The Arts Notation: 02.2025

Our desert has once again opened its arms, welcoming both short- and long-term visitors. Many families who sought solace here in the wake of these tragedies have decided to stay longer, finding refuge in our shared sense of community.

Dear Desert Community,

Undoubtedly, 2025 has been intense so far. Whether we follow the news from within our desert bubble or beyond, it’s clear that humanity is experiencing profound turmoil worldwide. The recent fires in and around Los Angeles have left many families without homes, schools, and livelihoods. Many members of our community divide their time between Los Angeles and the desert, and we’ve heard firsthand that the city’s spirit remains strong—love and support have been pouring in from all directions.

Our desert has once again opened its arms, welcoming both short- and long-term visitors. Many families who sought solace here in the wake of these tragedies have decided to stay longer, finding refuge in our shared sense of community.

Two weeks ago marked the beginning of our spring semester at the Arts Academy, and we created a special enrollment option for displaced families, offering children access to our programs. I had the privilege of leading the first class of the new term and welcoming these families. Witnessing our desert children embrace their new friends was one of the most moving moments I have experienced in recent years—a moment I will never forget.

Following the close of our first exhibition of the year, Archives + Desert Dwellers, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all who attended the opening, as well as to our patrons, artists, and musicians who made the evening absolutely unforgettable.

We also launched our film screening series under the banner of Hi-Desert Film Institute! We are showing independent as well as iconic films every other Sunday at 4pm at the Blak Box Theater in Joshua Tree with Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound, announced by  film writer and film maker, Matthew Carron, and myself, a life long film enthusiast. We also have a couple of rare and exciting film screenings coming up with special guests – we will announce these over the coming weeks. 

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to announce our next opening the evening of February 8th, featuring the first-ever solo exhibition by Adam Villacin.

Adam’s work is a fusion of fine art and mixed media, skillfully used to comment on the music scene, pop culture, and celebrity personas. Through portraits, collages, handmade poster art, and underground zine aesthetics, he has crafted a fresh and compelling body of work—most of which has never been shown before.

We hope to see you at the opening on February 8th at 6:30 PM!

Many more workshops, lectures, and exhibitions are on the horizon, and we’ll be announcing them soon. While we won’t overpopulate your inbox, we encourage you to look out for our weekly and monthly emails to stay up to date with our events and news.

With warmth and gratitude,

Patricia Vernhes

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