Greater Joshua Tree ART ROUNDUP
By Katie Nartonis
By Katie Nartonis
La Matadora
Joshua Tree
Through May 5th, “Idol/Idle/Idyll Worship” features the work of Dianne Bennett, Jill Emery, Michael Page, Tamara Page, and Wendy Gadzuk. The show features the work of five artists working in various medium, capturing idyllic moments of the holy and mundane, the sacred and profane, using iconic imagery and humble materials.
On May 11th, La Matadora Gallery will celebrate its 7-year anniversary with its next-door neighbor Beauty Bubble Hair Museum with an 80s MTV karaoke party from 6-9pm. Also opening, is the “Fake Band Names” show (“Who cares about the music?! It’s all about the merch!”) with 17+ artists and designers, as well as “DEFILED: Part Six, “a continuing show of altered thrifted art in the back room of the gallery space.
La Matadora is located at 61857 Highway 62 in Joshua Tree. For more information, contact Colleena lamatadoragallery@gmail.com or IG: la.matadora.gallery
Photo credits: Beth Allen “Sand Witch” in Fake Band
Names show. La Matadora
Space Truckin
Yucca Valley
On May 18th, 5-9pm, Space Truckin gallery will be hosting its second annual, “Put a Joshua Tree on It” art show. The exhibit will include the work of over 100 artists, all showing art featuring our iconic desert tree. The gallery encourages the “wacky, weird, funny, shiny and spiky,” and organizers are excited to see everyone’s unique interpretation of the theme. The show promises to be a fresh look from new and returning artists on the subject of our beloved Joshua Tree.
Space Truckin is located at 55940 29 Palms Hwy suite 2, Yucca Valley, CA 92284.
Photo:
Juan Thorp’s work for Put a Joshua Tree On It show, Space Truckin Gallery
Compound YV
Yucca Valley
Open thru June 9th, the Yucca Valley based artist, Ethan Primason is featured in a show of metal sculpture “needles on the ocean floor.” The exhibit features pieces crafted from steel and the gallery notes are “focused on balance and weight as reflected in both material and compostion.” Primason describes his own approach to form as “influenced by a dedication to repetition, labor, and creatively surrendering to generative compulsion” – and the Primason notes that they are a natural progression from the daily work in his studio.
Compound YV is located at 55379 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. The Gallery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-5pm.
Photo:
Ethan Primason, Needles on the Ocean Floor Opening Reception, Compound YV
Hi-Desert Nature Museum
Yucca Valley
Through May 11th, “Metamorphosis: A Recycled Art Exhibition” is on view. The show features art created by Morongo Basin artists and tackles the idea of recycling and repurposing materials. The Museum notes that the artists work in “assemblage, fabric arts, mosaic, found art and more!”
The show is designed to encourage folks to rethink our throw away culture. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am – 5:00pm. More information at hidesertnaturemuseum.org
Hi- Desert Nature Museum is located at 57090 29 Palms Highway, Yucca Valley, CA 92284.
Hey There Projects!
Joshua Tree
Open through May 9th, “Void Solutions” features silk screen prints and other works by artist Nathaniel Russell. The show features a collection of over 70 of Russell’s prints – examples that have been pulled from the last 15 years of his art practice. The artist describes these works as an exploration of “graphic language of the poster or flier and how to advertise ideas of approaches rather than a product… As I was collecting the work for this exhibition, it began to function as a rough survey of my work in the print and poster medium, and I was able to see how the ideas and imagery fit together through the years.”
These very livable works convey a mix of a pleasing mid-century graphic feel with fresh modern imagery and text.
On May 11th, Hey There! projects will feature the work of Melissa Monroe and Adam Shrewsbury and their show runs thru June 6th.
HeyThere Projects is located at 61675 Twentynine Palms Highway, Joshua Tree, CA 92252.
Enchantment Valley
Morongo Valley
New Gallery Alert!
Matt Elson and his wife, Chakra Khan, are opening Enchantment Valley, an experiential art venue in Morongo Valley. The gallery will have a soft opening on May 5th and will undertake a fuller celebration and a grand opening in the Fall. More information is available on their website.
The gallery will feature Elson’s Infinity Boxes which are fun and playful artworks. The artist notes with the Voice that the Boxes “explore human perception and the psychology of social connection while providing opportunities of taking surreally beautiful photos of people.” Matt trained as a fine artist at Pratt Institute and after graduating in 1982 discovered the budding field of computer graphics which he worked in and explored for over 25 years before returning to making fine art. The Infinity Boxes evolved out of his experiences at Burning Man and fused his interests in physical experience, making art and exploring the psychology of perception. Elson noted in our chat that, “This will be the world’s largest collection of Infinity Boxes on exhibition. I’m excited to bring them all together in one place to allow people to deep dive and experience each other through them. This is your mind on mirrors!”
Enchantment Valley is located at 49700 Twentynine Palms Highway, Morongo Valley, CA 92256
Katie Nartonis is a writer, curator, film maker, and specialist in art and design. Her current exhibition (and documentary film) opened during 2024 Palm Springs Modernism Week: “Jack Rogers Hopkins: California Design Maverick” and is open through September 28th at the historic Sam Maloof Foundation. Look for her upcoming book, “Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream.”
