancer in Folies Bergere at The Tropicana and now manages the Vegas Belles, the showgirls for the Vegas Golden Knights, he landed in Vegas and says he hasn’t looked back.
“Las Vegas is a fun city, a place where there is always something happening,” he said. “I especially appreciate its international appeal and the crowd it draws.”
Zevalking and wife, Kelly Bucalo, who worked for Summerlin Hospital Medical Center for eight years before transitioning to her own psychiatry practice as a nurse practitioner, are expecting their first child in February.
“Once you’ve lived in Summerlin, it’s hard to think about living anywhere else. While we landed here unintentionally because of Kelly’s job, we’re now looking for a bigger house with our daughter on the way. We hope to stay in Summerlin where we have become accustomed to the strong sense of community and all the amenities that are ideal for raising a family,” he said. ‘I have my choice of four nearby parks to walk my dogs – you can’t beat that.”
Zevalking, who is a regular at First Friday in downtown Las Vegas, launched Recycled Propaganda ten years ago as a way to channel his angst about social, political and environmental issues, not expecting his passion to turn into his livelihood. “It was a tough go initially, but the gallery is now considered a staple in downtown Las Vegas, thanks to support from his fans, the city of Las Vegas, the 18b Arts District and the First Friday crowd. That’s really gratifying.”
According to Zevalking, who participated in the most recent Summerlin Festival of Art in October, art shouldn’t just be limited to pockets of the valley like the Arts District. “It exists everywhere, and for that, I am especially grateful.”