Here are more rarely seen images from Carl Bray’s life, courtesy of his son, Patrick Bray. An exhibit of Carl’s final paintings just opened at the The Historical Society of Palm Desert. The opening reception is Saturday, October 5, 2013, from 11 am to 1 pm. For information, see www.hspd.org.
The future gladiator of Indian Wells
Luella and Carl
Painting in the canyons, 1930s
Inside the Indian Wells gallery
Carl holding his “Carl Bray Day” Proclamation from the City of Indian Wells
Luella and Carl Bray and family
Just great!
He liked to paint smoke trees too. Neat.
Our family was very close with Mr. Bray. We purchased much of his artwork. Particularly my father – Joseph L. Darr M.D. Also, much of his artwork was on display and sale at my fathers Eye Institutes. It was a beautiful meld of Western Furniture and interior accessories- with Carl’s paintings bringing it all to Life! Ranging in sizes from very small 3×4″ canvases to 5×6′ ft. and larger. And remember well, stopping in to Carls Studio off of HWY 111, in Indian Wells Ca., very often. Carl, was a pleasant soft spoken gentleman- in a very personal and relaxed environment. As was his attire! The smell of his oil paints, the smell of the old wooden floors, walls etc- not forgotten. Carl was an integral fixture of the Coachella Valley, particularly Indian Wells. He was part of the charm and magic that lured many would be desertarians. It was always pleasant to see the studio and his famous paint tray sign and brush hanging just outside of his front door off of the highway. Those of us surviving family members each own a number of his earlier works. Grateful to have them. Mine are still displayed throughout my home, as they always have been. Thank you for the memories and wonderful times. I cherish those early memories of the desert in its truest form. Quaint – small- towns, date groves and citrus combined, lined the highway. There were Date Shops in each little city along the way through the corridor from Coachella to Palm Springs. All along the “old” 111~ two lanes – one either way- with no curbing. Just blacktop straight off into the sand, which generally overlapped the blacktop from frequent and severe sand storms. So the road way was literally only big enough for the width of your car- and not much room for error. Once often the sand it was almost a guarantee that you would be stuck, at least temporarily. Nights were filled with the warm scent of oranges and tangerines and grapefruit blossoms! In the quiet neighborhood streets were lined with multi colored spotlights staked to the base of each palm tree- lighting it from his midsection to the top and all of its leaves fanning out. What wonderful memories of an era which has drifted out with the sand. I’m very fond of the earliest residents here. I began my stay in 1972, with my family. A unique and original breed of American peoples.
Best,
Jay Darr
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Thanks for the vivid 3-D memories, Jay! I love the detail about multi-colored spotlights at the base of the palm trees. Homeowners still light their palms these days, but never in multi-colors.
Jay – your recollections are so vivid they come to life! You should write about this in detail.