In the spirit of the early desert painters, Jim Trolinger and a band of talented friends are taking on the California deserts one by one. They’ve twice journeyed to Death Valley, and they descended on Joshua Tree in March. You can see the results of their three day JT paint-out this Saturday at Location 1980 gallery in Costa Mesa. The desert show is up through the end of the month.
Trolinger’s sojourns are marked by cooperation and experimentation. “This is not a class,” he tells participants. “There are no requirements, no tests, and you can paint whatever and wherever excites you.”
Location 1980 co-owner Jesse Fortune was among the Joshua Tree painters. He brings traces of urban graffiti, athleticism and performance to the venerable art of desert painting. A book on the JT trip accompanies the show.
Reception 2-6 pm, Saturday, May 17, 2014
Volunteer this Summer at the Borrego Art Institute
The Borrego Art Institute is looking for volunteers to work in the gallery Thursdays and Fridays in June, and Fridays and Saturdays, July through September. Get involved with a stylish art gallery in one of the last best places in the California desert. For information, contact director Kay Levie: borregoartinstitute@gmail.com
http://www.borregoartinstitute.org
Summer Show and Sale at the BAI Gallery on Christmas Circle
Agnes’ Spirit Guide Comes Home
Agnes Pelton painted Transcendental Being in her Cathedral City home (68-680 F Street) in 1934, a year when she was actively seeking guides and spirits. 
The home’s current owners, Peter Palladino and Simeon Den, never imagined this formidable presence would return to the house, but Pasadena art dealer and Pelton expert Mike Kelley recognized that the painting belonged in Agnes’ home. He worked it out so The Being again casts a cool eye from a perch above Agnes’ fireplace.
See: http://www.agnespeltonsociety.com/
New Art Colony Gallery for Morongo
The Art Colony of Morongo Valley is a new hangout beneath the dreamy cottonwoods of the Morongo Preserve. While the gallery is new, the group itself celebrates 50 years in 2014. Stop by, look up in the trees for a brown crested flycatcher–and while you’re at it admire the Morongo mural painted as a collective effort by colony members.
This month (May, 2014) the gallery features painter JoAnn Petersen and her husband, Jim, who makes her frames.
The hours are Wednesday and Saturday, 8-4:30, and Sunday 12-4. President Dennis Hofelich says it’s a good idea to call in case hours change. You can reach him at (760) 464-1245.
www.artcolonyofmorongovalley.com
Western Women Artists in San Diego
The Women Artists of the West are exhibiting for the first time at the Women’s Museum of California in San Diego. The national arts group started in Norco, California, in 1971 and had their very first group show in Palm Springs. Over the years they’ve broadened their scope to include many genres, but you’ll still see plenty of horses, rivers and cowboys at this exhibit–through May 31st, 2014.
http://womensmuseumca.org/exhibit/women-artists-west-annual-membership-exhibition
