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One of the joys of desert living is the seemingly endless space to create without boundaries. ‘RustFest II’, an art event held in Joshua Tree this weekend, celebrates this freedom and the large-scale art that enables it.
Drive in any direction here in the Morongo Basin, and you will likely spot the large iron sculptures of Simi Dabah. Whether it’s alongside Highway 62, at Copper Mountain College, at the Park & Ride in Yucca Valley, at Sky’s The Limit or Theatre 29 in Twentynine Palms, you likely have passed Dabah’s work without realizing – it’s all from one guy.
To see many of these sculptures in one place, consider ‘RustFest II’, a Sunday afternoon celebration of rusty art being held at the Simi Dabah Sculpture Park. Now 96, Dabah has retired, but his remaining sculptures are spread out over the park’s nine acres.
Ben Allanoff, an accomplished metal sculptor in his own right and a caretaker of the property, created RustFest last year to celebrate rust-ic art and the built-in evolution that comes with it.
“So, the sculpture that’s rusting to me it’s a kind of ‘alive-ness’ because it’s changing over time, as opposed to something that’s perfect and static,” said Allanoff. “And the landscape here is colored by oxidation of iron in the soil. So, we’re basically surrounded by it.”
In addition to the works of Dabah and Allanoff, RustFest II will also feature fellow metal sculptor Bobby Furst, and textile artist, Suzan Friedland, among others. There will be interactive installations and visitors are encouraged to bring their own strips of material for the wood-and-fiber creations.
Local musician Robbi Robb and his jam band will provide the musical background while the Wurst Wagen will be serving up “brats & dogs” to hungry visitors.
Simi Dabah Sculpture Park is located at 5255 Sunfair Road in Joshua Tree. RustFest II is on Sunday, February 25, and kicks off at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free.
