Palm Springs Art Museum transformed the E. Stewart Williams–designed Santa Fe Federal Savings & Loan into its new Architecture and Design Center, an especially popular venue during Modernism Week in February and the event’s fall preview October 17–20. Photo: Julius Shulman/Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Get ready to mod (Palm Springs Life)
Ticket sales have begun for the Modernism Week Fall Preview events the weekend of Oct. 17–20. Here’s what’s new — plus all the tours, parties, and more!
The plan to restore Palm Springs’ historic Plaza Theatre (The Desert Sun)
In a Desert Sun commentary, Palm Springs city councilman J.R. Roberts explains what it will take to restore and repurpose the iconic downtown theater and former home of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.
FESTIVALS & HERITAGE
White Party moves to Palm Springs Air Museum (The Desert Sun)
After 25 years, the largest gay circuit party in the United States moves from the Palm Springs Convention Center to the air museum, as its founder, Jeff Sanker says, “I feel like doing something new, not just for me, but for my attendees.” The event draws about 30,000 people.
FILM
Palm Springs Cultural Center launches ‘culinary cinema’ series (CV Independent)
The monthly series, which pairs dinner by a local chef with a food-related film on the third Wednesday of every month, launches Aug. 21 with the 2014 movie The Hundred-Foot Journey, directed by Lasse Hallström and produced by Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg.
ISSUES AND IDEAS
How the Berger Foundation helps the arts in the Coachella Valley (CV Independent)
Catharine Reed, program director at the Berger Foundation, discusses the organizations mission to help people help themselves and its recent grants to local arts organizations.
LITERARY
Interview: Poet Adriana Torres of Desert Mirage High School (Coachella Unincorporated)
The high school discusses what it means to be a Latina and part of a generation known for its social activism and advocacy.
MUSIC
Catching up with white-hot Flusters (CV Weekly)
Members of The Flusters discuss winning the Best Band honor at the Coachella Valley Music Awards, the re-release of Dreamsurfer, their upcoming performance at the Joshua Tree Music Festival, and storming Area 51.
Coachella bar promotes local musicians — even black metal (The Desert Sun)
The 2-year-old venue in the city’s historic downtown hosts bands of all genres, and owner Nick Meza wants everyone to feel welcome.
The Alibi preparing to become Palm Springs next music venue (CV Independent)
The GM says his team of L.A. music and restaurant industry people will create a “culturally creative space for artists and musicians in the local community, and provide a space for independent music.”
Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus performs at Carnegie Hall (NBC Palm Springs)
They sang with 500 other performers for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an early morning uprising outside a gay bar in New York City that launched the modern gay rights movement.
How to uncover the best of the Palm Springs music scene (Mixmag)
Mixmag narrows down the hottest events and venues for music lovers who visit and live in Greater Palm Springs. Here’s how to soak up the sun and good vibes in our desert oasis.
THEATER AND STAGE
McCallum names new CEO (The Desert Sun)
Terrence W. Dwyer will succeed McCallum Theatre president and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld, who is retiring after 20 seasons at the Palm Desert venue. Dwyer most recently served as president of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County.
PS Underground dinner theater finds permanent home (The Desert Sun)
The once-secretive and often outrageous dinner theater, whose events had unfolded in different locations throughout the desert, takes permanent residence next to the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in South Palm Springs.
VISUAL ART
How to enter ‘Brave New Worlds’ at Palm Springs Art Museum (The Desert Sun)
At Palm Springs Art Museum, the exhibition Brave New Worlds unites the work of five Southern California–based contemporary artists, all women, and draws the viewer to engage with their work in an unconventional way. Curator Mara Gladstone explains.
UCR Palm Desert expanding its art program (CV Weekly)
The campus, which has a history of exhibiting paintings, sculpture, and photography by locally based artists, will offer studio classes as well as workshops and lectures about the business of art.
Why Anthony James sacrificed his Ferrari 355 Spider in the name of art (Palm Springs Life)
Here’s why the L.A.–based British artist Anthony James has emerged as the star talent at Palm Desert’s Melissa Morgan Fine Art.
Artists announced for Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition (Inland Empire)
A jury selected 57 artists and art pieces for a September exhibition at 29 Palms Art Gallery featuring art depicting or inspired by Joshua Tree National Park or its cultural history.
Chris Sanchez lights up the Ace in Palm Springs (The Desert Sun)
The Indio artist’s light installation, Beacon 5, was part of the hotel’s Palm Noir exhibition and used ultraviolet lights covered by orange film to bring out the color of one of the building’s walls.
A comedy scene is emerging, and this local bar is its nucleus (The Desert Sun)
Stand-up comedians are drawing an audience at The Hood Bar & Pizza, the Palm Desert venue known for giving its stage to local bands and musicians.
Broadway at The River makes a big splash (Palm Springs Life)
Music Theater University students are singing and dancing their nights away at Acqua California Bistro at The River.
