Rancho Mirage held its 10h annual Art Affaire this weekend, November 13 & 14, in Whitewater Park, an intimate verdant venue with grassy swales and mountain vistas.
Public entry is free as is the bottled water; the only concession to the recession is the smaller bottle size.
About 100 selected artists set up shop in the park and the ambiance is low-key. The local police and fire department bring their vehicles for the children to ogle. Many event-goers bring their dogs and booths ringing the stage offer quality food, wine and beer.
Today's jazz headliner was Eric Darius, a return artist who played to a packed, appreciative audience. The smooth jazz artist released a new CD this year, On a Mission. Check out his website for more information.
Vicki Banks, a favorite of mine, is an LA sculptress who conjures creatures from bronze.
Employing worn object trouvees such as wheels, chimney pots and tool handles as eye-catching bases, she'll then incorporate a raven or roadrunner to create a one-of-a-kind piece. Today's piece de resistance was a huge vulture named Grace in full wing stretch. I didn't capture her photo but I did manage a shot of this huge iguana sunning himself atop one of Vicki's finds.
She's especially adept at fountains—sometimes using very old stone basins, and attendees are always fascinated by the curious raven perched atop cooling his toes.
Here's one of her miniature pieces, a cocky roadrunner—regular feeders chez nous—now gracing my own home.
Check out some of her inspired creations at Vulture Sculpture.
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