Broughton Quarterly - Fall 2007 - (Page 24) Do the various works share any characteristics, like size or style? No, it varies. The works by John Clement are heavy and larger in scale, but we also have an oversized lawn chair by Blue McRight. It was on display in the city of West Hollywood as a temporary installation, and when it came down we went ahead and purchased the piece. So the size and style really depend. Four beautiful glass pieces by Dale Chihuly greet visitors when they arrive at the Palm Springs Airport. Are the art pieces scattered throughout the city, or grouped in specific areas? They’re definitely scattered throughout the city. We do have pieces downtown, of course, and there are two pieces there that visitors and residents just love. One is the Lucy Ricardo Bench, which we call “the Lucy Bench.” It’s located right off of Palm Canyon Drive. It’s done by Emmanuil Snitkovsky, who also did a statue of Sonny Bono, located right on Palm Canyon. The city owns the Lucy Ricardo Bench, but the Sonny Bono piece was put up by a developer. Do you have a favorite piece? The temporary John Clement pieces we have in are really fun. A lot of people will differ with me on that opinion, but I think they’re whimsical, very playful. you don’t have to be an art history major or an art critic to get it. They’re fun. How do visitors react to the Public Arts Program? When you go down to the main drag, you see them taking pictures mainly with the Lucy Bench and the Sonny Bono statue. And, come to think of it, I did the same thing before I moved to Palm Springs…I am serious about art, but we can’t just do “serious” art for critics and art people. We need pieces like these, which appeal to the whole community. So what’s the next step? I’m working on a project now that’s been approved by City Council. It’s by the artist Delos Van Earl. He’s a local artist who’s putting in a large-scale sculpture at the entrance to one of our communities. Another project the Public Arts Commission would like to see happen is a Frank Sinatra piece. He’s really a part of the valley, going back to the Rat Pack days. Clockwise from above: Chihuly Macchia Sets, Dale Chihuly, Palm Springs International Airport; Ithiel, John Clement, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way; Dog Park Fence – Desert Reflections, Phill Evans, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way; Wave Rhythms, John Mishler, Sunrise Park. THE ART OF THE BOUTiQUE HOTEL Hotel Mojave is located in the exclusive community of Palm Desert, just steps from the area’s finest shops and dining. This boutique hotel provides all the romance, glamour, and sophistication of the 190s, when the Palm Springs area was a Hollywood hotspot. Hotel Mojave, 73721 Shadow Mountain Dr., Palm Desert; rates from $75 – $229. www.HotelMojave.com 2 Broughton Quarterly Fall 2007 http://www.HotelMojave.com
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