This is a collection of my musings about Ric’s art work that I have given away to those he loved and loved him. It brings me great comfort to have these pieces dispersed to those for whom they will spark memories of him.
The book is ridiculously expensive at $40 to print but I took advantage of a bulk discount that knocked it down $10 to buy this first batch for family and friends. For those of you who would just like to read about his pieces, click here for a pdf file. If you really wish to have a copy, let me know and I will order another batch when I can get another discount. Enjoy! 

…..are not in it.

Here’s a thought I heard expressed that made me start thinking. At this writing, the second Desert X has just opened, releasing us from the anticipation the organizers have orchestrated. Already complaints have been raised about the invasiveness of pieces to the point of one being pulled out of the lineup close to the last minute in a controversial decision about its effect on wildlife.

All the pieces will be big hits on the creators’ resumes but only time and the audience will tell which speak most profoundly to the nomadic audience. I’m thinking the question “What is art?” will be a common topic of conversation along with “What is the role of art in our society?” and “What is the focus of Desert X?”.  I’m betting the answers will vary depending on if you are a resident or a visitor to the Coachella Valley to participate in this event.

Beyond the obvious economic boost provided to the valley and an effort to make art participatory, Desert X also attempts to make the desert landscape and ecological issues a part of the experience. Making the desert a canvas on which artists can play is sure to raise the ire of any dedicated desert rat. They are a prickly sort that vehemently argue for the desert’s fragility and revel in its viciousness. Seeing it civilized by a mob of selfie, app-obsessed tourists flown in for a romp around the ancient lake bed is an affront taken personally. For the visitors, it’s a treasure hunt excursion through apparently monotonous scrub in search of a thrill or a meaningful encounter while enjoying the world renowned resort facilities beneath towering mountains.

No matter your viewpoint, the desert and the local artists are the unofficial stars on this stage. The steady soaking winter rains we have had promise a super wildflower display that should outdo any of the manmade pieces on the menu. Similarly, our local artists have been working steadily for years having come here to feed their creative muses on desert space and extremes. Some have been working on specific projects through the winter in preparation for the festival of art seekers Desert X is promising.

Living in the desert reframes a person’s perspectives as can be seen in the exploration of light and color by Ryan Campbell’s work, the time and space alterations in Jeff Frost’s California on Fire audiovisual work, the light playing celebration in Philip K Smith III’s reflective installations, and the expanding dimension fields of Maggie Lowe Tenneson’s glowing meditative paintings. This is just to name a few of my favorites! The desert seems to foster creativity and encourage all its devotees to express their essential selves against its backdrop.

The desert can produce the most extravagant wildflower displays along with wicked sandblasting winds that make the palm trees bend and whistle and all life to burrow down deep. You know you are a desert creature when you realize you are always playing with a tiger’s tail; never knowing when the beautiful thing will awaken to eat you. Its seductive quiet and beauty can lure you deep into its expanse before you realize you are lost to familiar territory. This can be frightening or thrilling or revelatory depending on your readiness. If you tarry long here you learn that while the marks you make on this seemingly endless landscape are nearly indelible; so too are its marks on you.

If Desert X can raise awareness of this razor edge separating delicate beauty and fierce hostility and allow the desert to work its magic in unleashing creative energies then it will have pointed to the best of the event.

I still remember long boring summer days of my youth not knowing what to do with myself. I think, if only I’d had some discipline or focus I could have learned a language or how to play a musical instrument. Now in my autumnal days, time seems to be slipping away at an alarming rate. 

Just what have I been doing since my last update in July? I had to look through my photos to remember!  I find lots of pictures of creatures who visited, glorious sky shows, ususual natural findings, and some shots of weird lighting effects I’ve noticed. No grand tours or achievements documented; instead a collection of everyday things that delight me in my wanderings about The Number Nine.

In an effort to further process all the stuff Ric left, I began work in September on what started off as a time capsule containing boxes of Ric’s papers and memorabilia that I couldn’t throw away but had to move out of the studio. Packed into weather and rodent proof boxes and wrapped in palm fronds they cover an ugly pile of concrete leavings that I didn’t know how else to get rid of. Since the Day of the Dead was on its way, this time capsule morphed into an Ofrenda for Ric but soon included our other recently departed family members.

I took clues from the movie Coco and found it comforting to build a little party for the dead with treats I knew they liked like sugared ginger, butterscotch, cigars, coffee, and licorice. Much to my surprise the licorice flavored Twizzles I put out in the evening were all gone the next day! I can’t think of any animal that could have so cleanly picked these out of there without disturbing a thing. The next day all the red vines were gone just as cleanly. A true mystery but it tickles me to think that the Ricster played that trick on me especially since he would have been disgusted by the low grade licorice I had offered.

Simultaneously, the Pest Cemetery had been taking on some new enhancements. The name cracks me up because it started off being the area along the south fence where I buried the remains of the rodents I have trapped. Besides an occassional morsel I might leave out for the roadrunners and raptors, I found I needed to bury the bodies to discourage flies. Now they reside under crosses made from palm fronds and shielding my view of the neighboring property. I like to think they also have an energetic aspect that protects me from the neighbors.

I was compelled to construct concentric circles around the trees in the front garden using natural objects such as acacia pods and crushed oleander leaves. The configurations serve to remind me of the ripple effect of each action for good or evil. 

I think I have definitely moved into the realm of eccentric old woman. I am recently drawn to dead flowers and fruiting bodies of plants. The dead bracts from the palm trees and dried oleander branches fascinate me and I’ve begun to collect them in arrangements in various places of the property. I am amused to thumb my nose at my inner judge and do what pleases me.

Last year we thought the flowers were amazing but this year is blowing everyone’s mind. People are frantically driving to find the perfect spot and snapping a million pictures for our viewing pleasure. I’ll plead guilty. I took a day off from work to drive to Anza-Borrego with my mom, Ric’s daughter and my sister. We hit the Julian Pie Company first and were rewarded with some hillsides lit up with poppies. Hiking with friends up a nearby canyon was a delight and then a hike up in Joshua Tree where the Joshua Trees are blossoming and we found some Canterbury bells and a couple of blossoming plants that I still have to look up!