By Angela Romeo
The temperature is rising and road construction is on the uptick. Sustainability is on the lips of many and the Coachella Valley Art Community is integral to that conversation. Cultural tourism is not seasonal and is as important to the local year-round community as it is to visitors. The local art scene continues to thrive – all year, despite weather conditions and traffic barriers.
The Backstreet Art District, located on Cherokee Way in Palm Springs will continue to host its First Wednesday Art Walk. With over ten galleries concentrated in the Backstreet complex, the diversity of art is as diverse as the Palm Springs community. For more information on the galleries and their events visit https://backstreetartdistrict.com.
The Perez Road Art & Design District, located on Perez Road, between Date Palm Drive and Cathedral Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, will also continue its Second Saturday Art Walks. “It is important to continue the monthly art walks for the sake of consistency,” noted Gallerist Vern Chamness of Trenz. “We have people visiting the gallery all year round. Word of mouth, advertising and repetition, so people know we have art walk every second Saturday.”
For more information on the galleries of Perez Road visit Trenz Gallery, www.trenzgallery.com, Colliding Worlds Fine Art, www.collidingworldstv.com, Elan Vitale Gallery,elanvitalgalleries.com, and Simeon Den Gallery, simmeodengallery.com.
In keeping with that notion, Colliding Worlds Fine Art Gallery, will debut new works from ceramic artist Kevin Nierman. The works will be shown at the Gallery from June 9thto the end of July.
“My new work is part of the Solidesseries. I continue to explore the simplicity of dynamic color and form. Allowing the clay to tell a story, a tension is created by laying colored clay on a panel of a different clay body,” explained Kevin. “As the panels are fired in the kiln, great tension is created between the two clay bodies. This tension creates a web of fissures, mimicking the tension that exists in the environments all around us in the natural world.”
The High Desert is also keeping its vibrant art scene throughout the summer. The Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency Exhibition recently held Optical Instruments at JTAG Gallery, 61607 29 Palms Highway, Joshua Tree.
Established in 2007, JTHAR is a nonprofit artist residency that awards group and solo residencies. JTHAR offers six week solo residencies throughout the year. JTHAR also hosts a seven-week residency which includes scholarship funds, living accommodations, studio space to a diverse group of artist. The residencies culminate in an exhibition. This year the artists include Dennis Buck, a visual artist, from Germany; Emily Quinn, a painter/photographer, originally from Alabama; Dimitri Staszewski, a filmmaker/photographer; and Chris Zickefoose, a sculptor, from Baltimore Maryland. The Optical Instrumentsexhibit will on Artsy at artsy.net until July. More information on the residency can be found at www.jthar.com
Following the JTHAR show JTAG will present its Summer Popup Salon opening June 23rd. This salon style exhibition will feature 80 works from artists who have come to the High Desert for inspiration. This yearly event runs through July 14th. Proceeds go directly to the individual artist. For more information on JTAG visit Joshuatreeartgallery.com
