BY ANGELA ROMEO
There are things we look forward to year after year – the first snowbird, the last abandoned Christmas tree, the start of the school year. For 53 years people have looked forward to the annual three days Borrego Days Desert Festival. This year’s theme is Eyes to the Skies.
As in years past the festival kicks off a parade that showcases the town and the talents of trick riding cowboys, floats and marching bands. The parade ends at the village’s landmark traffic circle, Christmas Circle. This area will showcase artists and music.
The village is home to the International Aerobatic Club who, since 1976, practice and hold competitions near the Borrego Valley Airport. It seems fitting that this year the festival will features a multi-plane flyover, hence Eyes to the Skies.
The Festival is sponsored by the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (VisitBorrego.com), and the nonprofit Borrego Festivals Foundation.
The fall also brings the 17thannual, two-week event, Highway 62 Open Studio Art Tour. The tours run October 13- 14 and October 20-21. The tour showcases the work of over 90 diverse artists. The tours began in 2001 spearheaded by desert icon Chuck Caplinger. Every year more of the High Desert talented artists join and every year the tour exceeds all expectations.
Gallery 62 in Joshua Tree, will host the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council Collective Show. This venue provides a sampling of the work that is found along the tour. Catalogues are available at various locations including Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery in Cathedral City. The website is Hyw62arttours.org.
Palm Springs is home the Stephen Baumbach Gallery. Located in the Backstreet Art District this gallery is the site for cutting edge exhibitions. Stephen’s view of the world produces some of the most engaging work in the Coachella Valley. He opens October with the work of his UCR students’ end of semester show.
November 7 Stephen brings The Promise, the last works of Ray Bennet. The show will fulfill a promise made by Bennet’s partner Patrick Henry that his art would be shown and sold. A part of the proceeds from sales will be donated to the Desert Aids Project.
Take breath, Stephen is not done. December he brings 7 Feet of Desert. The works are seven foot prints of massive panoramas of the desert landscape. Reception will be Dec 5th from 5-8.
But the most anxiously awaited show is Stephen’s fearless Catholic City show that opens on January2nd. This show takes on the issue of attacks the sexual predators and the Catholic Church. A continuing news story with lingering questions Stephen’s imagery attempts to capture the anger, pain, confusion and shame of all those involved – victim, predator and passive observer.
For more information visit Stephenbaumbach.com
