DESERT X 2021

 April 27, 2021

Every year in Coachella Valley, there are several Desert X art installations. They pop up from mid April to mid May, then disappear. This year there were 11 so we decided to see them all. They say art is in the eye of the beholder, but, let me say, this was not art as far as these two beholders think. 

What Lies Behind These Walls by Zahrah Alghamdi from Saudi Arabia. Looks like a lot of rugs stacked up

ParaPivot by Alicja Kwade from Poland. The white styrofoam represents clouds in the sky. To get to it we had to climb a very steep hill. At first, we weren't going to do it, but we met some ladies at another Desert X and they said it was the most fun. After seeing it, we wondered why they thought that. We were there at 9: 30 to start the climb, but, it was already 90 degrees.

Wishing Well by Serge Attukwei Clottey from Ghana.  This was made from yellow plastic jerrycans that were used to carry water in Africa

The Art of Taming Horses by Christoper Meyers from New York. This was a collection of  6 horses along the road so only took pictures of a few. This was one of two  that we really liked. These horses are telling the story of 2 ranchers that eventually founded Palm Springs

Never Forget by Nicholas Galanin from Sitka, Alaska. He is a Tlingit and Unangax artist. Alot of the Coachella valley is on Indian Land

Because You Know Ultimately We Will Band a Milita by Xaviera Simmons from New York. This was 6 billboards along Gene Autry Drive.  Being on a busy road made it hard to read the signs

Women's Qualities by Ghana Amer from Egypt. The words are on the ground in metal containers so hard to take a picture of the whole installation. The words are all in circle-Resilient, Strong, Nurturing, Loving, beautiful, Determined and Caring. We really liked this installation. It was on the grounds of Sunnyland, a Presidential Retreat that was used by any Presidents. It is a beautiful place

I included this picture of the grounds because it's amazing to us how the water is perfectly level and never runs over. 

Jackrabbit Homestead by Kim Stringfellow from California. This was typical of a 1950's proletariat kit home. There was a video that played the experiences of Catherine  Venn Peterson's homesteading experience in a house like this. It is 112 sq ft.

The Passenger by Eduardo Sarabia from Mexico. The walls are made from petates, traditional rugs made from palm fibers. It is a maze 

Now that you have seen most of them, you can decide for yourself.  All of these artists are very talented, just not our cup of tea. The ones we liked  are The Women's Qualities and The Art of Taming Horses