Dynamic Programming and Non-Profit Partnerships – Check it Out This Weekend at Spectrum Indian Wells

Spectrum Indian Wells is a four-day contemporary art experience featuring top galleries, art publishers, and established studio artists from across the U.S. and around the world. The show will run this weekend from Thursday, March 16 to Sunday, March 19 at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort.

New this year, Spectrum Indian Wells is partnering with two local non-profits, the Desert AIDS Project and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, to not only give back to the community but also incorporate the community into the lively art world of the Coachella Valley.

“We had such great support from the community last year that this year we wanted to figure out a way to incorporate them even more,” said Eric Smith, president and CEO of Redwood Media Group, which owns and operates Spectrum Indian Wells. “The Desert AIDS Project and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert are fantastic organizations that really care about the community, so we are excited to give back to them.”

Saturday, March 18, has been designated as Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert Day at the show. Bigs will get to bring their Littles to the show for a “meet the artists” event, including lunch and an art session with the exhibiting artists. Bigs and Littles will get an up-close-and-personal experience with the artists and even create a piece of art to take home. During the evening, Spectrum Indian Wells will host a reception for the Bigs, during which they will get a chance to socialize, have a glass of wine, and meet an international slate of artists and gallerists. 

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You can give back by attending the Opening Night Preview Party on Thursday, March 16, which will benefit the Desert AIDS Project. Spectrum Indian Wells is supporting the Desert AIDS Project with an exhibition booth at the show to represent the artists in their Art Gallery Program, which started in 2016 as part of the Personal Development and Wellness services they offer their clients.

This year, the show also features dynamic programming that will allow you to interact with the artists and their site-specific projects. Located throughout the show floor, the featured programs at Spectrum Indian Wells are informed by a common theme: [FUSION] – symbolizing the merging of artistic mediums, of exhibitors and collectors, and of galleries and artists that come together to showcase their work. UBS Financial Services returns this year as the show’s Presenting Sponsor.

The interactive programming at this year’s show includes:

Spotlight Artists: Provides collectors a focused look at several cutting-edge artists who will each be creating a site-specific exhibition. The Spotlight Artists for Spectrum Indian Wells 2017 are Fabian Perez (Booth 313), Lisa Ashinoff (Booth 315), and Tom Boatright (208).

LaunchPad Artist: Each year, an emerging, unrepresented artist is selected to create a site-specific exhibition at the show. This year’s LaunchPad Artist is Christopher Williams, who is part of the Desert AIDS Project Art Gallery (Booth 314).

Meet the Artist sessions: The Meet the Artist events immerse the audience with the artists, giving them the opportunity to learn about each artist’s inspiration, story, and medium. In many cases, the artist also does a live demonstration, creating his or her next work of art.

Art Labs: Feature special curated projects by leading galleries, art institutions, and art collectives within the show. This year, the show will feature the [PLATFORM] Artist of the Year Awards (Booth 414), a premier awards contest created by Redwood Media Group, in partnership with Art Brand Studios, to empower talented artists and introduce their work to the world. Attendees will be able to vote for their favorite artwork from the 10 finalists on display. The Popular Vote will be tallied and the winner announced at Artexpo New York in April.

Art Talks: Offer attendees an inside look at the artistic experience by way of panel discussions, conversations, and provocative artistic discourse with leading artists, curators, designers, and art-industry professionals.

• Thursday, March 16 at 6:00 p.m.: NOT JUST PAINTING – MIXING IT UP!

Fine art today is a [FUSION] of mediums, stylistic presentations, and design inspirations. Learn how three artists, David Hardy, Sean Ivory, and Robert Reeves, approach their craft.

• Friday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m.: THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART

The power of art to inspire, transform, and redirect lives has been recognized for centuries. Anna Boatright’s and Valerio Iovino’s stories will excite you and remind you of art’s impact in our lives. 

• Saturday, March 18 at 1:30 p.m.: PAINTING WITH PASSION

Listen to the amazing journeys of three artists, each with their own approach and style—Fabian Perez, Robin Raznick, and Anita Lewis.

• Saturday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m.: SCULPTURE DIVERSITY

Meet and learn the story behind the work of three dynamic sculpture artists—Jim Keller, James Paterson, and Siri Hollander.

• Sunday, March 19 at 1:00 p.m.: EVOLVING INTO PAINTING

Not everyone starts their career as an artist. Join Mike Chico, Maurice Pacini, and Robert Reeves as they share their stories.

For more information on Spectrum Indian Wells or to purchase tickets, please visit www.spectrum-indianwells.com.