Fifty artists from California, across the nation, and as far away as England, have been selected for the first juried and judged art show for the Joshua Tree National Park Art Show and Faire. The jury spent nearly seven hours one day last month reviewing more than 200 images from 78 artists. The artwork was to depict or be inspired by the natural beauty and cultural history of Joshua Tree National Park. The art ranged from oil and acrylic paintings, to watercolors, mixed media, sculpture, photography, and ceramics. The artists will be competing for $6,000 in prizes. The Joshua Tree National Park Art Show and Faire is set for December 6, 7, and 8 in Twentynine Palms.
Below is a complete list of artists who were selected for the art show:
Joshua Tree: Raini Armstrong, Matt Collins, James Hammons, Anahita King, Noreen Lawlor, David McChesney, Eva Montville, Drew Reese, Karine Swenson, Ellie Tyler, Alita VanVliet.
Morongo Valley: Snake Jagger.
Twentynine Palms: Chuck Caplinger, David Greene, Gretchen Grunt, Anne Lear, Sandra Lytch, Terrence Mayes, Noemy O’Hara, Aaron Scott, Olive Toscani.
Yucca Valley: Janis Commentz, Bill Dahl, David Eckenberg, Mike Fagan, Ethan Garcia, John Greenfield, Shirley James, Mark Junge, Deane Locke, Darlene Morris, Janet New, Tami Roleff, Jean Scobie, Esther Shaw, Margie Trandem, Nichole Vikdal, John Whytock.
Other California cities: Natalie Franco, Alhambra; Robert Arnett, Glendora/ Wonder Valley; Kathy Harmon-Luber, Idyllwild; Michael Gordon, Long Beach; Jenifer Palmer-Lacy, Los Angeles; Gerhard Kammer, Studio City.
Other states: Rikk Flohr, Apple Valley, MN; Shelley Hull, Denver, CO; Laurie Hernandez, Excelsior, MN; Mark Spangenberg, Greensboro, NC; Robert Fogel, Haughton, LA.
Across the pond: John Tierney, Durham, U.K.
Jury members were: Mita Barter, steering committee member, artist, and member of the 29 Palms Artists Guild; Jimbo Jimson, artist and president of Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council; Ann Congdon, artist, architect, and member of the Public Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Twentynine Palms; Caryn Davidson, Joshua Tree National Park Ranger and Artist-in-Residence Liaison; Andy Woods, executive director of Arts Connection for San Bernardino County; and Art Mortimer, artist, muralist, and Action Council for 29 Palms member. Jury facilitator was educator and former Twentynine Palms Mayor John Cole.
