By Crystal Harrell
On February 29 through March 3, the La Quinta Art Celebration Spring 2024 will showcase the artworks of 186 top artists, including 21 first-time participants. In addition to the vast range of artistic talent on display, guests can enjoy live music, premium beverages, and gourmet food. Thousands of art lovers from across the U.S. and around the world are expected at this festive event, voted the nation’s #1 fine art show for the third consecutive year.
“We were really fortunate in the pandemic, we were able to do a show on March 2020 and the city closed literally 15 minutes after we did, and so did the county. We got the first show off and then in 2021, we realized we would not be able to do the show in March and we postponed it to November. People came, they didn’t mind that they would be wearing masks. It was a fabulous show and it was so great. We actually decided to do the event twice a year, so we do it in the spring and then we do it in the autumn. So we didn’t miss a year. Then of course we did 2022 to 2023, and now we’re going for 2024,” stated La Quinta Art Celebration Event Director Kathleen Hughes.
Held in the beautiful La Quinta Civic Center Park with stunning views of the Santa Rosa Mountains in the distance, the La Quinta Art Celebration’s spring edition offers guests the chance to engage with the artists and learn about their inspiration and techniques. They can take home an original artwork or commission an exclusive work, custom-designed for a favorite space in their homes or offices.
Guests can also enjoy upscale amenities including the popular Champagne Bar, top-shelf spirits served at the Amphitheater Bar as well as Napa and Sonoma Valley wines at the Wine Experience. For the more adventurous, the Don Julio Margarita Island awaits. The Gourmet Celebration Bistrowill offer a wide range of culinary delights plus premium Stella Artois and IPA brews. Decadent gelato and chocolate dipped ice cream is certain to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth as well.
Located in the heart of the lovely Coachella Valley, the City of La Quinta is a creative community steeped in appreciation and pride for the arts, and the La Quinta Art Celebration seamlessly weaves the visual, performing, and culinary arts into one extraordinary event.
Art Fair Sourcebook named La Quinta Art Celebration 2022, 2023 and 2024 the #1 Fine Art & Fine Craft Event in the U.S. It was also named Southwest Art magazine’s Favorite Outdoor Art Festival 2023. Among the many artists exhibiting at the upcoming spring event is Daryl Thetford, a digital mixed-media artist from Tennessee, who creates large, one-of-kind paintings that start with a single photographic image to which he adds torn and weathered handmade paper, other layering techniques, and acrylic paint. His work is in many public and private collections throughout the U.S. and has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions. He created the artwork for the spring event’s posters and men’s t-shirt.
Tom Barnes, a Georgia-based, self-taught watercolor artist with a whimsical, often humorous signature expression of Long-Neck Ladies and Dapper Dudes is another exhibiting artist. His arresting works speak of retro-eras when fashion and finery were in vogue. His characters depict elegance and self-confidence. Their attitudes are both engaging and provocative. He provided the artwork for this sprint’s ladies t-shirt.
“I think what makes this event unique is our wonderful volunteers and community engagement. We have 125 volunteers and those are all Valley and La Quinta residents. They love volunteering. They want to come back and they bring their friends. They are so dedicated and they have such a good time. You can just feel their enthusiasm. They love this event and they volunteer two 4-hour shifts, which is the minimum one can volunteer for this show. We work with a lot of the different restaurants. Our Artist Award reception is all done by La Quinta and Valley restaurants that donate the food for the reception. We have 500 people attend this reception. It’s all local residents, which is great,” shared Hughes.
The La Quinta Civic Center is located at 78495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA 92253. Event hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 29 through March 3. Admission is $25 for an adult single day ticket or $30 multi-day ticket. Children under 12 are free. Parking options include paid-self parking for $10 and valet parking for $20.
“I hope the La Quinta Art Celebration just continues and thrives, and grows and expands. We’re building every show we do. Paul Anderson, our CEO, thinks of something new, about what a new concept is going to be, and how can we grow? How can we evolve?” said Hughes.
To avoid lines at the gate, visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets ahead of time and discover event info at LaQuintaArtCelebration.org. For more details, please call 760-628-7770.
