The highly acclaimed 17th Indian Wells Arts Festival will showcase an exciting international palette of more than 200 juried artists converging March 29-March 31 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
These artists hail from a diverse creative style and geographical background spanning from Japan, Peru, Italy, Canada, Poland, Uganda, including the Coachella Valley.
Tickets are $13 for adults at the gate and children under 12 are free. Parking is free and valet is available. Hours are 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. March 29-31. Information: www.Indianwellsartsfestival.com
The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home of the internationally renowned PNB Paribas Tennis Open, is magically transformed into an artisan village and festive outdoor marketplace with thousands of one-of-a-kind pieces of art for sale. In a casual backdrop of live jazz entertainment, art lovers and foodies alike can enjoy perfect cocktails and varied culinary delights. Art lovers can enjoy hands-on artist demonstrations ranging from textile weaving, painting, and sculpting. On Saturday and Sunday, a fabulous “Eggs+Champagne in the Garden” brunch menu is available until noon.
Touted as one of one of the top 30 Best Fine Art Shows nationwide by Sunshine Artist magazine and Best of the Best Art Festivals by readers of Palm Springs Life magazine, children also are welcome to enjoy engaging interactive activities and big kids at heart will love the art stations and free commemorative photo opportunity.
“We truly showcase an international palette of 200 artists from more than 25 countries and 25 states across the nation,” said Dianne Funk, Indian Wells Arts Festival producer. “These museum caliber artists have been recognized by 50 of some of the most prestigious art institutions including the Smithsonian, the de Young Fine Arts Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, the San Diego Museum of Art, Palm Springs Art Museum and the Kyoto Museum in Japan.”
There is something for every art buyer’s collection with 30 mediums and categories from painting, sculpture, jewelry, wearable-art fashion, photography and ceramics.
This year’s commemorative poster artist is the incomparable “Watercolor Chef” Leslee Adams, a homegrown desert artist acclaimed for her remarkable style of vibrant colors. Her winning “Flor de Vida” (Flower of Life), an original watercolor painting, is an inspired bold and colorful tribute of several native Coachella Valley plants.
The art experience of the Indian Wells Arts Festival is expanded to feature Community Partners, non-profit organizations impacting the Coachella Valley presenting free activities for festival goers. Dianne Funk said the festival donates to various non-profit’s programs as well.
This year’s participating non-profits leading activities at the Indian Wells Arts Festival include: the Alzheimer’s Association, Coachella Valley; the Braille Institute – Rancho Mirage with an immersive experience creating art without sight; the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert teaching block printing; Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine; CREATE Center for the Arts Palm Desert; Desert Arc; Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Foundation providing Commemorative Poster coloring; Old Town Artisan Studio keeping the wheel spinning with pottery throwing; and SafeHouse of the Desert with the popular gratitude rock painting.
More than 10,000 festival goers are expected at this year’s Indian Wells Arts Festival. The City of Indian Wells is again the presenting sponsor and the festival is hosted by the Indian Wells Tennis Club. Other sponsors are Art Patron Magazine, Palm Springs Life Magazine, Hot Purple Energy, Signature Party Rentals and Desert Golf Car Company,
Dianne Funk, a long time Palm Desert resident and highly respected arts ambassador, began coordinating art festivals in the Coachella Valley in 1986 with Faire a La Quinta, followed by Southwest Arts Festival in Indio in 1989, which has since grown into an acclaimed regional attraction. Building upon that success, Funk created the Indian Wells Arts Festival in 2002. Since then it has developed into the highly heralded headlining event of the Coachella Valley’s arts festival season.
