Intersect Palm Springs will not be a traditional art fair. Instead, it will be an immersiveart event with two curated exhibition spaces. These spaces will educate viewers about our local environment as well as Southern California history.
More than 50 galleries from 35 cities will participate in this event, which will take place February 10-13 at Palm Springs Convention Center. There will also be a sculpture garden featuring large-scale work.
CREATE Center for the Arts and Desert Open Studios, The Elemental, The Robert Cumming Archive, and CREATE Center for the Arts will all be represented in non-profit spaces at the fair. Cumming, a Desert Hot Springs contemporary photographer, will also be honored. Who died in December?. The event is also supported by the Palm Springs Art Museum.
“It has the beginnings of what I want it to have.Building up the community and supporting local galleries, nonprofits and institutions,”Managing Director BeccaHoffman told The Desert Sun during a recent phone interview.
There is something for everyone
The “Good Vibrations” exhibit shows a detailed view of geometric abstraction and its progression through Southern California design. It also includes elements of light and color. Some of the featured artists include Palm Springs artistJim Isermann,Peter Lodato and Yunhee Min, Knowledge Bennett, and many more. LA Weekly Arts Editor Shana Dys Dambrot and Hunter Drohojowska – Philp are the co-curators.
The Zzyzx Redux exhibition focuses on desert life and the effects of commerce and people on local communities and the environment. It will feature artworks created by local artists Ryan CampbellGerald Clarke Sofia Enriquez, Carlos Ramirez, Phillip K. Smith IIIAili Schelltz, Kim Stringfellow, and many more. It was curated by Bernard Leibov (director of BoxoPROJECTS), a multi-program arts initiative that is based in Joshua Tree.
On February 12, Palm Springs Life Editor-in–Chief Steven Biller will moderate an informal panel discussion with Clarke Ramirez Stringfellow, Ramirez, and Ramirez to discuss the exhibit.
Campbell said that he was excited to see “reimaginings of Palm Springs art” after two years of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Campbell stated that this was the first time he’d seen an art fair reach out and say “Hey, we want your work. Because what you guys do talks about the landscape in our place.”
Zzyzx and its significance
The “Zzyzx Redux”exhibition refers toZzyzx, an unincorporated community in San Bernardino County, founded by radio evangelist and Methodist minister Curtis Howe Springerin 1944. He acquired a mining claim on 12,800 acres of federal land and built theZzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa.
He created imitation hot spas heated with a boiler and a cross-shaped spa with mineral baths. According to an episode “Lost LA” by KCETSpringermined “very unique salts, and clay”, which had healing properties. The American Medical Association called Springer the King ofQuacks in 1969. However, the federal government reclaimed the land for them in 1974.
Zzyzx, now managed by California State university and known as The Desert Studies Center, is now under the control of California State University.
Ramirez revealed to The Desert Sun that his piece for “Zzyzx Redux,””Desert Mirage and the In Between,” was inspired by the resort and features the head of Medusa (one of the three monstrous Gorgons from Greek mythology).
“It reminded of Greek mythology and how people used go there to escape to this isolated place but it was abandoned for so many years.” Ramirez explained that the research center brought it back to life.
The exhibit “The Crawler”, featuring a Campbell-made steel spider-shaped sculpture, speaks to the vastness and beauty of the desert. The Cathedral City artist creates line segment paintings on a variety surfaces, including wood panels and corrugated metal to canvas and linen. However, The Desert Sunhis sculptures speak more to the geography and landscape of desert.
Campbell stated, “My sculpture talks to my painting in the repetitive nature of geometric aspects and it was a means for me to take my paintings and present them in a three-dimensional object without having to hold myself to the idea that a two-dimensional surface.”
One of Intersect’s three annual events
The Palm Springs event was previously known as Art Palm Springs. The three fairs are a collaboration of event industry veterans Tim und Dirk von Gal.
The brothers purchased Tim von Gal’s former company Urban Expositions from Clarion in 2015. In 2015, they launched Intersect. In 2020, Intersect repurchased the events.
The festivals were rebranded right before the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. Intersect Aspen was presented virtually andHoffman said it received over 100,000 page views andthe Chicago eventhad over 300,000, which successfullyestablished the brand without financial risks.In 2021, the company presented another virtual event called Intersect 21 with 21 international galleries.
Hoffman stated that they didn’t know what was going on because people were getting vaccinated. Hoffman also said that permission was granted to host an event. “It demonstrated that technology can connect artists and the world in a beautiful way.”
Intersect Aspen was reintroduced as an in-person event in August. The Chicago event was postponed because of the increase in COVID-19 cases. Since then, the organization has been focusing on Intersect Palm Springs as well as its two curatorial projects.
Hoffman stated, “The purpose of (Good Vibrations”) and “Zzyzx Redux”) is from my perspective, I want to be this mix of commerce, connection. education and engagement.” Hoffman stated that having those shows along with our galleries will create an inviting, warm environment.
Brian Blueskye, a Desert Sun reporter, covers arts and entertainment. Hecan be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @bblueskye.
