Local News for Desert Sculptor

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I was recently interviewed by this local newspaper in the desert two hours outside of Los Angeles at my studio in the outskirts of Palm Springs about a recent commission of four Sculptures for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in Norway. It is a good feeling to be part of the local small town news as well as International publications.

When I moved to the Desert in 1994 from Los Angeles the Art Scene out here was almost non-existing. Since 1994 in the Local town of Palm Desert near by has had Galleries sprouting up by the dozens and artists such as Ed Moses and Andrea Zittel have staked claims in the near by high desert of Joshua Tree.

All this goes to show where artist move as I did 15 years ago when there was almost no art scene heare in the desert, the Galleries and Boutiques are close to follow.

I saw this happen in Venice Beach where I had my first studio in 1968 and again witnest again on the Miracle Mile on Wilshire Blvd where I had my second studio for dirt cheap for 3 years when Ace Gallery moved into it's 30,000 square foot second floor in The Desmond's building causing my rent to go sky high.

I latter moved to my next L.A Studio in Downtown Los Angeles to witness the same thing, rents going sky high as developers built lofts, forcing me into South Central Los Angeles for a 6 years run before leaving for the Desert outside of Palm Springs, CA.

Again attracted to cheap real estate, thank God I purchased property and a home when the prices were still dirt cheap. Now again I am witness to the boom town Galleries, Restaurants and Boutiques.

The old tried and true applies again for the fourth time, when the artists find space on the outside fringes of the cities for cheap, their artistic Bohemian Style attracts the crowds to follow and the prices of real estate go through the ceiling.

What attracts the growth of undesirable areas due to artists is a bit of mystery, other than than the charm of creativity, but art is a mystery in itself so I guess the two go hand in hand. My only fear is for the children growing up today. When I moved to Venice as a kid rents were cheap. I guess the new generation will figure out a way to afford the world we have created and hopefully will be strong enough to exist in the slightly late era of James Orwell's vision.