March 12-18 is Milwaukee in Las Vegas Week on OnMilwaukee.com. Last month, Funjet Vacations sent our editorial team to Vegas, where we sought out connections between Brew City and Sin City. These are our stories …

You don't even have to step foot in Vegas to know that it is the kingdom of artifice. Even its castle -- the Excalibur -- isn't a REAL castle, is it?! The REAL Vegas can appear to exist solely to recreate other real places artificially.

For examples, look no further than the Venetian's gondola-laden canals (with water so turquoise it looks piped in from the Chicago River), New York New York's faux Manhattan skyline and Paris' 2/3-size (or so) Eiffel Tower.

But in the world of art -- no, not velvet paintings of Elvis, Sinatra or the card sharp pooches -- Vegas has become something of a player and if you back slowly away from the black jack table, you can even find a lot of it on the Strip.

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art,
3600 Las Vegas Blvd S, (702) 693-7870
http://bgfa.biz
People chuckled when Steve Wynn brought fine art to the strip, but the Bellagio Gallery has proved popular and no one's laughing now. Currently on view is "Ansel Adams: America," featuring the iconic photographs of one of the country's most famous photographers. Previous shows have hung works by Warhol, Calder, Monet, Corot and van Gogh, among others. Admission is $15 for adults.

Guggenheim Hermitage Museum
The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, (702) 414-2440
http://guggenheimlasvegas.org
The museum (pictured above) offers the kind of gallery space you'd expect from a Guggenheim --- sleek and modern -- and the kinds of exhibitions you'd expect too. During our Vegas visit, the galleries were preparing to open the anticipated "Treasures from the Guggenheim and Hermitage Collections: Picasso, Monet and More." Past shows have spotlighted Rubens, Pop Art, ancient Egyptian works and the French Impressionists. Most recently, there was a show of Robert Mapplethorpe's photographs, exploring their links to the classical tradition. Admission is $19.50 and it's open daily.

Las Vegas Art Museum
9600 W. Sahara Ave., (702) 360-8000
http://lasvegasartmuseum.org
LVAM focuses on modern and contemporary art and currently features an exhibition on Frank Gehry's architecture. It will be replaced in April by a pair of shows spotlighting Japanese artists. A growing permanent collection is augmented with classes, community outreach programs, lectures and more. At $6, admission is a steal in Vegas. Be aware, LVAM is closed Mondays.

Vegas' Contemporary Art Collective
231 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 110, (702) 382-3886
http://lasvegascac.org
LVCAC was launched in 1989 as a place for students to explore the visual arts. Now there is a gallery, exhibitions, classes and more and CAC boasts about 1,000 members. Admission to the gallery is free.

Of course, as in any city, there are a number of galleries, which you can easily find online or with the help of your hotel concierge in Vegas.