Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo at the Oasis of Mara

Jul 11, 2018

3 min read

The Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition is one of the hi-desert's newest annual events, but it is rapidly evolving into one of the main arts events of the area. The Art Expo is held in and around the historic Oasis of Mara, in Twentynine Palms, every September. The Art Expo includes a juried art exhibition, an opening reception and awards, an art market, artist booths, art classes, oasis nature walks, historical lectures and exhibitions, live music, microbrews, culinary delights, and more.

The juried art exhibition, which runs for the month of September at the 29 Palms Art Gallery, features the work of national and international artists inspired by Joshua Tree National Park. The gallery hosts a gala reception during the Art Expo, with an awards presentation.

The 2018 Joshua Tree National Park Art Exposition is scheduled for September 15-16. A total of 310 images of artwork were submitted by 121 artists from California, the U.S., and abroad. The jury selected 58 artists and representative artwork for this year's Art Expo show, with the artwork depicting or inspired by Joshua Tree National Park or its cultural history.

Locally, Twentynine Palms artists selected for the show are Chuck Caplinger, Elisabeth Pollnow, Mark Spangenberg, and photographers Lisa Manifold and Thien Weslie.

Yucca Valley artists in this year’s exhibition are Hannah Campbell, John Henson, Deane Locke, Dallas Rayburn, Travis Usher, and photographers David Clements, Daniel Lee, Terrence Mayes, and Marjorie Trandem.

Joshua Tree artists include Raini Armstrong, Douglas Blanc, Marcia Geiger, Alane Levinsohn, and photographers Doug Dolde, Marilyn McFarlin, Kathy Miller, Mitch Miller, Kevin Powell, and Jim Smart.

Morongo Valley artists are Kristin Czech and Tami Wood.

Artists from the low desert are Robert Miramontes of Desert Hot Springs and Larry Hemmerich of Palm Springs.

Other California artists are: Robert Arnett of Glendora (and Twentynine Palms); Jane Culp of Anza; Lee Edwards of Duarte; Eric Fei Guan of Walnut; Michael E. Gordon of Lakewood; Kai Gradert of Emeryville; Paul Gronner of Los Angeles; James Hammons of Sugarloaf; Terry Houseworth of Tustin; Elise Hunt of Laguna Niguel; Caroline PM Jones of Culver City; Kathy Kleinsteiber of San Jose; Lezlie Kussin of Granada Hills; Angel LaCanfora of Torrance; Joan Lamensdorf of Pasadena; Julia Lippincott of San Diego; Chip Morton of Menifee; Brandon O’Neil of North Hollywood; Miroslav Peric of Sherman Oaks; Karchi Perlmann of Los Angeles; Alana Rios of Oakland; Mark Robben of Rancho Palos Verdes; W Jason Situ of El Monte; Jeff Skelly of Sunland; Kathleen Strukoff of San Juan Capistrano; Donna Todd of Valley Glen; and Brice Weaver of Lakeside.

Out-of-state artists selected were: Chin J. Banham of Las Vegas, Nevada; Lester Blum of New York City; and Naomi Brown of Queen Creek, Arizona.

The artwork of Naomi Brown

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One piece of art from each of the 58 artists will be displayed in the juried exhibition at the historic 29 Palms Art Gallery from September 1 to 30. The public is invited to a gala awards reception at the gallery on Saturday, September 15, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Art Expo events include "Early Bird" nature walks with 29 Palms Inn naturalist Pat Flanagan, the recipient of the prestigious 2017 Minerva Hoyt Conservation Award; ranger talks at Joshua Tree National Park's Oasis Visitor Center at the eastern end of the Oasis of Mara; the juried art exhibition at the 29 Palms Art Gallery, with the gala reception and awards ceremony on Saturday evening; an art market on the lawn of the 29 Palms Inn at the Oasis of Mara; interactive art workshops including drawing, watercolor painting, and collage (led by the 29 Palms Art Gallery, the Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, and Chaparral Artists; live music by the Luminators, Bev and Bill, Bob Garcia, and Phil Rosenberg of Rags & Bones; and a special exhibit of the artwork of iconic desert landscape painter John Hilton, in the event tent at the 29 Palms Inn. All Art Expo events are free.

Make your plans for an incredible weekend of art, music, food, and fun, at the Oasis of Mara, in Twentynine Palms, California.

Stay in the Historic Inns of Twentynine Palms:

The 29 Palms Inn

The Campbell House