As you may have heard, the National Endowment for the Arts is hosting the Big Read where the community is encouraged to read the same book, in this case, “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel. The month-long event includes an art exhibition this weekend. Reporter Heather Clisby has details on the first event…
“Station Eleven,” the fourth novel by Emily St. John Mandel, is set in the Great Lakes region and takes place after a flu pandemic has eradicated most of humanity. Themes of survival, community and fear for the future are present throughout.
Utilizing those heavy themes, the Beatnik Lounge is hosting an art exhibition inspired by the novel called “Survival Is Insufficient: Art After The Apocalypse.” The show will feature works by local artists who have responded these dark concepts by reflecting on how art continues to hold value and inspiration in the face of societal collapse.
The opening reception will be on Saturday, September 14 at 6 p.m. and the exhibition will remain on view through October 11. The Beatnik Lounge is located at 61568 Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree.
In the second event, the Yucca Valley Visual and Performing Arts Center will host the second of three assemblage workshops on Saturday, September 14, as part of the NEA Big Read event. Reporter Andrew Dieleman has more on this artistic event designed to teach people how to turn their trash into art…
Assemblage artist Cathy Allen will continue to teach assemblage art during the second of three workshops showing how to turn everyday junk into art. The Mojave Desert Land Trust will provide junk collected from desert cleanups to be used in the assemblage pieces, or artists can integrate their own found objects into their art. Preregistration is recommended, but drop-ins are welcomed space permitting. The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Yucca Valley Visual and Performing Arts Center, 58325 29 Palms Highway. To register for the event, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/nea-big-read-morongo-basin-23435420591
