Twenty-six visual artists, musicians, authors, graphic designers, and other creative professionals earned grants from the California Desert Arts Council (CDAC) in May to “Keep Arts Alive,” an initiative to provide financial support to Coachella Valley artists affected by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Established by CDAC and La Quinta Arts Foundation, the $50,000 fund…

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The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument welcomes amateur and professional photographers to participate in a photo contest to mark its 20th anniversary. Photograph by Tom Brewster/courtesy Palm Springs Life and Friends of the Desert Mountains   COVID-19 Arts organizations invited to apply for COVID-19 relief funds (WESTAF)The Western States Arts Federation’s WESTAF…

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Sequestered during the COVID-19 outbreak, La Quinta artist Thomas Gill found a way to bring the atmospheric desert into his multimedia world. The result: a trippy, pulsating trek through a graphically designed landscape drenched in the colors of so many awe-inspiring sunsets. “I do professional photography and videography but also have a passion for graphic…

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Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf, who was scheduled to appear at the Palm Springs Photo Festival (postponed to Sept. 20–25), shot a series called “Palm Springs” to reveal the “cracks in the perfect world.” Courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York COVID-19 $50K in grants available to local artists, arts organizations (Cactus Hugs)The fund, established by CDAC and…

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Devastating. Unprecedented. Dire. This is how local arts leaders describe the current state of affairs as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) shutters museums, galleries, theaters, and performance venues across the Coachella Valley. They’ve canceled events, refunded patrons, sent home talent and back-of-the-house staff, and begun strategizing for their survival. The hurt, including lost economic impact, has…

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Diversity prevails in a March Madness blitz of performances, exhibitions, and screenings across the Coachella Valley. The Native Film Fest and a museum exhibition of works by Cahuilla artist Gerald Clarke lead a month loaded with architecture tours, documentary film screenings, contemporary art shows, live music and theater, and the desert’s own fashion week. We…

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Los Angeles-based artist Gisela Colon created The Future is Now for the controversial Desert X AlUla exhibition, which continues through March 7. Desert X has announced dates and a new co-curator for its 2021 exhibition in the Coachella Valley. Photo courtesy Desert X.   ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Cree House opens for Modernism Week tours (Palm…

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Two locally based artists, Jim Isermann (above) and Gerald Clarke, have solo exhibitions at Palm Springs Art Museum; Modernism Week presents 11 days of tours, lectures, and parties; art fairs and festivals unfold in cities across the Coachella Valley; and musical and theatrical performances fill area stages. Throw in film screenings and literary events, and…

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Cahuilla artist Gerald Clarke includes “branded books” in his debut exhibition, Gerald Clarke: Falling Rock, opening January 18 at Palm Springs Art Museum. Photograph courtesy Palm Springs Art Museum.   ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN Modern masterpiece will go to auction (The Desert Sun) A replica of the 1952 Paul Rudolph–designed Walker Guest House that has been on…

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