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Coachella Celebrates Warhol in the Park

Last leg of four-city tour engages children and the arts.

Kelley Huskey Current Digital, Social Scene

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Young artist Milani Mastt has a real eye for art during Warhol in the Park on May 6 in Coachella.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY LORETTA VLACH

Under the white tents, some creative and artistic minds were busy at work. Some stood on tiptoes with their red aprons touching the grass.

Little artists (and some big) painted onto images of pop culture artist Andy Warhol’s famous pieces, such as Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s tomato soup can as part of Warhol in the Park on May 6 at Veteran’s Park in Coachella. Others drew and painted their own images of rainbows, Pac-Man, the Mexican flag, and hearts — lots and lots of hearts. Some colored outside the lines while others were careful and meticulous, taking their time and choosing their paint colors methodically.

Old Town La Quinta Artisan Studios, in partnership with Palm Springs Art Museum, provided children with a free painting workshop with supplied paints, brushes, artist aprons, and painting workbooks.

This was the fourth Warhol in the Park event to take place starting in March at Fashion Week El Paseo in Palm Desert, followed by stops at the Palm Springs Art Museum and Old Town Artisan Studios in La Quinta. The last leg of the four-city tour took place during Suavecito Sunday in Coachella, a free family-friendly event every Sunday in May featuring live music, car show, food, and local vendors.

At the park, children enjoyed having their faces painted while others burned off energy in bounce houses or with hula hoops. Puppies, scooters, and laughing children whizzed by. More than 30 bold and colorful lowrider cars and trucks stood out around the perimeter of the park, while pop-up food tents provided tacos, pizza, aguas frescas, and ice cream with chamoy.

The park became a living poster board of the artwork created by the children as members of Old Town La Quinta Artisan Studios built colorful walls by stapling the paintings all around. All of the participants received a free family pass to the Palm Springs Art Museum where the exhibition: Andy Warhol: Prints from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation is on view through May 28.

Warhol In The Park was made possible by Title Sponsor El Paseo Jewelers, Presenting Sponsor Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, Arts In Education Sponsor Palm Springs Art Museum, and Education Sponsors Old Town Artisan Studios, The City of Palm Desert, CODA Gallery, The Rowan Palm Springs, and California Desert Arts Council. Warhol in the Park is a Palm Springs Life event.