The La Quinta Arts Festival is halfway through its 4-day event March 11-14 so if you're in town for tbe prestigious tennis tournament at the Indian Wells Stadium, make a detour to sample delectable art in a stellar outdoor venue. Food vendors, this year wine from La Quinta's Old Town Cellar Wine Bar, and lots of unusual musicians.
The 28th annual event, ranked 8th among the nation's fine art festivals, is produced by the non-profit La Quinta Arts Foundation to raise money for elementary-school art education as well as college scholarships. Held at La Quinta's Civic Park, the lake-oriented venue showcases art on grassy verdure against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. 230 of the nation's best artists converged this year to display contemporary art spanning the artistic spectrum.
I dropped by for a late-afternoon visit this afternoon and snapped away happily at new and favorite artist booths.
Kevin Box is the artist behind les grandes feuilles (giant leaves) executed in aluminum and bronze. Stunning in size and scope, they beg to adorn the yard of a special residence.
Sumati Colpitts stands beside one of her larger ceramic creations—a lifelike cheetah—while admiring a living creation-in-the-works: a young Lab training to become a guide dog.
Sumati and Michael were inspired to create this prostrate feline by my very own indolent behemoth, Tully. Here is a photo of the original to compare. She perfectly captured my cat's insouciant attitude.
And, a wall-hanging head cast to boot.
View their website, Artful Ceramics
Featured artist, Kristin DeSantis, is depicted on this year's commemorative poster and T-shirts. Her large, vibrant metalic pieces are colorful and compelling.
Northern California jeweler John Biagiotti of Metamorphosis Jewelry Design Studio discusses his exquisite wares with clients. Two years ago he custom designed a replacement wedding ring—predicated on a square tourmaline—that he kindly buffed and repaired for my retrieval duriing the show.
His booth, showcasing imaginative one-of-a-kind rings, always draws an admiring crowd.
A favorite photographer, Darren Olson—all the way from chilly Minneapolis—dispays his color-saturated photos—Tuscany a favorite subject—to admiring patrons. I like the two hanging on the middle row, both of vine-strewn Italian buildings.
A perennial crowd favorite, Alan McNiel's red-splashed acrylic canvases depict collages of recongizable urban scenes and his favorite muse, Bert the chicken. The ubiquitous bird can be found in almost every painting. I haven't yet spotted him in the work to the left but he is visible in the second piece underneath the Chevron logo. A small portrait of the mop-topped bantam sits on the ground in front.
Notice the irreverent backdrops of Coke cans and Starbucks cups.
A third of the artists are new to the show this year. Seattle artists Andrew Carson and Shelly Corbett drew appreciative crowds to their towering kinetic sculptures of blown glass and metal.
I anticipate my return tomorrow for an all-day outing with my perennial art-fair companion Karen Ralke, coming in from LA to savor the pleasures of imaginative artists in a one-of-a-kind setting. We delight in discovering artists new to us, add some to our wish-list, and usually come away with some wonderful purchases.
Story Addition
Karen and I spent the entire day today, Saturday, basking in art and sunshine. Slurped moccha frappuccinos, chatted up artists, sat on the grass and fed the ducks, and eventually wended our way home contentedly at day's end.
Along the way, Karen purchased a new piece of art from Alan McNiel—he of Bert-the-chicken fame. Here she and the affable artist chat about which artwork she'll take home. She ultimately chose a colorful canine balancing a Milkbone on its nose which reminded her of her new Golden Retriever, Pippin.
So, I'll take this second opportunity to highlight more of this artist's city scenes. Alan happened to be the featured artist of last year's festival and I ended up buying the final 2009 T-shirt while leaving the show. Guess whose distinctive visage graces the back?
Today's show highlight was spying the booth of husband-wife team Naomi and Scott Schoenherr sporting their unique ceramic creations. The Laguna Beach duo debuted four years ago at the La Quinta Arts Festival and I immediately added them to my wish list.
The artists' whimsical, smile-inducing depictions of fancy-free couples in iconic vehicles—Porsches, Corvettes, VWs, Nashes—are irresistable. Their colorful booth beckons and few resist. I think the deliriously happy dogs, cats and horses invited along for the ride sealed the deal for me long ago.
A new piece, When Squirrels Attack, depicts a top-down Woody festooned with the furry creatures. The inspiration derived from an alarming encounter with fearless squirrels during an otherwise inoccuous nature visit.
View their website, Full Moon Clay Co.
Another wonderful show and we eagerly await next year's pleasures.
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