X Marks The Spot: Desert X Returns To Palm Springs

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Desert X, the biannual art installation in the desert, knits together the romance of a road trip with the excitement of a treasure hunt. 

Its second itineration, which runs from Saturday, February 9th through Sunday April 21st, expands its ambition. Underlining this year’s theme of exploration and expansion, it wraps the entirety of the Coachella Valley’s nine cities in its embrace, stretching fifty miles out towards the Salton Sea and even dipping into Mexico.

While a few of the installations will be familiar — Armando Lemera is building on his “Coachella Walls” piece and Norma Jeane’s Shybot, the autonomous vehicle, will once again be released into the desert — the nineteen site-specific installations and performances will unveil plenty of surprises. 

The roster of international contemporary artists includes Iván Argote, Steve Badgett & Chris Taylor, Nancy Baker Cahill, Cecilia Bengolea, Pia Camil, John Gerrard, Julian Hoeber, Jenny Holzer, Iman Issa, Mary Kelly, Armando Lerma, Eric N. Mack, Cinthia Marcelle, Postcommodity, Cara Romero, Sterling Ruby, Kathleen Ryan, Gary Simmons and Superflex.

In addition, Desert X has partnered with The Palm Springs Art Museum for an Ed Ruscha-curated show “Unsettled”. There will also be a series of Modernism Week events, including a conversation with Palm Springs Life arts editor Steven Biller and artists Jeffrey Gibson, Phillip K. Smith III, and Rob Pruitt on February 17th from 3-4 at the Annenberg Theater. For a full calendar of Desert X related events, click here

Visitors can choose to drive themselves (Pick up a map at one of the three Desert X Hubs — in Indio at 82713 Miles Avenue, in Palm Desert at 73660 El Paseo, or in Palm Springs at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, 701 E Palm Canyon Drive) or they can tour the exhibition by bus. Tickets for public bus tours at $75.00 are available every Saturday and Sunday at 9:00am and at 2:00pm and can be purchased here.

For more informations, click here