By Angela Romeo
What is timeless and ages like fine wine? Art.
This year the Palm Springs Art Museum – Artist Council celebrates 50 years of art supporting artists. Over the years the Artist Council has evolved from desert painters to sculptors with so much in between. The AC offers classes and lectures. It offers joint opportunities for artists to present their work. It also hosts the coveted juried art show – fondly known as the ACE.
But this year marks a milestone. With so much chaos in the world, and changes at the museum, the importance of the Artist Council becomes more acute. Without this cadre of artists, the work of many talented local artists would be lost.
This year the AC begins their golden anniversary year with a gala honoring Barbara and Jerry Keller. The event will be held on February 27 at Acqua California Bistro. The Kellers are well-known for their support of the arts Key to the event is the celebration of art – this time is the focus will be on the art of Barbara Keller’s 105 year old “Papa” Marvin Cohn. Mr. Cohn continues to paint and his work will be auctioned with proceeds benefitting the AC and its programs.
The celebration continues in March. In a continuing collaboration with the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert Center, AC and UCR will host an exhibition of Coachella Valley. Third Annual Artistic Expressions of the Coachella Valley Exhibition runs from March 1 – April 29. This year the exhibition will be juried Deborah S. Glickman, Director of Public Art, and City of Palm Desert; Sheila Bergman, PhD, Executive Director, UCR ARTSblock; and Kathryn Poindexter, Assistant Curator and Exhibitions Manager, California Museum of Photography, UCR ARTSblock. Terry Hastings, photographer and AC member noted, “As the incoming director for next year’s event, I look forward to a great event this year and even better one in the future. Every year we strive to present the best art of the Coachella Valley.”
Artistic Expression will also host a series of artist demonstrations covering two Saturdays, March 24 and April 21 from 10 AM to Noon, at UCR. Participating artists including Stephen Baumbach (Photography); Kathleen Scoggin (Wet into Wet method of watercolor and negative painting); Alicia Siegler (Water soluble crayons, Taylor’s chalk, charcoal and Brusho); Chick Curtis (figurative Oil Painting); Martha Cowen (Still Life Oil Painting); Trudy Woods (Colored Pencil techniques); and. Angela Koenig (Acrylics, gels, mediums, and mixed media techniques). The complete schedule is available on the UCR(http://palmdesert.ucr.edu/programs/events.html) and Artist Council (https://www.psmuseum.org/index.php/artists-council) Websites.
Tickets for the Gala are $375 tickets or $3000 tables of 10. For additional information contact MarJon Hudson at 760-902-2088 or DezertGrl@gmail.com
Third Annual Artistic Expressions of the Coachella Valley Opening Reception is Thursday, March 1 from 5 – 7 PM at UCR Palm Desert Center, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert. Artworks are for sale, with 30% of sales benefitting the Palm Springs Art Museum.
