Grand Opening – and Closing

The reception was a really great party, maybe 40-50 people attended. Most were Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley residents involved in the arts, many supporters of the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency Program. Some came from Palm Springs and LA.

Here's the link to a review of the exhibit.

The show was up only two days, and is already dismantled and traveling back home with the five artists. My paintings are in the back of my car as my husband Joe and I take a week to explore California on our way back to Seattle.

The afternoon before the reception, I (and my husband Joe, far left) met with my boss from college days back in Michigan in the 70's! Dr. Ivan Blazen and his wife Deanna visited us from Loma Linda where he is a professor of theological studies.

Joe and I went for a hike in Joshua Tree National Park that morning, and I was still discovering new colors and textures. But no more art for a while. We're doing Disneyland today. I didn't grow up with Mickey and the rest, but Joe did and he's in heaven. What a fascinating cross-section of America wandering around the grounds!

So that's the end of my desert adventure, which produced eight good pieces of art, and several bad ones (which are already being recycled one way or another).

Setting up the Gallery

Tomorrow evening is the big event, the reception, from 6-8:30. Setting up the gallery has been a peak social event, as well as a lot of work, more for some than others. Wendy, with her installation experience, took the lead. Turns out, she's a cleanliness fanatic too, so we all reaped the benefits of her obsessions and eagle eye.

Here's Wendy (above) with one of her own artwork arrangements.
Below is me with one of mine.

Habitat Report, 2011; soil and acrylics on canvas, 24 x 36 x 2.5” $950
(Large piece on the left)

Above is JoJo, and below, Lola.

Above, Cyrus. Below, other finished pieces of mine.

Spinal Support; mold, soil, acrylics and cactus spines; 24 x 24 x 3/4” $850

The two artworks, above and below, are the ones made from "planted and harvested" canvas pieces, stained with soil and mold, then sterilized and pieced together using cactus spines.

Dry Heat; 2011; mold, soil, acrylics and cactus spines; 12 x 24 x 2.5” $550

Cactus Buddy; 2011; mold, soil and acrylics on canvas; 6 x 6 x 1.5” $85
Pod Cast; 2011; mold, soil and acrylics on canvas; 6 x 6 x 1.5” $85
Desert Star; 2011; mold, soil and acrylics on canvas; 6 x 6 x 1.5” $85
($75 each as a set of 3)

EIS Report; 2011; soil and acrylics on canvas; 12 x 24 x 2.5” $550

Cholla Message; 2011; soil and acrylics on canvas; 12 x 24 x 2.5” $550

More Finished Art

Here are some closeup details of finished canvases. These pieces were created using canvas that had been buried in desert soil for several weeks. I've painted on them with acrylic paints, as well as overlaying clear acrylic film images of my own photos. I list the media used as "mold, soil and acrylics."

This object below, found in my back yard, may be a Joshua tree trunk, weathered and eroded by the elements. It's textures and patterns make me think of other-worldly objects or ancient artifacts.

Dinner, Full Moon and Local Art

Last night we artists were invited to dinner at the property of Steve and Ruth Rieman. They have lived there for 32 years, first in the smaller house which is now a studio where our artist JoJo is living. Later they built a beautiful larger house, surrounded by sculpture by Steve. He does amazing outdoor work for both public and private settings. Check out his gallery of artwork here.

Here JoJo shows Lola and Wendy the studio's view of Pipes Wash, miles and miles of desert scrub that sometimes courses with storm water.

Above, JoJo's drawings for her outdoor installation of rock paintings, and the studio interior (below).

A short walk from the main house to the studio is a gallery of Steve's sculptures. Most of them are kinetic, moving with the continuous desert breezes.

I got home last night under a full moon surrounded by a curtain of clouds.

Drawing to a Close

We have only 1-1/2 weeks remaining of our 6-week residency, and all of us are taking full advantage of the time and location. Most of us are beginning to complete one or several of the art pieces that will be exhibited at the August 19-20 show.

Below is Cyrus looking over some of his completed pieces. His art and work process reflect an interest in the places where carefully planned civilization and the encroaching wilderness meet and interact. Cyrus has divided up his house and outside areas into "morning studio," "afternoon studio" and "evening studio," depending upon the prevailing shade and breezes.

Joshua Tree's daytime temperatures have been between 90 and 100 or so, lower at night. My routine is: lower all east-facing window shades at sunrise. Raise them and lower west-facing shades around 1:00 PM. Open all shades and windows at bedtime to catch the breezes. Rinse and repeat...

Below are some closeup details taken from my own completed paintings, and several digitized photos I will be incorporating into other pieces later.

Sunset Stories

We five artists gathered at Cyrus' place for dinner Saturday night. I neglected to take photos, so a few shots will be forthcoming later. The more important activity of the night was watching the sun set, stars fill the sky, and STORIES.

Less than a mile south of our location is the Joshua Tree Southern Railroad Museum, with fully operational 15" gauge, 7 1/2" gauge, and G-scale trackage and rail cars amid the rocks, sagebrush, trees, and cactus. Cyrus (sire) had taken his 2-year-old son (Cyrus IV) there that day, and they were the only visitors at the isolated wilderness site the entire time. Cyrus IV was playing by himself, making his own sound track of "choo choo's," etc. Cyrus sire suddenly heard a clear, deeper-sounding "echo" of his son's sound effects, right behind his left ear. He looked around. Nothing there. Then Cyrus IV looked up and said "People here, Daddy."

Lola was working on her art piece, standing on her feet all day, wearing an old pair of sneakers. Her left toes seemed to be going to sleep, with a noticeable throbbing on the tops. Eventually, she ended her day and removed her shoes. When she saw the lizard in her left shoe, she threw both at the opposite wall. The lizard lived, and so did Lola.

We artists know how to have a good time in new environments!

The Creative Process Mystery

This painting may be done. Never sure until it's sold...

This one's still going to get some lichens, I think.

I have no idea how this abstract based on a yucca leaf will turn out.

Same with this canvas, which will be more abstract, drawn from mold and lichens.

The plan for this canvas is up in the air, literally, the night sky.