Before the Coachella Valley History Museum moved their archives into a new building, the basement of the Smiley-Tyler adobe held a tantalizing stash of early desert paintings that had been donated to the museum over its 25 years in existence. The Indio Museum also has been given paintings by contemporary painters from the region. An assortment of these early and recent paintings will be for sale on Saturday, May 15th. Early artists included are Carl Bray, Margaret Hunter and Freda Marshall. Marshall, a friend of aviator Jacqueline Cochran, painted on date boxes and gave the young Carl Bray his first paints. Contemporary artists include Sunny Patton, Elliot Newton and Valerie Trozelle. 
The event is May 15th from 3 to 6 pm, with free admission. Bidding is at 4 pm. The art will be available for preview on May 14th. Info: (760) 342-6651. 82616 Miles Avenue, Indio, CA 92201. /www.coachellavalleymuseum.org
The painter Freda Marshall, left, with Jacqueline Cochran, George Marshall and Amelia Earhart. From the 2004 Periscope, a publication of the Coachella Valley Museum.