From must-see art exhibits and hands-on experiences, to signature events like the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition and Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours, 29 Palms is your destination for art this fall!
The Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo is back for another year! Now in its 9th year, the Art Expo is presented at the historic Oasis of Mara in Twentynine Palms. The annual event presents an impressive juried exhibition of art inspired by the park from November 4th through November 28th. This year, more than 50 artists were selected from all over California and across the globe. They will all have their pieces on display for all to see during the month-long exhibition. Along with the Art Expo, visitors will have the chance to explore more of what the local arts and culture scene has to offer during the first weekend on Saturday, November 6th. From hands-on classes at the 29 Palms Art Gallery to Oasis of Mara walks with Ranger Ian Chadwick, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Celebrating its 20th year, the Hwy 62 Open Studio Art Tours has become one of the “can’t miss” events of the fall season. The annual multi-disciplinary desert-wide self-guided art tour spans across the 8 desert communities in the Morongo Basin area. With over 165 artists inviting visitors into their studios, this is the perfect opportunity to see how the magic happens. The concept of open studio art tours is to take eventgoers on a journey through the desert environment these artists call home. They have chosen a place like no other to create their own masterpieces. Taking place over three weekends in October, you will have the chance to explore the many studios open during the annual event. Don’t miss out on this incredible event only happening October 9th/10th, 16th/17th, and 23rd/24th.
Each month, the 29 Palms Art Gallery features regional artists as well as a group show from its guild members. From September 30th through October 24th, be sure to check out what this month’s featured artists are presenting in a variety of mediums. Artist Larry Hemmerich’s soft pastels in his show titled “This Way My Friend” capture the desert in exquisite detail showing why he was juried into the Pastel Society of the Southwest as well as the prestigious Pastel Society of America. Abstract expressionist Francesca “Cesca” Spoonhower of Yucca Valley will be showcasing “A Splash of Color” with her paintings. Sculptor Cher Townsend will present her show “What’s The Story?” with her whimsical clay sculptures. As always, the talented 29 Palms Artists’ Guild members will be showing a groups exhibition in the Pickering Room all month long.
One of Twentynine Palms’ newest galleries is having some fun this fall. Art-O-Motive Gallery is celebrating the season with FIVE weekends of Fall Art Days! Located at the corner of National Park Drive and Twentynine Palms Highway, this tire shop turned art gallery is a playground of metalwork and more from renowned local artists. They are inviting everyone to join them for their Fall Art Days this season as they welcome back the cooler weather and spotlight even more artists. From murals to sculptures and everything in between, Art-O-Motive is one of the many art destinations you will want to check out when you visit Twentynine Palms this season. They will be open October 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and November 13th for everyone to visit and explore their one-of-a-kind gallery.
The change in the season means it’s time for a change of scenery at the 29 Palms Visitor Center and Gallery. Presented by the Public Arts Advisory Committee (PAAC), Art in Public Places has a quarterly group exhibition featuring many of the area’s most talented artists. Beginning October 2nd, visitors will be able to view the new show titled “Clouds Rolling In” through January 7th, 2022. This show centers around the fall season in Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert region. Expressed through painting, photography, mixed media, and 3-dimensional artwork, this is one exhibition you will want to see when you visit Twentynine Palms.
Not only does Twentynine Palms have a great array of art events and new gallery openings happening this fall, but there are some wonderful classes and workshops with local artists happening as well! Gretchen Grunt, owner of the 29 Palms Creative Center and Gallery, is available for all your art class needs. Open by appointment only, the Creative Center is ready to welcome back kids and adults to let their creative geniuses flow. Gretchen has a long list of classes you can book for yourself, family, friends, everyone! From a Sip-N-Spin Pottery Party to a Kid’s Neon Painting Birthday Party, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the 29 Palms Creative Center and Gallery.
Having just celebrated their first anniversary, Perfectly Unique is gearing up for even more paint parties this season! With adult paint nights, kid paint nights, and crochet classes, Emily and her team will be keeping busy with all the fun they have in store. Not only do they have wonderful classes, but when you walk into their store you can see just how artistic they are with their gorgeous woodworking skills. They have everything you can imagine to brighten up your home or office space with their hand-crafted products.
Make Twentynine Palms your art destination this fall! There is so much to see and do when you visit our wonderful city. We cannot wait for you to discover why we love our artistic desert oasis we call home.
The City of 29 Palms is set to kick-off the busy fall festival season in the high desert this year, starting with the Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition at the historic Oasis of Mara this September 14-15! Hosted by the Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts, this two-day celebration of art, culture, and history of Joshua Tree National Park is centered around a juried art exhibition at the 29 Palms Art Gallery featuring painting, mixed media, sculpture and photography by artists from across the country, all of whom have been inspired by the national park! Art lovers won’t want to miss the outdoor art market and drop-in art demonstrations, or the Gala Awards Night at the 29 Palms Art Gallery!
Next up is the Night Sky Festival on Saturday, September 21, an action-packed day of celebration of Joshua Tree National Park’s night sky and its status as an International Dark Sky Park. This event is hosted by Sky’s The Limit Observatory in partnership with the Joshua Tree National Park Council for the Arts, Joshua Tree National Park, and the City of 29 Palms. From youth programs and astronomy lectures, to one epic star party with 20+ telescopes, Native American flute and night sky storytelling, night sky enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy this event!
If you haven’t yet heard the exciting news, the City of 29 Palms will be welcoming southern California’s largest yoga and sacred music festival to its new location at the Roadrunner Dunes golf course this September 25-30! Bhakti Fest features over 100 hours of music, 15 yoga classes and 20 workshops each day, with headliners that include Krishna Das, Mike Love, Dharma Mittra, Radhanath Swami, MC Yogi, Fannah Fi Allah, Saul David Raye, Sianna Sherman, Mas Vidal, Girish, Govind Das & Radha, Kia Miller, Dawn Cartwright, Ram Das (via video), Porangui, Mark Whitwell, plus many more to be announced in the coming weeks!
Be sure to book your accommodations in 29 Palms well ahead of time as September will be a busy month! Whether your lodging style is a hip vacation rental, historic inn/motel or national hotel we’ve got it all in 29 Palms!
