Saturday, October 22nd from 12 to 8pm
By Morgan James
The city of Desert Hot Springs is an artistic mecca comprising of brilliant visual artists and a number of cultivated musical and performance artists to boot. While the city has held a certain stigma for being less than its neighboring communities, Desert Hot Springs boasts the coolest weather in all of Coachella Valley and inescapably beautiful 360 degree views. Recently, Desert Hot Springs has moved for a shift in this stunning city to more of an art centric mindset and create an Art Zone in the downtown area, hoping to attract artists to reside within the city and ultimately influence it’s creative, cultural district. In June of this year, the Desert Hot Springs Arts District Committee unanimously voted to place David Ross and his production company, David Ross Productions, in charge of The Vortex Music & Art Festival, which will take place this Saturday, October 22nd from 12 to 8pm all free of charge to visitors. The festival will boast an incredible amount of local talent as well as world renowned musicians and artists coming together to celebrate the city and the strong spirit within it.
Brown Miller is the Media and Technology Director of the Art Foundation of Desert Hot Springs and focuses his efforts on helping Desert Hot Springs artists promote their work in a professional manner, thereby benefitting the community as a whole. “It’s a good start for our new ‘ART Zone’ cultural district,” Miller explains, “but the Art Foundation DHS and our wonderful partners David, Calista, and Bernard, have much work ahead for the ART Zone to make a real, lasting impact on our community.”
Bernard Hoyes, Art Curator for the festival, illustrates the city’s sentiments as he states; “The Vortex Music and Art Festival faces the challenge of Change. As the Curator of the Art segment of this Festival the challenges are easily met, because DHS has a wealth of Creative Souls that makes this Vortex their home and inspiration. These Artists intend to make this city into an art zone.”
“I put together some of the best bands and musicians in the desert,” exclaims David Ross who aside from producing the festival, will also be acting as MC. “My goal is to boost the image of Desert Hot Springs and lift up the underdog creatives such as new unknown artists or great musicians who have been forgotten and thrown by the wayside.” Ross, producer of The Coachella Valley Music Show, has rallied for recognition of talented artists throughout his career back to when he managed Jr Walker and Ike Turner. “I line up well-known musicians alongside the locals to get those locals seen in the public view and gain the recognition they deserve. This has always been my passion,” Ross states proudly.
The Visitor Center in Desert Hot Springs will open its doors for the day as the “V” to visitors and guests. Visual art exhibitions displayed in the gallery and throughout the Vortex Music & Art Festival will include Jorge Sicre, a neo-symbolist visual artist born in Havana, Cuba and now residing in Desert Hot Springs. Sicre’s art has been included in numerous galleries and exhibitions in North America and in Europe and featured at an event at the Museo dell’Aeronautica Gianni Caproni in Trento, Italy. Also featured on two high-end fashion accessory lines: Jenellen, Inc and Icon Shoes, Inc, you can view this distinct artist up close and personal at the festival. Artist Landon Johnson, a local resident and receiver of an art scholarship this year from the Marks Art Center at College of the Desert, will have works on display. World renowned ceramic artist Martha Daniels, a Desert Hot Springs resident as well, will have her work featured on Saturday’s festivities. Daniels pieces are all made of hand built clay and are delicately formed, fired, and decorated by the artist herself. Bijan Masoumpanah’s work will also be a prominent feature, noted for his “Old Indio” mural and Carl May Community Center mural.
The stage will be set for musical performances that will alternate between local musicians and an all-star legendary band, enveloping the flow of the crowd with a delightful feel as they move from indoors to out, viewing carefully chosen and displayed visual art pieces. Headlining the Vortex Music & Art Festival at 6pm will be Calista Carradine, daughter of legendary actor David Carradine (Kung Fu, Kill Bill), and special guests including her acclaimed uncle, actor and musician, Robert Carradine. “I grew up listening to my father and my uncle play the blues and tasty guitar, so blues music was definitely ingrained in me,” notes Calista. “However this will be my first time performing with my uncle Robert so I am thrilled about it. When I heard that the Arts District Committee is looking to support artists in creation and sales of their work I knew this festival would be a great way to promote that culture and activity here, in really the nicest part of the desert. I live here in Desert Hot Springs and it has cooler weather than the rest of the valley as well as the special water from the miracle spas. The Vortex Festival will be a great way to showcase our visual artists coupled alongside of music and performance artists that are all very incredible.”
Other musicians guest appearing with Calista Carradine will be Deanna Bogart, Solomon King, Buddy Greco Jr, Jim Moraco, and Aaron Todd. At 3pm there will be a special performance by renowned singer, pianist and saxophone player Deanna Bogart, including a multitude of guest stars as well. The illustrious Mona McKinney will grace the stage while Amber Allen will bring her explosive energy, and celebrated performer Paul MacKey will ‘Light it Up.’ Festival goers will also be able to enjoy and dance along to the upbeat tunes of The BrosQuitos who are the first Desert Hot Springs band to be recently signed to a record deal. Also award winning bands The CMF’s, The Hive Minds and Hollace will keep the groove going with the Beatabums, and Lucky Tongue also performing until Bri Cherry & The Boys pump up the crowd with enigmatic violin music creating a barrage to delight the ears.
David Ross, festival producer would like to thank Janice Gough, President of the Art Foundation of DHS, who has been “phenomenal in making things happen for our festival from securing sponsors to funding. Without her the Vortex Music & Arts Festival would not happen.”
Ross would also like to thank the immense support of Tracy Dietlin and Phil Lacombe, not just through Coachella Valley Weekly, but as “longtime neighbors and whose friendship is immeasurable and will always be treasured.”
“Beautiful silent auction items and goodies will be offered on the festival grounds on Saturday for interested parties, not to disappoint, and contributions to the Art Foundation of Desert Hot Springs are tax deductible. From the Art Committee organizers and all of those involved in this festival and in the betterment and recognition of the city of Desert Hot Springs, we thank you, the public, for your attendance in advance and look forward to a radiant experience,” shared Ross.
