Desert X Open Now, Get The Map

Desert X 2021 opens today through May 16, 2021 First art experience in the region since widespread lockdowns  Newly-commissioned works by thirteen artists from eight countries explore the desert as both a place and idea, looking deeper at ideas essential to the sustenance of our future and identity and the histories, realities and possibilities of the Coachella Valley and its many communities. Now on view, free and open to the public.

Riverside County set to move to red tier Tuesday

Palm Springs, Calif., March 12, 2021 – Desert X, the recurring site-specific, international art exhibition, opens its third edition today through May 16, 2021 at site across the Coachella Valley. Free, safe and open to all, Desert X 2021 is among the first art experiences in the region since widespread lockdowns.  Curated by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and Co-Curator César García-Alvarez, the exhibition will activate the desert landscape through thirteen newly-commissioned installations by a diverse roster of artists from eight countries.  Artists include: Zahrah Alghamdi (born 1977, Al Bahah, Saudi Arabia, based in Jeddah) Ghada Amer (born 1963, Cairo, Egypt, based in New York) Felipe Baeza (born 1987, Guanajuato, Mexico, based in New York) Judy Chicago (born 1939, Chicago, US. based in Belen, New Mexico) Serge Attukwei Clottey (born 1985, Accra, Ghana, based in Accra) Nicholas Galanin (born 1979, Sitka, Alaska, US, based in Sitka) Alicja Kwade (born 1979, Katowice, Poland, based in Berlin) Oscar Murillo (born 1986, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, based in various locations) Christopher Myers (born 1974, New York, US, based in New York) Eduardo Sarabia (born 1976, Los Angeles, US, based in Guadalajara, Mexico) Xaviera Simmons (born 1974, New York, US based in New York) Kim Stringfellow (born 1963, San Mateo, CA, US, based in Joshua Tree) Vivian Suter (born 1949, Buenos Aires, Argentina, based in Panajachel, Guatemala) Full descriptions and installation images of the 2021 artists’ projects are now available here, and a site map, opening dates and hours for each project can be found at desertx.org.

The exhibition explores the desert as both a place and idea, acknowledging the histories, realities and possibilities of people those who reside in the Coachella Valley and the political, social, and cultural contexts that shape their stories. Imagining the landscape as both an amalgamation of natural forms and a terrain forged by people, the 2021 edition refuses the notion of the desert as homogenous entity. Newly-commissioned works address themes of land rights and ownership, the desert as border, migration, water exploitation, social justice, racial narratives of the west, the gendered landscape and the role of women and young people and the creation of new dialogues between regional and global desert experiences.

In an effort to make the exhibition and the ideas and conversations provoked by it available to the widest possible audience, Desert X 2021 will present Currents, a robust series of public and education programs inspired by the desert’s layered geological forms and the forces that shape deserts and the immediacy of this moment. The programs will amplify the ideas and questions raised in the exhibition. Through Virtual Gatherings, Hybrid Programs, and Educational Resources, the public programming is grounded in the pasts, presents, and futures of both the Coachella Valley and communities around the globe that are shaped by shared circumstances. A dedicated Desert X 2021 film, produced by Desert X and presenting sponsor Richard Mille, will be released globally across multiple platforms. Premiere date to be announced.

EXPERIENCE THE EXHIBITION Desert X Visitor Guide and Map  A special Desert X printed program available at the Desert X Hub at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club will contain up-to-date information on how to experience the exhibition and its public and education programs safely in compliance with CDC, State and County regulations. The map of the 2021 installations can also be found online at desertx.org and via the Desert X 2021 app. COVID-19 Safety The health and safety of Desert X visitors, artists, employees, volunteers, and community is our priority. Please visit desertx.org for information on how to experience Desert X safely. Leave No Trace Desert X encourages visitors to follow official Leave No Trace guidelines. Plan ahead and prepare, walk on designated paths, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, respect wildlife, don’t smoke, and be considerate of other visitors. Desert X Hub at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club  701 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs Stop by to pick up your Desert X 2021 guide, map of artist installations and visitor information. Opening Hours: Thursday, March 11 – Sunday, March 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit desertx.org for opening hours during the run of the exhibition.  Guided and docent-led tours For guided tours and accommodations throughout the duration of the exhibition, please contact info@desertx.org. Docents are available to provide information at most sites every Saturday between March 12 and May 16, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon. Pop-In Store – Super Number One x DX 21  463 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Stop by for Desert X swag, made with Windmill City Printing and other local companies. Visit super-number-one.com for hours. The North Face X Gucci Pit Stop 327 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs In celebration of the recent collaboration between Gucci and The North Face, the Pit Stop will feature a unique geodesic dome welcoming visitors to Desert X. The installation uses different materials to recall the temporary and transient nature of landscapes, travel, and exploration. For further information and to plan your visit, go to desertx.org. Desert X 2021 is funded by its board of directors and an extraordinary group of individuals, foundations, and sponsors.

Riverside County set to move to red tier Tuesday

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