With all that’s been going on here recently – the Palm Springs International Film Festival, the 47th Bob Hope Classic Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, and this weekend’s upcoming Tour de Palm Springs charity bike ride, I overlooked mentioning another big celebration – the platinum gala for The Palm Springs Art Museum’s 70th anniversary, at which it was announced the evening’s sponsors were contributing one million dollars to the museum. This longevity and fund-raising capacity are no small accomplishments for a museum in a city that wasn’t incorporated until 1939!
The Palm Springs Art Museum owns a wonderful permanent collection of international caliber, and offers stellar visiting exhibitions. Generous donors make possible new art acquisitions continuously. From its beginning as a museum about the desert (it was formerly called Palm Springs Desert Museum), the Palm Springs Art Museum has evolved into a showcase of modern and contemporary works of art, of interest to the most seasoned patrons of the arts. The modern building, designed by architect E. Stewart Williams, is noteworthy in itself and has in the last year undergone extensive renovations with utmost respect to the original design.
The permanent collection offers works by such artists as Henry Moore, Picasso, Dale Chihuly, Thomas Moran, Charles Russell, Frederic Remington and many others. Features of the museum include a Miniature Room, an outdoor sculpture garden, and a recently expanded exhibition of the museum’s Studio Art Glass collection. It houses the Annenberg Theater which hosts many events throughout the year, and next to the theater is a charming Café. There is much to see and do here, and with the ever changing special exhibits, the museum warrants regular return visits for residents and tourists alike.
And an aside – in the springtime, the cacti which surround the lower parking lot are flowering. Their gorgeous blooms offer great photo opportunities.
To learn more about the museum, its permanent collections, upcoming installations, and other events, go to P S Museum. For the full story on the anniversary celebration, go to Platinum Gala.