Pop art, edgy theater, and a variety of music and heritage festivals make March an exciting month for culture lovers visiting and living in the California desert. Load up your calendar with some of these events recommended by the staff of the California Desert Arts Council:
Above: Andy Warhol, Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn), (II.23), AP edition C/Z, 1967, screenprint, Collection of the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, 2001.51b © 2017 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
DESIGN AND SCULPTURE: In Conversation: Alma Allen and J.B. Blunk stages an encounter between two people who never met but whose work shares a deep affinity. The work of Alma Allen and J.B. Blunk, all month at Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Center, blurs the line between design and sculpture, with both men creating evocative organic work from natural materials. Info
VISUAL ART
LA QUINTA ARTS FESTIVAL: Come see why La Quinta Arts Festival wins the nation’s No. 1 ranking in both fine art and fine craft. The show, which includes works in all media as well as musical performances, unfolds March 1-4 on the beautiful La Quinta Civic Center campus. Info
WARHOL AT THE MUSEUM: Palm Springs Art Museum opens the massive exhibition Andy Warhol: Prints From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. It continues through May 28 with Michael Childers: Having a Ball, which features the celebrity photographer’s portraits of Warhol. Info
WALK FOR ART: El Paseo Art Walk in Palm Desert (March 2) features openings for Sylvia Davis and Jeff Faust at CODA Gallery, Alexandr Onishenko at Filsinger Fine Art, Michael Schultheis at J. Willott Gallery, master sculptors at Melissa Morgan Fine Art, and Michael Ross at Ramey Fine Art. Other art walks take place March 7 at Backstreet Art District and The Art Place in Palm Desert, and March 10 at Cathedral City’s Perez Road Art District.
OUT FOR LAUGHS: Explore humor from Caesar and William Shakespeare to emojis. La Quinta Museum presents two exhibitions, LOL: The History of Humor and Heartbreak in Peanuts, through April 7. Info
DESERT PHOTOGRAPHY: Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert opens Journey Through the Desert – The Road Less Traveled, a survey of photography from early 20th century to today. The exhibition continues through July 29. Info
MUSIC & STAGE
PALM SPRINGS DANCE FESTIVAL: Master classes, a free outdoor performance during Palm Springs VillageFest, and a gala highlight this year’s festival March 1-4 at Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs. Info
RHYTHM, WINE & BREWS EXPERIENCE: Stone Temple Pilots, Psychedelic Furs, and She Wants Revenge headline the annual event, March 3, at Empire Polo Club. More than a dozen wineries and almost 50 breweries will keep the happiness flowing. Info
THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? CV Rep presents Edward Albee’s outrageous story (March 7-April 1) of an architect life with his loving wife and gay teenage son goes sideways after he confides to his best friend that he is also in love with a goat named Sylvia. Info
ON THE AIR! A gala evening of live radio show classics, presented by Dezart Performs, is set for March 8 at Palm Springs Cultural Center (formerly Camelot Theatres). Info
ZUILL BAILEY: The Grammy Award-winning cellist returns by popular demand March 17 to International Classical Concerts of the Desert at Rancho Mirage Public Library. Info
WONDER VALLEY EXPERIMENTAL #10: This is the 10th anniversary of the event that brings performers from far and wide to perform for free at Palms Restaurant in Wonder Valley. Info
OTHER DESERT STAGES: Mark your calendar for Sister Act (March 9-25) at Palm Canyon Theatre, the Coachella Valley Storytellers Project (March 19) at UCR Palm Desert, Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein (March 20-21) at McCallum Theatre, and pianists Thomas Pandolfi (March 21) at Richards Center for the Arts and Jon Nakamatsu (March 31) at Rancho Mirage Public Library.
HERITAGE
NATIVE FILMFEST: This is one of the nation’s most highly regarded events of its kind featuring the best in films by, about, and starring Native Americans and other indigenous peoples from around the world. March 1-3 at Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City. Info
HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Live music, vintage games, and family fun are on the program for Heritage Festival on March 17 at the Coachella Valley History Museum in Indio. Info
