Discover Art Off the Beaten Path in Joshua Tree

The austere desert landscape of the wild west has long fascinated and inspired artists. Georgia O’Keeffe painted the American desert in images of abstract red mountains, desert wildflowers and iconic portraits of drought defined by bleached bones and skulls. Frederic Remington focused his work on the old American West with intricately detailed paintings of cowboys, Native American Indians and other characters that depicted life in the southwest, all against the backdrop of the intense beauty of the desert.

Today, the arid panorama of the southwest continues to inspire artists, writers and musicians. Art colonies have cropped up in small towns and remote areas where the rugged elegance of the desert is abundant.  There creativity flourishes.

One of the art installations from Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Art Museum.

Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Coachella Valley and the surrounding region have become a mecca for creative souls. Just outside the boundary of the Joshua Tree National Park, artists have set up studios and formed an outpost of creativity.

Wide open spaces filled with light and the low cost of real estate have drawn modern artists looking to escape the confines of city life. They are finding inspiration in the serene desert environment and moving from small city studios to ranches with plenty of space for experimentation and large outdoor installations.

Many of the new studios are located in rustic settings, on private property. In order to market and showcase their work, the creative residents open their studios to the public during The Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours over two weekends in October.   Visit their Facebook page and click events for current dates or visit their website.

Several art exhibitions and outdoor installations are free and open to the public year round. Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Art Museum is open to the public 365 days a year.  There is no charge to visit the outdoor museum.  Noah’s art pieces are considered “assemblage art” – created from junked objects he found in the desert. Most tourists take a self-guided tour through the large art installations. Guided tours for groups are available on the weekends.

The High Desert Test Sites’ self-guided tour map highlights each of the art installation’s destinations, along with a description of what you will discover there. It’s a great way to explore the desert and experience outdoor art in the natural desert environment.

High Desert Test Sites
https://highdeserttestsites.com/page/our-sites

Noah Purifoy’s Outdoor Art Museum
https://www.noahpurifoy.com

Desert X – Coachella Valley (Check website for art exhibition dates and locations)
https://desertx.org

One of the Desert X art installations from previous years.

Desert X is produced by The Desert Biennial, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, conceived to produce recurring international contemporary art exhibitions that activate desert locations through site-specific installations by acclaimed international artists. Its guiding principles include presenting public exhibitions of art that respond meaningfully to the conditions of desert locations, the environment and indigenous communities; promoting cultural exchange and education programs that foster dialogue and understanding among cultures and communities about shared artistic, historical, and societal issues; and providing an accessible platform for artists from around the world to address ecological, cultural, spiritual and other existential themes.  

Art in Public Places …

29 Palms Inn & Restaurant
3950 Inn Ave., Twentynine Palms

Joshua Tree Library
6465 Park Blvd.,  Joshua Tree

Las Palmas Mexican Cuisine
55792 Twentynine Palms Highway, Yucca Valley

Pie for the People Pizzeria
61740 Twentynine Palms Hwy., Joshua Tree

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