Cristopher Cichocki – DESERT SEA, is a transitional installation environment that will be on view within Downtown Cathedral City, Coachella Valley, California with a scheduled public viewing from Friday, February 15, 2019 through Sunday, May 5, 2019.
An opening reception for Desert Sea will launch on Friday, February 15, from 8pm to 10pm featuring a live audiovisual performance that will activate the multi-sensory environment.
For decades Cristopher Cichocki has been immersed in the desert of Southern California, responding to the dynamic ecology and water issues of the region. The artist’s environmental interventions reflect upon the timeline spanning from pre-historic oceans to the present-day intersection between humankind, the natural world, and industrial expansion.
Desert Sea unveils a fusion of materials derived from the Coachella Valley that include Salton Sea barnacles, living aloe vera, along with reclaimed irrigation tubing that once watered the mass of abandoned orchard branches on view within the installation. Cichocki’s application of fluorescent color stems from his early explorations of coded street markings related to urban construction, property divisions, and infrastructural development. Here, in the midst of a desert that was once submerged under water, Cichocki shifts the identity of fluorescence into perceptions of deep sea bioluminescence. In this sense, Desert Sea re-examines the surviving seeds within this ancient desert abyss.
“With art enthusiasts coming to the Coachella Valley from all over the world during this time of year, we wanted to showcase the work of an artist that embraces the desert and its’ history,” stated Alan Carvalho, chair of the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission (CCPAC). “Cristopher’s work has been exhibited internationally, and the poetic breadth he expels transforms these living, decaying, and reclaimed materials into a discussion about our environment that resonates deeply within our desert and beyond.”
Desert Sea will be open daily during its scheduled run. The transitional art installation can be viewed in the daytime and/or at nighttime via ultraviolet illumination. Admission and public parking are free.
What: Cristopher Cichocki – DESERT SEA – Opening Reception
Where: Cathedral City Festival Lawn, 68-600 East Palm Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, 92234
When: Opening Event – Friday, February 15, 2019, 8pm to 10pm
* Additionally, DESERT SEA will be on public view February 15 – May 5
More Information: www.CristopherSea.com or info@cristophersea.com
