In the 1870’s grizzled men with leathery skin, and worn boots trekked through the harsh desert climates to the High Desert of California. They came with dreams of striking it rich in gold and silver ore. One hundred and forty years later, people still come to the small desert towns of Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms. Some walk the dusty roads in worn hiking boots or sandals, some ride their bikes while others drive. Instead of gold and silver, they flock for a different kind of treasure. They come for the art.

Even if you’ve never taken an art class and can’t tell a Picasso from a Monet, or a Frank from an Arbus, there is something in this desert gallery for everyone. The towns themselves are like paintings found in the galleries scattered throughout the area. The bright blue sky and mountains backdrop the quaint buildings creating idyllic postcard images for the visitors who find themselves driving down Hwy 62.

Murals adorn the outside walls of rustic buildings depicting history and life in the desert. The town of Twentynine Palms is known as the Oasis of Murals and is a tourist stop for all who visit the area. Statues, iron work and sculptures can be seen along the side of the road and in front of buildings. Little shops carry the work of local artisans, and when you step into the small cafes along the route you’ll find framed paintings and photographs. Art galleries and studios are in abundance in the area, and many of the artists open their studios to the public.

The Twentynine Palms Creative Center and Gallery houses the studios of several local artists who teach private and group classes in many mediums including: stained glass, pottery, printmaking with linoleum blocks, and collaging and bookmaking. They open their doors for art exhibits, and promote monthly local artists. The building as well as the outer studios are art themselves. Painted with bright colors and signs reminiscent of tie-dye, peace signs and Woodstock, creativity is a physical presence throughout the area.

As an artist looking to make your mark in the area, the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (MBCAC) offers yearly memberships, and meets monthly to discuss upcoming events. They help local artists create shows, advertise, and network with other artists and patrons of the arts. According to their website, “The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council’s mission is to inspire and enliven the community through the arts, and enhance the cultural and economic health of the region. We accomplish our vision through a range of activities and initiatives, large and small, local, outside the Basin, and online.”

During the last two weekends in October the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council holds the Hwy 62 Art Tours. A four day event where the work of participating artists are shown in local businesses and galleries along the stretch of highway. This annual event brings people from all over. It opens the quiet towns to artists and patrons alike, and helps stimulate the local economy. The planning and execution of this highly anticipated event is done completely by the artists and local volunteers from the community.

For an artist there are no shortage of things to paint, photograph, draw, or  create. Stepping outside can spark the imagination. In a residential area of  Twentynine Palms, locked behind a six foot chain link fence, stands a gallery of sorts. An artistic testament to the changing times of the area. On the uneven and rugged ground various vintage motel signs are interspersed with broken down cars and desert vegetation.

A similar example of art in the Morongo Basin is the Noah Purifoy Foundation, and the Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum. Both of the places are art in themselves as well as a subject for art. The styles, textures, colors, and location of the sites tell stories and paint pictures for residents and visitors to the area.

Art is subjective. What is beautiful to one may not be to another, but in the art community of the Morongo Basin different styles blend and meld together. Architecture stands tall beside abstract sculptures, galleries show photography beside paintings and mixed media. Art shops carry the supplies for everything from quilting and beading to bronze and leather work, and the Joshua Tree Art Gallery offers a six week artist residency during July and August. In an area an hour away from the closest ‘big city’ the Morongo Basin is an art lover’s little piece of Heaven.

]]> http://bellemariep.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/photo-shoot-with-the-thomass-in-pioneertown/ Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:56:11 +0000 oliviasmith724 http://bellemariep.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/photo-shoot-with-the-thomass-in-pioneertown/ We had such a blast togather doing this photoshoot. We started in downtown Yucca Valley at a coffee shop and antique store front, and then headed up to Pioneertown for most the the shoot. What I love about Pioneertown is you cant get bored and there’s never nothing you can’t take a picture of, and it is so rustic and real just makes photos look amazing and old feeling there.

This is one of the first family pictures Sybil, TK, Kaylynn, and Abigail have taken since Abigail was born about a year ago, and since TK got back from deployment. They moved here about four months ago from Missouri. I was super motivated to finishes these photos and get them to Sybil and she loved them and so do I!

Over the New Year’s weekend, we took a trip to Pioneer Town. Pioneer Town is a little town in the High Desert near Yucca Valley. We went specifically to eat at Pappy and Harriet’s, a fun place to eat with delicious burgers, chili and more! Pappy and Harriet’s was also featured on an Anthony Bourdain special, so they are kind of a big deal! The place has fun decor and band posters everywhere! They have a stage and lots of bands come to play live there.

After getting full on yummy grub, we walked through Pioneer Town.

This little tourist attraction reminds me of walking through Knott’s Berry Farm!

Have you ever been to any ghost towns or places like Pioneer Town? I love places like this!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

This hillside park is adjacent to a church with 35+ statues of Biblical figures… some recreating events from the Bible. The statuary also shows various apostles and/or others in what appears to be discussions or taking time to contemplate. There are even 1 or 2 figures that are lying down… maybe they are resting or maybe they are just enjoying the sun on their alabaster skin. All sculptures appear to be placed facing away from the sun… with the exception of Jesus who always seems to face Yucca Valley. Unfortunately, a 7.3 earthquake back in 1992, damaged some of the sculptures… removing heads and hands… rebar sticks out bare as if someone took the sculptures skin off.

Martin also built a large wall with the Last Supper in bas relief. (You can go behind the wall and place your head in the window next to Jesus… it’s ok… the wall was built for this!)

The Integraton

Yesterday I went on the California Men’s Gathering outing (experience) to the Integraton, in Landers, California – which is on the way to Joshua Tree, just up the road from Yucca Valley, about 45 miles from Palm Springs.

The Integraton would take more space to explain than I have the expertise or time to do, so please see the link to their website, where it’s all explained in great detail.

The experience we had was called a Sound Bath. Basically, quartz bowls are played inside the rotunda of this building, and one taking the bath lies on his/her back, letting the sounds reverberate throughout the room and into the body, where they resonate with each of the chakras. This building has amazing acoustical properties, and the location is significant as a vortex of a tremendous amount of earth energy.

The story goes that George Van Tassel, who built the place in the 1950s, was visited by extraterrestrials who consulted on the design and intended for this place to be a haven for humans who needed to de-stress. I’m certainly all for that, and count myself in the group that should be de-stressed.

I found the experience to be interesting. The guide explained that because of the unusual gravitational energies surrounding this area, some people feel lighter in this place, and some feel heavier. During the experience, I felt it was like an extended Savasana pose (corpse pose) that we end yoga class with. I felt myself get extremely heavy, to where I could not move my limbs, as if I was sinking into the floor and becoming a part of it.

My mind would drift to dream-like imagery and topics, including a dream I think I had the night before, so it was a continuation. Then I would come back into my body, remember where I was, remember what these strange sounds (and not unpleasant sounds) were. Much like a meditation experience, that part of it.

Someone fell asleep and was snoring softly during this time (it takes about a half hour). So obviously, different folks have different reactions. In all, I’d have to say another cool slice from a very interesting area.

More photos:

Leaving the Integraton; that's me in the mirror taking the pic.

This odd purple bed was just sitting there in the desert.

CMG'ers leaving the Sound Bath