2007 Indian Wells Arts Festival Poster, “The Gate Keeper at the Garden,”Presides Over Event at Tennis Garden March 30 – April 1
The Gate Keeper named herself,” says artist Kristin DeSantis, whose mystical metalwork of a red-haired woman reposing on scrolls is the festival commemorative print for the 2007 Indian Wells Arts Festival, March 30-April 1.
“After I had finished the piece, I looked at her and saw Eve — the giver of life — and Mother Earth. She rests in front of the gates (the scroll work) of the garden and watches over all living things,” DeSantis explains.
The original 32” x 38” piece is made from aluminum, cut with torches, ground, sanded, and layered with transparent dyes, and then polished, giving it iridescence.
Glistening with brilliant colors — the red sun rising from the blue ocean, white for the new untouched day, and green for life itself — The Gate Keeper at the Garden presides over the fifth annual Indian Wells Arts Festival — The Place To Be!™, held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Taking place outdoors on the grass garden plaza, DeSantis will be joined by some 200 — award-winning artists from across the United States to demonstrate and present their original works of art in an outdoor marketplace. Their canopies create a unique artisan village with thousands of handmade and one-of-a-kind artworks for sale.
Selected by jury process, artists will explain and demonstrate their various techniques: metal and stone sculpture, glass blowing, acrylic, oil, and watercolor, pottery, weaving, jewelry, textiles, photography, and handcrafted wares.
“Art Beyond the Visual: An Exhibit to Touch!,” sponsored in part by Palm Springs Life, is a unique display featuring the work of Idyllwild artist Judith K. Lepuschitz. Her Sight-Seeing series integrates the Braille alphabet into acrylic-on-canvas paintings. Constructed of acrylic and soldered onto copperplates, the dots form dynamic abstract patterns that convey in a word or two the essence of each painting as experienced by the artist. Viewers are encouraged to touch and “read” the paintings, as well as look at them.
Stone sculptor David Falossi of Yucca Valley, plans to haul more than a ton of Italian limestone to the festival and work on it each day to show people what it really takes to be a “rock star.” He plans to complete and sell the monumental piece at the event.
Arizona artist Bruce Freund will fire up his portable glass-blowing furnace daily to demonstrate to the public the art he has been creating for the past 20 years. Known for his versatility and technique of blending a rainbow of colors, Freund makes the majority of his glass pieces unassisted.
Staged on the court and a perfect match is the JazzTrax Desert Festival, an Art Good production, showcasing the best of international smooth jazz stars such as Mindi Abair, Candy Dulfer, Ray Parker Jr., Marion Meadows, and Gregg Karukas. Tickets for the three-day jazz festival are on sale at www.jazztrax.com or by calling (866)Trax-Tix [(866)872-9849]. JazzTrax tickets include admission to the Indian Wells Arts Festival.
To the mix, add a Gourmet Marketplace, wine and champagne, a beer garden, and refreshments while enjoying live musical entertainment featuring the group Incendio performing Latin guitar world fusion.
On Saturday will be the second annual Chef Masterpieces, presented by the Indian Wells Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are available through www.indianwellschamber.com or by calling (760)360-2990.
In addition to great art, food, and music, children’s activities include sidewalk chalk drawing, S.C.R.A.P. Gallery art projects using recycled elements, and Book Factory and Adopt A Duck presented by the Children’s Discovery Museum.
Festival producer Dianne Funk says her goal is to create an exciting format to “promote both celebrated and emerging artists, create a regional cultural event, and to incorporate the creative synergy of local organizations by inviting them to utilize the venue.” Selected charities receive donations to their art programs and scholarships for the time they spend at the event as participating partners.
The festival attracts thousands of art lovers, from serious buyers and collectors to the curious. Its latest elements raise the event to a full-fledged festival, making the Indian Wells Arts Festival “The Place to Be!”™
The arts festival is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Gates close at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $8; children 12 and under are admitted free. General parking is free, and valet parking will be available. The venue is handicapped-accessible and allows guide dogs only. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is located on Miles Avenue in Indian Wells between Highway 111 and Washington Street.
For recorded information call, (760) 346-0042. Visit online at www.iwaf.net.