Spaghetti Western’s, “Saloon Salon”
By now most High Desert residents and visitors have eaten at (or at least heard of) Spaghetti Western Saloon in Morongo Valley. In its first year of existence it’s become known as a premier eatery, as well as a fabulous music venue in the Morongo Basin.
What some have been missing is that, along with dining and live music, one can also see the work of iconic desert artists in Spaghetti Western’s “Saloon Salon.” The Salon is an intriguing gallery space that has new exhibits every two months. So far, there have been eight shows featuring eleven artists, working in a variety of media ranging from paintings and photographs to rust and nails.
The gallery space is in keeping with the community-minded spirit of owners, Jasmine Tommaso and Lorenzo Grassi. But since running a new restaurant and music venue can be all-consuming, they enlisted the help of local residents Timothy and Judy Hearsum to organize and curate the Salon.
Timothy Hearsum
Timothy Hearsum
Timothy’s background as a Curator at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, plus the couple’s involvement in the art and music scenes, made them a good choice for this task. Timothy was an active member of Joshua Tree Art Gallery for several years and both Timothy and Judy serve on the Board for the Joshua Tree Highlands Artist Residency. They had also hosted house concerts (prepandemic) at which Jasmine and Lorenzo were frequent performers.
To help establish gallery procedures, Timothy had the first official show in February-March 2023. While he is mostly known for the large-scale photographs he showed then, he is also a superb watercolorist and will present pieces of his watercolor work in the gallery throughout May-June 2024.
Hearsum has been a High Desert resident since 2015 and, while this is the first exhibition featuring his watercolors, his photographic work is known internationally through numerous exhibits, public, private and corporate collections and Getty Images. He has also published several books.
Exhibiting along with Hearsum is artist Joanna Fodczuk-Garcia. Originally from Poland, Fodczuk has exhibited extensively in the U.S., Poland, Germany, Mexico and South Korea and has lived in the High Desert since 2014. She and her husband, singer/songwriter/guitarist Joe ‹City› Garcia (Urban Desert Cabaret), were drawn into the vibrant desert scene after her solo exhibition at Joshua Tree›s Beatnik Lounge in November of 2013. A fierce abstract painter in oil, acrylic and watercolor, Fodczuk explores shape, light and color with a raw abandon. Her art reflects a deep connection with the arid magic of the high desert landscape.
Joanna Fodczuk-Garcia
Joanna Fodczuk-Garcia
The show is titled “With Water.” Both artists rely on the delicate usage of water in their process, allowing water and paint to reveal the terrain of their work. They bear witness to their art as it happens, interrupting as little as possible.
An artists’ reception will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 5 – 7 p.m. in the Saloon Salon. Following the reception from 7 – 9 p.m. there will be live music on the Spaghetti Western Stage from Urban Desert Cabaret—Joe ‘City’ Garcia, along with the musical wizardry of Bobby Furgo and Gar Robertson.
“With Water” runs from May 2-June 23 and can be viewed anytime during regular restaurant hours (Thursdays-Sundays 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.) Come for the art, stay for dinner and music – all at Spaghetti Western Saloon, 50048 29 Palms Highway, Morongo Valley.
