Val Powelson designed the dramatic parabaloid roofline for the Maranz Residence, one of the featured houses in Mod Mirage, the new book by Melissa Riche. Photograph by Jim Riche.
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Meet modern Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs Life)
The city’s distinctive homes and neighborhoods finally share the spotlight with its neighbor to the west. In time for Modernism Week Preview, here’s a look into Mod Mirage, the new book by Melissa and Jim Riche. (Pictured above)
A star is reborn (Palm Springs Life)
Paul Rudolph’s Cannonball House, an icon of Sarasota modernism, welcomes visitors … in Palm Springs. Here’s how you can tour the replica of the architectural gem of Florida’s west coast.
Ugly design is underrated (Paris Review)
The popularity of “ugly design,” the rise of maximalism, and the continuing creep of high kitsch indicate that we’re on the cusp of a new aesthetic moment, one that breaks with the oppressively omnipresent Scandinavian-chic, Kondo-approved, gray-everything minimalism.
The dark history of the color pink (Fast Company)
When it comes to interior design, the color pink has been particularly controversial. After psychologists showed that certain shades reduced aggression, it was famously used in prison cells to limit aggression in inmates. Yet pink tows a shaky line. Is it a benign means of subtle manipulation? A tool to humiliate? An outgrowth of gender stereotyping? Or some combination of the three?
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Día de los Muertos events planned across the valley (Cactus Hugs)
Make your plans to Run with Los Muertos in Coachella and attend Día de los Muertos events in Cathedral City, Indio, and Palm Springs.
IDEAS & ISSUES
NEA study: arts participation looking up (Pacific Standard)
The report paints a generally positive picture for the arts in America. Attendance at both visual and performing arts events is up significantly over the past five years, although it has yet to climb back to 2002 levels.
La Quinta Arts Festival CEO loves the business of art (The Press-Enterprise)
The top-ranking festival’s president and CEO, Christi Salamone, doubles down on the arts in the Coachella Valley by launching the California Desert Arts Council.
The existential void of the pop-up ‘experience’ (The New York Times)
A critic spends few months going to as many temporary “experiences” as she could find in New York — every broadly themed “mansion” and “factory” and “museum” — before they all shutter and reconvert into the empty storefronts of high-rent blight.
What does the country think about the arts in America? (Americans for the Arts)
We are better people with the arts in our lives. They make us healthier, creative, and more engaged citizens who feel better about today and more optimistic about tomorrow. In a society struggling to find equity and social justice, Americans believe the arts improve the quality of our communities. How do we know? Americans for the Arts asked.
MUSIC
Jessika von Rabbit drops second solo album (CV Weekly)
Her new album, Dessert Rock (yes, that’s spelled correctly), has a full band, a bigger sound, and a funkier groove. Writer Jason Hall reviews the tunes for CV Weekly.
Sunline brings back 111 Music Fest in November, seeks bands (CV Weekly)
On Nov. 11, the transit agency transforms the Line 111 into a grooving, moving lounge filled with the sounds of 30 local bands and solo musicians from 3 to 7 p.m. SunLine is encouraging local bands to submit a video audition to be considered as one of the bands to perform.
THEATER & STAGE
Desert TheatreWorks brings classic fairytales to life (Palm Springs Life)
Despite its long running time, sinister message (be careful what you wish for), and somewhat disturbing — and arguably unnecessary — second act, Sondheim and Lapine’s Into the Woods does maintain its buoyancy to the end. See it through Oct. 21 at Indio Performing Arts Center.
Desert Rose Playhouse in new hands (CV Independent)
After years of staging edgy productions, founder and artistic director Jim Strait and his partner, producer Paul Taylor, have retired and handed the reins to artistic director/producer Robbie Wayne and managing director Kam Sisco. And that’s not the only change at Desert Rose Playhouse.
Joshua Tree comedy festival announces lineup (CV Weekly)
The Joshua Tree International Improv Comedy Festival, set for Nov. 9-11 at Hi-Desert Cultural Center, has announced its lineup of entertainment and education by celebrity guests as well as performance competitions by improv and sketch comedy groups and stand-up comics.
CV Rep performs plays about bullying for students (KESQ)
“The Bully Plays” showcase different forms of bullying on stage and start a conversation with students on how to prevent it in real life.
VISUAL ART
Palm Springs Art Museum director resigns suddenly (The Desert Sun)
Palm Springs Art Museum executive director Elizabeth Armstrong announced her resignation, effective Oct. 1. Board member Mark Prior, an entrepreneur and media executive, has stepped in as interim CEO while a committee begins to search
After 50 years, the museum’s Artists Council is going independent (CV Independent)
On the eve of its annual exhibition at Palm Springs Art Museum, the institution’s 50-year-old Artists Council is becoming independent. Council member Terry Hastings tells CV Independent what lies ahead for the artist organization.
Banksy’s big joke (The New York Times)
The elusive Banksy has once again made a fool of the art world, and captivated millions. While his remotely shredded Girl With Balloon was meant to poke fun at the excesses of the auction market, the huge amount of publicity could send his prices even higher.
Do all-women shows help or hurt the cause? (Hyperallergic)
In the wake of #MeToo, all-women’s art shows have taken on new significance. But whether such shows are an effective strategy for achieving gender equity in the art world is still up for debate.
New app works like Shazam for fine art (Dezeen)
A new app called Smartify, launched by the Royal Academy of Arts in London, allows users to instantly identify artworks and access information about them, by simply scanning them with a smartphone.
